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1997 Seadoo Sportster Rough Idle/sputtering and dies when i open throttle.

winn

Active Member
I recently purchased a 1997 Seadoo Sporster and it is cosmetically in rough condition. But started fine. I got it in the water and it started normally and idled great, but I found out the wear ring needed to be replaced when RPM’s were normal but had low acceleration and speed. Got that done and dropped it back in the water and was perfect! I replaced the plugs at the same time.

The next day I put 3 gallons of gas in it and now it’s running really rough on idle, basically sputtering out and when i try to throttle it up it just dies.

The previous owner bypass the fuel selector, I verified the lines with the service manual and everything looks good. I replaced the plugs. I haven’t rebuilt the carbs yet since it was running great one day then crappy the day after. It is also set up as premix, fuel lines are upgraded

In lieu of rebuilding the carbs, what am I missing here? Is there anything I can look at prior to carbs? I don’t understand how it ran fine one day then didn’t run the next.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Being how the wear ring needed replacing, I would guess it hasn’t been driven in awhile, so maybe some dirt has made its way into the carburetors You mentioned the PO had bypassed the fuel selector valve ? and filter? Did you route the fuel lines back to factory running it through the filter and valve?
 
Being how the wear ring needed replacing, I would guess it hasn’t been driven in awhile, so maybe some dirt has made its way into the carburetors You mentioned the PO had bypassed the fuel selector valve ? and filter? Did you route the fuel lines back to factory running it through the filter and valve?
 
Being how the wear ring needed replacing, I would guess it hasn’t been driven in awhile, so maybe some dirt has made its way into the carburetors You mentioned the PO had bypassed the fuel selector valve ? and filter? Did you route the fuel lines back to factory running it through the filter and valve?
I didn’t touch the fuel lines or run them back to the valve, they are still as I received it. The lines go directly from the tank to the filter, then everything downstream of the filter looks correct. There is a fuel on/off valve installed in the system.

There could be something that got into the carbs, but it’s strange that it ran and started fine without a problem before I replaced it, then directly after In replaced it. It’s almost like something just happened overnight or maybe something with the fuel? I just filled up with 87 like I do in my other skis.
 
I didn’t touch the fuel lines or run them back to the valve, they are still as I received it. The lines go directly from the tank to the filter, then everything downstream of the filter looks correct. There is a fuel on/off valve installed in the system.

There could be something that got into the carbs, but it’s strange that it ran and started fine without a problem before I replaced it, then directly after In replaced it. It’s almost like something just happened overnight or maybe something with the fuel? I just filled up with 87 like I do in my other skis.
Is very weird but probably coincidental. I would start narrowing things down. Bypass that in off selector valve and fuel filter by running a fuel line directly from the ON fitting on top of the fuel tank to the carb. If it runs good then, you know it’s an issue with the selector or filter.. if it still doesn’t run good, probably time to rebuild the carburetor. Check your compression, check for spark.
 
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