1998 GTX Ltd Performance Issues

[stang69]

Just purchase a Used 97 GTS and a Used 98 GTX Ltd. 5 weeks ago. We have had these out every weekend now. What a blast, should of purchased some Seadoos years ago.
The 97 GTS is running great but just in the last two weeks I have been having issues with the 98 GTX Ltd. Last week we had it on the lake and it ran great for about an hour but after hitting a few good sized waves the engine lost power and would not go over 4000 RPM. Made it back to shore and a fellow Dooer and I adjusted my rave valves. They were right flush to the cap and this guy told me they should be tighten right down on this 947 motor. So after tightening them and trying a 1/2 dozen times I settled at about 1 full turn up and it ran pretty good. Could get up to 6500 RPM and over 50 MPH but then it started to shut down. Now warnings on the INFO. I could start it right up but after 100 to 200 feet it would quit again. Of course I am in the middle of the lake it took about 20 starts but I made it back to shores, yep 100 feet a time.
Got the machine home a thought I would see if the raves need cleaning. Did they ever. There rear one came out with a lite tug, just carbon and a little oil on it, but the front one I had to pull, push and tug on it a few times to get it out. When it slipped out it was full of a oily sludge. Cleaned every thing up, carbon, oil from both valves and head ports, new o-rings and gaskets. Unplugged the lines to them also. Clean the fuel lines, fuel filter and new plugs. Old Plugs looked a little fouled but not to bad.
Took it out again yesterday, still a little windy (20 kph) but had to find out if my problem was solved. Again the 97 GTS ran fabulous and the 98 GTX ran great for about 45 minutes. Again it started losing power after hitting a few good size waves, but the same ones the GTS were hitting. Made it back to shore under low power, stopped it right away and pulled both plugs. The front plug was white with a little brown (looked great) The rear plug was wet with fuel and oil. Reversed the plugs and went for another short ride without touching anything. Low power but would sparatically pick up RPM and drop again. Came back and pulled the plugs again. The front was again white and the back one was covered in fuel and oil (No Spark but only the one cylinder)
Thought I would adjust the raves from all the way down to one, then two clicks up. It got a little better then got worse again. Also adjusted the Rave regulator on the muffler but did not help. Wife bought me a Golf Cleat wrench for this, works great. After about 10 to 15 adjustments back and forth and with the raves at 1 click I started it up and it was great.
Rode it for another 30 minutes with great peformance and fantastic throttle response. After hitting hitting about 100 pretty good size waves I hit and another good size one, about a 3 foot. and the RPM seemed to drop a bit then pick up. Randomly the RPM dropped and rose back up on the way back to shore but I opened it up just before shore, shut it down and pulled the plugs one more time. Both were white and brown. The way they should be.

My question is. Is this a normal occurance for the GTX Ltd.? Does it seem like I may have bought a lemon? Any recomendations on how to solve this issue.

The GTS has been great but it sure handles a lot differently. I love the handling charataristics of the GTX ( When it is moving!!)

Thank You Darrell

 

[f16driver]

Stang69,
I too have a 98 gtx ltd. I purchased it new and its been a great ride. Did you have any luck with your gtx problem? Heres a possible solution to your stalling problem, as there are many possiblities. I'm wondering if you gtx is being starved for fuel because the vent lines and/or fuel system are clogged. Heres something you might try. After it dies on you, remove the fuel cap. Listen for a big woosh of pressure when you remove the cap. Put the cap back on. Now try running the ski and see if it developes full power. If it runs normally for a while and then dies later, its posible your fuel vent/check valves are clogged and need to be replaced. See if that helps.

f16driver
98 gtx ltd

 

[timmyboy76]

hey strang...replace grey fuel lines if there, and so, clean/replace the fuel selector, inline filter adn most important the carbs....get rebuild kit from parkeryamaha.com or seadoosource.com...:cheers:

 

[JESSECONSOPOLUS]

my gsx did almost the same thing. i would go for about a 100ft then die. unplug the key and plug it back in, 2 beeps and another 100ft. i replaced my key with a new one and put a zip tie around the old one. that fixed my problem. sounds like yours is a fuel issue though. i would change all the lines like these guys are saying. i still have the old gray lines on mine and i am planning on going to black this winter. as far as your rave valves i have no clue. i pulled mine to clean them and they were spotless......i left the adjustments the way they were.

 

[stang69]

Thanks Guys, This info is great. Just did a compression test and I am sitting at 140 in both cylinders. Raves are still spotless now. Removed the fuel tank to replace the grey lines, The Tuned Pipe was a bugger to get out but finally removed the breather clamp bracket to get more room with the wrench. Took the carbs of together and they have been rebuilt or replace before, They are very clean but I am still going to clean them internally. Tomorrows project. $140.00 cdn for FE hose (12 ft 5/16 and 8 ft 1/4) but they fit great and looks great in there. Price is irrelevant if it helps solve my issue, eh!!

After I removed the tuned pipe I had found a ground cable identicle to the black cable on the battery. This one I found is mounted just behind the starter housing and the battery end was just laying on the floor. The cable hooked to the neg battery post is attched to the black motor mount at the back of the motor. I imagine it does not matter which ground I use. I got a suspicion the motor has been replaced as the motor is very clean, alot cleaner than the inside of the hull and the info guage say it has 246 hrs on it.
Also under the tuned pipe I found the end of a small clear hose that leads to the small check valve on the left side of the hull. I was wondering were this clear hose would hook up to under or near the back of the sea. I can not identify it in the shop manual?

Thanks Again Darrell

 

[fireball451]

The hose is for a vented type battery.
Will not be used on an unvented battery.