96 challenger strange rpm'S

[Brew Master]

Hi everyone, new member here and love the site. I recently picked up a 1996 challenger with the 787 motor. The boat fires up and idles fine but will not go above about half throttle, when I try it sounds like it goes into some sort of limp mode where it only fires on every other cylinder or something like that. It is definitely firing on both because they both get warm but above a certain rpm is sounds like it is cutting out. I rebuild the carbs using Mikuni kits and replaced all the fuel and oil lines as well and cut back the plug wires a 1/4" to get to some fresh wire. But still having the same problem. I am very familiar with watercraft and have owned several Seadoo and Polaris watercraft but this is my first Seadoo boat. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum. Yeah, Another member from Michigan, close by too.
Are you a home brewer?

Does it restart easily after it "stutters"?

Are the carbs adjusted correctly?

 

[Brew Master]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum. Yeah, Another member from Michigan, close by too.
Are you a home brewer?

Does it restart easily after it "stutters"?

Are the carbs adjusted correctly?

Thanks, I am not a home brewer just love beer IPA to be precise and am currently trying to visit every brewery in Michigan. 21 down 43 more to go!!!!

The boat starts and stops with no problems, fires right back up. Not sure on the exact rpm's but right around 1/3 to 1/2 throttle it will start this "miss fire " thing. Carb hi and lows are set to factory plus 1/8 turn on the highs just to be safe. The boat did this when I went to buy it as well but just figured it was cold that day and thought nothing more of it. Got it home replaced all the fuel and oil lines, rebuild the carbs and cut back the wires just for good measure. Fired it back up and still same problem. I honestly don't think its a fuel delivery problem, i think its something electrical but who knows right, after all the boat is 16 years old. Thanks for the help

 

[Lifted5.4Lariat]

I'm having a similar issue.. It's in the end of my thread about horrible cavitation (unrelated, arised after I figured out the cavitation) I'm kinda lost as to what it can be...

 

[Dennis]

There is a safety switch mounted on the shifter that will limit engine rpm's if you try to rev the engine and the shifter is not in "forward". It's a little micro switch with 2 wires. You'll have to pull the shifter up out of the hull to see it. Maybe it's bad or just stuck. :cheers:

 

[Lifted5.4Lariat]

Dennis! Can you check out my thread in this forum titled help horrible cavitation? Go towards the end and let me knew what you think.. Op I hope your problem is as simple as that!

 

[Brew Master]

There is a safety switch mounted on the shifter that will limit engine rpm's if you try to rev the engine and the shifter is not in "forward". It's a little micro switch with 2 wires. You'll have to pull the shifter up out of the hull to see it. Maybe it's bad or just stuck. :cheers:

that sounds like it could be the issue, I leave it in neutral when I start it so I will try it in forward and see what happens, thanks for the help, I will report back

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Thanks, I am not a home brewer just love beer IPA to be precise and am currently trying to visit every brewery in Michigan. 21 down 43 more to go!!!!

That's quite a bucket list, but a good one. Actually it's now 44. New one Granite City Food and Brewery at 16 Mile (Big Beaver) Just west of I-75 in Troy. This is a national chain I found out. Opens May 8th, 2012

 

[LouDoo]

If the micro switch doesn't fix your problem post back, I've got another idea.

Lou

 

[Brew Master]

If the micro switch doesn't fix your problem post back, I've got another idea.

Lou

Ok thanks Lou, will do

 

[Brew Master]

Thanks, I am not a home brewer just love beer IPA to be precise and am currently trying to visit every brewery in Michigan. 21 down 43 more to go!!!!

That's quite a bucket list, but a good one. Actually it's now 44. New one Granite City Food and Brewery at 16 Mile (Big Beaver) Just west of I-75 in Troy. This is a national chain I found out. Opens May 8th, 2012

i'll have to add it to the list, thanks for the heads up

 

[Brew Master]

There is a safety switch mounted on the shifter that will limit engine rpm's if you try to rev the engine and the shifter is not in "forward". It's a little micro switch with 2 wires. You'll have to pull the shifter up out of the hull to see it. Maybe it's bad or just stuck. :cheers:

Dennis, I am happy to report that you were right, problem solved and motor runs as it should now. Thanks for the great advise. Any other problems that are known to be on this boat? Thanks again.....:cheers: Mike