97 GTX Will Not Start; H2O Intrusion?

[wombat1]

Noob here. I made a series of mistakes yesterday and now my ski will not start. Everything was going great on the water until I sucked the ski rope up the intake while helping my kid back onto the kneeboard. Ooops #1. Engine stalled. We got to shore and some folks kindly helped me flip the GTX 90 degrees clockwise, so I could unwrap the rope from the impeller shaft. Ooops # 2. Of course the GTX wouldn't restart after that, so these kind folks towed me to the dock. Ooops # 3. I got home and read the operators manual again and realized that I probably introduced water into my engine.

I removed the plugs and turned the engine over numerous times to attempt to extract the water. The fluid coming out of the spark plug holes seem to lessen, so I felt I had done enough there. I siphoned off the gas and oil, installed new spark plugs and the ski still doesn't start. I've checked the sparks from the plugs and they are good and blue.

I've attempted, at least a dozen times, the procedure of removing the spark plugs, drying them, reinstalling them and attempting to restart. After removing the plugs, they always are saturated in fluid. The fluid smells like gas, but I think there still may be water in there.

How can I tell if all of the water in the engine has been extracted? When I remove the plugs and turn the engine over, brownish fluid is lightly expelled from the holes. Is this normal? Should any fluid what so ever be expelled?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[timmyboy76]

poor gas down the plug holes or flame arrestor. Eventually it'll take.

 

[captain scale]

Sounds like there's still some water in there. Have you tried using a shop vac? Did you remove the airbox? Did you inspect the flame arrestor to make sure it's not saturated with water? Try shutting off the fuel valve and crank with the plugs removed to try to clear out the cylinders completely. Make sure that battery is good and charged.

I once flooded my engine with fresh water when I had the flush hose hooked up, the valve was shut off but some water was getting by and the level built up for the time I had the hose connected. I had to remove the plugs and crank for a while before it would run again.

 

[wombat1]

Captain Scale-Your GTX looks identical to mine. I'll give all those ideas a go.
Thanks Timmy and CS.

 

[bitzer44]

I have same ski and need to know how to get rope out.

I sucked up a rope yesterday and need to know how to get the rope out, without messing anything else up.

I have my ski on a lift so I can get underneath it, not sure what to do??


Once I get it out should it fire right up and be OK????

THANKS!

 

[SheaMolt]

Blitzer, next time make a new post, but, the grate should come off with 4 screws/bolts, and then simply get a knife and get to work.

 

[wombat1]

My new found Seadoo Friends

Well. I tried all of the suggestions above with no luck so far.
1. I checked the spark plugs. They are producing strong blue sparks.
2. I removed the spark plugs.
2. Shop vac'ed the holes. Very minute traces of liquid came out.
3. I pulled the flame arrestor and dried it with a hair dryer. Reinstalled it.
4. Poured a little bit of gas/xps oil mix in the spark plug holes, reinstalled dry plugs.
5. Hit the start button. No ignition. It just turned over and over. Waited 30sec. Tried again. Repeated a few times. No luck.
6. Pulled the plugs again. They were saturated with liquid. Dried them again. Tried to start again. Repeated a few times with no luck.

It seems to me that the plugs are getting flooded. I've tried with and without the choke. The plugs are always saturated when I pull them out. This is new gas that I am using, as I siphoned off ten gallons already, in case bad gas was the problem.

Is the problem possibly that too much fuel is being fed to the engine?

 

[captain scale]

If it was running before you sucked up the tow rope then it should run again without readjusting anything. How are the plugs fouled, with water, or oil/fuel? Check the pulse hose to see if it is full of water. I read that once water enters the pulse line it can damage the pump diaphragm. You may want to check that. Might want to use that shop vack and suck any water out of the pulse line and fittings, both engine side and carb side.

 

[wombat1]

Thanks to all for your input. I swapped out my grey fuel lines, and patiently turned the motor over and over, with the spark plugs out, making sure I gave the starter plenty of rest after several goes, and was finally rewarded with my ski firing up.

I have to say that it took several hours and you really have to be patient with it.

 

[captain scale]

You should hook it up to your flush kit and run the motor for a few minutes then take it out and run it as soon as you can to work some fresh oil into your bearings and let any rust or corrosion get worked out through the exhaust.