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97 speedster engine won't restart

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kreed

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We have had our 97 speedsterfor about 5 months and the left engine has always run great (was told it was redone before we bought it) but the right engine has always been tempermental (hard starting). First sign of trouble is the battery started going dead when stored during the week (over about 5 days, maybe faster I don't know for sure). I think the battery is good I could get a jump start and then run all day, shut it, off restart no problem. Took it out again got a jump and then right engine started acting up (little power wouldn't rev up sounded like it was popping), but after a few minutes it ran fine the rest of the day. Knowing I might have a battery issue I disconnected the battery and took it out 2 weeks later, put it in the water and both engines fired. Was diving around no problems turned and the right engine died and hasn't woke up since. I powered back to the dock with the faithful left engine along the way trying to start the right engine and it would kill the left engine (the gauges started bouncing like when you have little to no battery power when I was trying to fire he right engine). Fortunatey for me the left engine would fire up quick, no problem but the left didn't want to do anything (barely turned over). So maybe I should have jumped it first, I don't know. I took it home jumped it and the right would still would not fire. I'm getting fire for sure and I'm pretty sure fuel (maybe flooding). Anyone got any thoughts what might be wrong?
 
Jump starting....

I hope your jump starting with a battery in a vehicle or other vehicle while THAT engine is not running.
This has been said 10 ga-zillion times in this forum. Do not jump start your PWC or boat due to the chances of shorting out your electrical system.
Your battery stores close to 12 vdc. When you start your motor, your magneto makes a lot of AC current. Your rectifier and regulater convert and reduce the power to 14 vdc. That's sending some of it back to the battery and the rest to run your ski.
If you jump from a battery that's running in another vehicle, then your putting 14 vdc on your battery and connected electrical system.
Now, you say you have spark, so the idea that you've blown fuses is out. I think there may be a chance that your carb may be leaning out on you or your filters in the carb are dirty. How's your inline fuel filter look? Clean?
Oh, and by the way......your right engine is called your port and your left engine is called your starboard.
If you lose an engine, never travel more than 15 mph on your other engine cause you'll take the chance of ingesting water from your cooling water inlet from the idle motor. The best thing to do if the engine goes dead is to pinch the water inlet to keep this from happening..........:cheers:
 
what if short

:confused:Thank you seadoosnipe, I'll check on the filters, but since I'm new to this I don't really know where they are. Any pointers? Also if I do have a short, where should I start looking?
 
Filters...

You have an inline filter, right there at the gas tank, where the gas first comes out of the tank. Then, you'll have a tiny fuel strainer basket in the carb itself. It has to be removed and taken apart. If your 1997 model hasn't had a carb rebuild kit in several years, you may only need to rebuild the carbs.
The short......check all your fuses. You'll have them in the rear engine compartment and you'll have more under the storage compartment up front. Remove the plastic box that has the fire extinguisher in it......there, beneath it, you'll see anohter fuse block..........check them all.
You may also have issues with your charging system. If you get an engine running, check the battery with a multi meter. You should be getting around 14 vdc while the engine is running, from the charging system.:cheers:
 
I'll let you know

Thanks for the info seadoosnipe! I've checked all the fuses and they are all good. I had the battery tested last night and it is good too. I'll check out the filters over the weekend and I'll see about the charging system with the multimeter. The ummm starboard engine is running great but the... port engine is the problem child.:cheers:
 
Checked some stuff

Ok. so I checked the battery while the good starboard engine is running and the VDC is at or around 12.2, not the 14 VDC. So I'm wondering what to do about that, how do I fix or replace the charging system???

Next the port engine won't start even when I spray it with starting fluid, but it did fire for a second once or twice. Once when I first tried after it had been sitting for a week and a half and one time when I wasn't choking it and I raised the throttle a little. I think it needs a rebuild. What do you think?

Is there some place on here that shows how to remove the carb?
 
Thanks for the thought, I'm going to try wit ha carb rebuild first. I don't have the equipment to test the compression.
 
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