98 sportster 1800 spark plug and bilge blower question

[jeffbeckib]

ok, so I've been told that I can replace my spark plugs with "gapless" spark plugs? I've never heard of these.
My bilge blower sometimes makes a squealing noise, I'll turn it off and back on and it's gone, but I can't tell for sure if it's even working,

 

[LouDoo]

If you are using "gapless" spark plugs you are using the wrong plugs. You should be using NKG BR8ES spark plugs, gapped to .022". If it were my boat I would replace the blower.

Lou

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Gapless plugs are junk in any application, you don't want them period. The best plug for these motors was selected by Rotax and it's a great combination that works excellently with the factory tune. If you're an engine tuner and have tweeked your carbs to slightly on the rich side and you use good quality fuel then the next hotter plug may help some, otherwise for a bone-stock calibration the factory recommendation is as close to perfect as can be IMO, and hard to beat!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

If you are fowling plugs often (black soot), then the first thing you should do is check the cylinder compression of your motor, it might be worn out and in need of a rebuild. FWIW, rebuilding a 2-stroke engine based on hourly usage is a normal maintenance item, some high-performance professional racing series 2-strokes require rebuilding every 50hrs of engine time. The rotary valve Rotax motors usually can run in excess of 450 hours between rebuilds, depending on the circumstances.

 

[jeffbeckib]

If you are using "gapless" spark plugs you are using the wrong plugs. You should be using NKG BR8ES spark plugs, gapped to .022". If it were my boat I would replace the blower.

Lou

no I'm not using gapless now, nor will I switch after what I've been told here,
I will replace with the NKG's,

Can I replace the blower with this one? or does it have to be Seadoo?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-Marine..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item43c596ec9b&vxp=mtr

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

no I'm not using gapless now, nor will I switch after what I've been told here,
I will replace with the NKG's,

Can I replace the blower with this one? or does it have to be Seadoo?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-Marine..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item43c596ec9b&vxp=mtr

I think you'll be just fine with nearly any aftermarket bilge blower certified explosion proof for boats, just make sure it's the right size diameter dimensions for your boat! That particular one looks fine to me!

 

[jeffbeckib]

If you are using "gapless" spark plugs you are using the wrong plugs. You should be using NKG BR8ES spark plugs, gapped to .022". If it were my boat I would replace the blower.

Lou

I see 2 different versions of that same plug, one with a resistor, and one without.
Which one should I pick? I'm assuming the one With the resistor, correct?

 

[LouDoo]

BR8ES is a resistor plug.

Lou

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yep, the "R" denotes resistor type and that's what you want. This is a carefully designed ignition system which allows a higher gap voltage due to the specific plug design and matches the design impedance of OEM seadoo coils. This design reduces radio frequency interference noise as well, and should be used with the OEM specified type of resistance plug wire in order to retain the impedance parameters.

So if/when you replace your plug wires, make sure to use the correct type of wire to maintain impedance matching, this isn't a solid conductor type non-resistive wire, it uses a resistive conductor wire of specific value resistance in Ohms/ft.

 

[grinditout]

Most of the hard parts where sourced from other manufacturers, so you could pull yours and see who made it, i.e perko for a bunch of stuff.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I agree with all the above advice...

The blower is pretty important in regards to safety as well as helping the engine(s) start after running for a while and then being shut down. It helps bring in good quality fresh air which combusts better than the stagnant bilge air.

And the Resister plugs are important as the electronics on the ski require the resister for the spark to be correct.

 

[jeffbeckib]

How does the foam section come off to access the blower?

I agree with all the above advice...

The blower is pretty important in regards to safety as well as helping the engine(s) start after running for a while and then being shut down. It helps bring in good quality fresh air which combusts better than the stagnant bilge air.

And the Resister plugs are important as the electronics on the ski require the resister for the spark to be correct.

 

[grinditout]

It depends on how yours is styled, they just wiggle out from the bottom, there is a metal ring in their, might want to go to the shop manual and see what it says.
The foam on the 96 models is a bear to get out, you have to take a lot of stuff off, the tube has some pop rivets on the top.
best to see if the wiggle down and out is the way.

 

[grinditout]

also wd-40 might be the fix, get a light and look into the tube , if it will not turn give it a nudge and shoot it with some wd-40.

 

[vettepilot_6]

rebuilding a 2-stroke engine based on hourly usage is a normal maintenance item, some high-performance professional racing series 2-strokes require rebuilding every 50hrs of engine time.

When my father was racing and building 2 stroke Go Karts...he had one engine (90cc 21000rpm) It would have a piston and ring change after every race.... 2 Carbies on Cyl and one feeding straight up the crankcase......As it was bombed to the max.... (2nd in Aussie Champ against Twin Engined Karts)

 

[jeffbeckib]

does this boat only have 1 blower? I see a port on the port side, but nothing installed and no harness in that area.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yes, just one bilge blower on these boats(most all boats, too). The port side vent is the air intake for the makeup air that's blown out the starboard side by the blower, to avoid any slight vacuum in the bilge compartment while the blower is running, and further allow for air circulation while underway.