As the season is coming on us fast, all of us are ramping up, getting our skis ready for riding. I suggest we all remember that exhaust leaks inside the hull and combustion air for the pistons do not mix.
Our atmosphere is made up of 78% Nitrogen, 20% 0xygen, 9% Argon and .0367% carbon dioxide. When you get an exhaust leak inside your hull, this lowers the oxygen content (which is what causes combustion with the fuel) and increases the carbon monoxide content. When the fuel is burned, it gives off vapor, carbon dioxide. What is not burned is carbon monoxide. This gas vapor is deadly to people in concentrations and will offset the fuel/oxygen balance inside the hulls of a small ski really fast. It only has to drop the oxygen concentration a couple percent and you have an offset sufficient to stop proper fuel combustion. The plugs will get wet with fuel.
Today, while tuning a carb rebuild I did on a GTS, I experienced this first hand. While at the dock, I had the seat off, it was running really good so I put the seat on to take it for a ride. I rode a few minutes at WOT, pulled the lanyard to check the plugs. They looked good so I was going to go for a nice ride. About 5 minutes into the ride at WOT, the engine starting running really bad. I opened the seat up and smelled a heavy content of exhaust gases. It didn't take long to put 2 and 2 together after seeing the fuel soaked plugs. So, I left the seat off, it ran great all the way back to the dock.
So now, I have an exhaust leak to find. If your ski is tuned when you get on it and this happens, you check the plugs and they are wet, do not assume you need to lean out the engine. This will cause major damage.
So remember, when you first start your ride, I suggest you go for up to 15 minutes, remove the seat and smell inside for the gas vapor. If you don't think you know what your looking for, you'll know when you experience the smell for the first time. Most of the time, the oil being burned will enrichen the vapor with oil, causing the light smokey appearance.:cheers:
Our atmosphere is made up of 78% Nitrogen, 20% 0xygen, 9% Argon and .0367% carbon dioxide. When you get an exhaust leak inside your hull, this lowers the oxygen content (which is what causes combustion with the fuel) and increases the carbon monoxide content. When the fuel is burned, it gives off vapor, carbon dioxide. What is not burned is carbon monoxide. This gas vapor is deadly to people in concentrations and will offset the fuel/oxygen balance inside the hulls of a small ski really fast. It only has to drop the oxygen concentration a couple percent and you have an offset sufficient to stop proper fuel combustion. The plugs will get wet with fuel.
Today, while tuning a carb rebuild I did on a GTS, I experienced this first hand. While at the dock, I had the seat off, it was running really good so I put the seat on to take it for a ride. I rode a few minutes at WOT, pulled the lanyard to check the plugs. They looked good so I was going to go for a nice ride. About 5 minutes into the ride at WOT, the engine starting running really bad. I opened the seat up and smelled a heavy content of exhaust gases. It didn't take long to put 2 and 2 together after seeing the fuel soaked plugs. So, I left the seat off, it ran great all the way back to the dock.
So now, I have an exhaust leak to find. If your ski is tuned when you get on it and this happens, you check the plugs and they are wet, do not assume you need to lean out the engine. This will cause major damage.
So remember, when you first start your ride, I suggest you go for up to 15 minutes, remove the seat and smell inside for the gas vapor. If you don't think you know what your looking for, you'll know when you experience the smell for the first time. Most of the time, the oil being burned will enrichen the vapor with oil, causing the light smokey appearance.:cheers:
