Fouling plugs

[Barcley]

I have a 99 gti 717. Carbs rebuilt and tuned, got spark, oil pump lined up correctly, good compression. Even with everything correct I'm fouling plugs in a couple hours. Soaked in oil. Where do I go from here?

 

[JeremyD615]

When you say the carbs were tuned, what do you mean? Unless you’re at a really high elevation or you have some mods done, the factory settings should be about perfect...

When you crank the motor with the plugs out, does it spray oily residue? You would normally have a hard start or a filled up crankcase, but I’m thinking maybe you’ve got a crank seal going...

 

[Barcley]

On carbs I meant I double checked to make sure the high and low were correct. I also pulled plugs and cranked to look for oil and nothing. All I can think of now is inner crank seal. If I put a on/off valve on oil line and turn it off when not running will this stop the inner crank seal from leaking or just outer crank seals? I've only been in the seadoo world for a year so if I say something stupid or wrong please let me know. I welcome any learning experience.

 

[Barcley]

I also failed to mention on the water today I had an exhaust leak from the manifold and when I towed back to shore the majority of the exhaust manifold bolts were loose. The plugs being fouled out has continuously gotten worse as the manifold bolts continuously were backing out. Could this have been the issue. The guy I bought it from was a jackass and I should have pulled the whole thing apart and gone thru it but its summer ya know?

 

[JeremyD615]

Bingo! The exhaust leak is almost definitely your issue... The hull fills with exhaust fumes, so there is less and less oxygenated air for the motor to use, which effectively causes it to go pig rich until it chokes itself out.

Order a new gasket for the exhaust and tighten those things up and I’m sure you’ll be back on the water!

 

[Barcley]

Cool. Last question. Seadoo manual calls for the low to be at 1 3/4 out. Someone told me it was a typo and sent another seadoo page of carb settings that says one turn out. I tried the 1 turn out today (also with the exhaust issue) and I had to work the throttle to get up to WOT. What do you recommend I do on this? My 95 xp 717 dual carb calls for 1 3/4 out on out not 1 out. That's what I thought the original issue was so I planned to test it today only to have the exhaust issue. What's your thoughts?

 

[JeremyD615]

I’m seeing it as one turn out on the carb reference... I’d keep it there until you get the exhaust fixed, and then check your plugs after you get it back on the water...

 

[Barcley]

Awesome thanks. Should I expect some oil build up in the beginning from the previous issues or think it's good to go? I had a ton of oil and what looked like grey grease around the exhaust manifold. Oil I understand but the grey grease concerns me a little. Where did that come from?

 

[JeremyD615]

You may have a bit to burn off, but I would think you’d be good to go.

I’m not sure about the grease...

 

[Barcley]

Cool thanks man. I'm never gonna give up on this ski! When she runs she runs great! I'm determined and I'm actually running out of things to fix so eventually she will be fine I hope! Lol

 

[JeremyD615]

I was in that same boat on my 787 ski. I replaced everything but the long block during the restoration. Then of course I lost a balance shaft bearing, so now it’s getting a replacement motor... It’s a lot like the old critical thinking experiment, if you keep replacing parts on a ship, at what point is it not the same boat? In the case of these older skis, it’s when the HIN tag gets lost!

 

[Barcley]

Yes I'm super determined in fixing this! I keep trying and trying but its getting so frustrating.

 

[Barcley]

I'm really new to this. What does HIN mean? Im very mechanically inclined but this is like a whole new world that I'm super eager to learn about.

 

[ah64driver2002]

Hull Identifcation Number
Like a VIN for a car

 

[Barcley]

Oh ok. Haha. Yeah before it's all over I may need that too! Lol

 

[Barcley]

Thanks for all your help! Greatly appreciated!