I just completed a complete carb rebuild and I replaced the grey fuel lines on my 96 GSX. I reinstalled the carbs and the engine fired up and ran great on the hose. I took it out for a test drive a week later and it seemed like it was hard to start, then when it did start, it seemed like it was only running on one cylinder. I pushed it a little and it got on top and then seemed like to run like a champ, WOT was at or just under 7K. But when I got back to the ramp and tried to start it again, I had to crank and crank to get it going. I never seemed to have this problem before the rebuild. The motor has 158 hours on it and I installed a primer kit. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.
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Hard Starting GSX
- Thread starter jblegg83
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Ok I did some more research on this site and found that the pop-off springs are color coded. I installed the dull silver springs into the carbs because the springs that I pulled out of the carbs were dull silver. Shiny silver springs were included with the rebuild kit that I purchased. I found that the shiny springs are actually the 65 gram springs. Is it probable that over the past 13 years that the shiny springs turned dull. Also are the 65 gram springs the correct size for a stock '96 GSX with an 800 motor? Thanks.
Nate Surveyor
New Member
It just sounds like it is starving for fuel. Lean condition is not good for 2-stroke motors. (not really good for any motor, but it can hurt a 2-stroker even more)
You should have an accelerator pump on it, I think. With the spark arrestor off, of it, squeeze the throttle, and see if it squirts a fine stream of fuel down the carbs. If it does not, then work your way BACK to the tank. It could be a bad fuel pump, or a pinhole in the fuel line, or a leaking pulse line, from the crankcase to the fuel pump. Or it could be a leaking gasket in the carbs, allowing air in.
IF the accelerator pump works right, then there is another fuel related possibility. Our modern pump gas is often 20% ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it SUCKS water out of the air. This means it needs the jets opened a little, because it takes MORE ethanol than gas to make them NOT run lean.
Also, you might trim the ends of the spark plug leads.
Gotta run. I hope this gives you a few ideas, of direction to look.
Nate
You should have an accelerator pump on it, I think. With the spark arrestor off, of it, squeeze the throttle, and see if it squirts a fine stream of fuel down the carbs. If it does not, then work your way BACK to the tank. It could be a bad fuel pump, or a pinhole in the fuel line, or a leaking pulse line, from the crankcase to the fuel pump. Or it could be a leaking gasket in the carbs, allowing air in.
IF the accelerator pump works right, then there is another fuel related possibility. Our modern pump gas is often 20% ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it SUCKS water out of the air. This means it needs the jets opened a little, because it takes MORE ethanol than gas to make them NOT run lean.
Also, you might trim the ends of the spark plug leads.
Gotta run. I hope this gives you a few ideas, of direction to look.
Nate
Thanks for the reply, I will check and probably replace the pulse line since I have some hose left over from replacing the grey fuel lines. I highly doubt that there is a pinhole in the fuel line, I installed all brand new black marine line, the hose walls are about a half inch thick. I do not think that my ski has an accelerator pump, but I will check again. I will also check the low speed idle jets to make sure that they are properly set.
The weird part is that it only happens when trying to start the machine, when running wide open, or above idle, it sounds and runs like a champ.
What about the pop-off springs, which weight are they supposed to be on the GSX? Thanks.
The weird part is that it only happens when trying to start the machine, when running wide open, or above idle, it sounds and runs like a champ.
What about the pop-off springs, which weight are they supposed to be on the GSX? Thanks.
Nate Surveyor
New Member
There is a way to test the popoff pressure. Has to do with a pressure gauge, and a little ball type pump, and a mechanism to seal off the area.
Sorry, I have not done it, but this is the best I can do at this time.
Hope you get her running.
A sea Doo is like a marriage. If it runs good, there is nothing like it. If it runs bad, there is nothing like it!
Nate
Sorry, I have not done it, but this is the best I can do at this time.
Hope you get her running.
A sea Doo is like a marriage. If it runs good, there is nothing like it. If it runs bad, there is nothing like it!
Nate
timmyboy76
New Member
:agree:...good jobon search'nforum, jblegg. the 95gm spring is actually coiled in "counterclockwise" position. If you still have the original springs, I recommend you put them back in.
Your n/s(needle and seat) should be 1.5, with a pop-off of 23psi-43psi. If you dont have the original spring, the "black" spring should give you around 38ish psi, and 65gm will be around 32ish psi....good luck
I should have the original springs. The kit that I purchased included dull silver springs and shiny silver springs, I am going to try to compare the two and see what happens. I should have the hardware laying around the garage to put together a pop-off/leak down tester. I found the stickey about building the leakdown tester, what PSI do you pump the carbs up to? I should be able to pull the carbs off tonight and try some more diagnosis. If it is not raining this weekend, I will probably take it out again. The water is cold, but it feels good to be back out on it!
timmyboy76
New Member
just pump away, and you'll here the "pop", but, meantime, keep watch'n the gauge, so when it does pop, you'll have the read'n. Do it 3 times for each, to get average.
Well I did not get a chance to pull the carbs off again until last Sunday morning. I pulled them off and put the old pop off springs back in. I have not yet built a leak down tester yet, so I just checked the low speed jets. They were off big time. One carb was set at about a half turn out and the other was at 3/4 turn out. I reset each carb to 1 1/4 turn out and put everything back together and it fired right up.
I had it out on the water about 2 hours later and had no problems getting it started right away. Did not even have to prime it after sitting for two hours. Only thing that I was worried about is that it was bogging down for a few minutes, but I think that it was because of the cold. The air was about 45 degrees, overcast and spitting rain. The water temp can't be much over 40 degrees, if that much. Once the motor warmed up, it was running great. Thanks for the help!!
I had it out on the water about 2 hours later and had no problems getting it started right away. Did not even have to prime it after sitting for two hours. Only thing that I was worried about is that it was bogging down for a few minutes, but I think that it was because of the cold. The air was about 45 degrees, overcast and spitting rain. The water temp can't be much over 40 degrees, if that much. Once the motor warmed up, it was running great. Thanks for the help!!
timmyboy76
New Member
cool....ur an animal...rain, overcast, 45*. FORGETABOUTIT.:cheers:
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