Help please. Not sure what to do!

[Jfrymania]

Hey guys I took the boat out today and the port engine was kind of hard to start. The starboard engine fired right up first. I put new plugs in both today before going out so am lost at what it could be or where to start. First, boat is 99 Speedster SK; Second it started (port engine) at the dock after four or five times of trying to turnover. We ran it for a little over an hour and then stopped to let the boys swim. Go to leave and the starboard engine fires right up. I hit the port and it fires/turns over then dies. Hit the button again and won't turnover. Tried pulling the choke out and it fires/turns over then dies a couple seconds later. I tried a few more times and it wouldn't stay started for more than a second or so. I'm mechanically challenged and lost because its new plugs it turned over and started for sec then died. Any help would be great and I know I can trust you guys after reading everything else. Thanks!

 

[Dr Honda]

Without being up close and personal with the engine... that sounds like the rotary valve stopped spinning.

 

[Jfrymania]

would it be beneficial to take a video trying to start and post it? I have no clue what to do for a rotary valve.

 

[Jfrymania]

Also, not sure if this matters or worth mentioning but when it did turn over for a minute or so it was like it was not getting any throttle.?.? Does anyone know of where videos or pics of trying to see if the rotary valve is turning? For someone like me (mechanically challenged) is it worth doing this or just letting the boat go for cheap?

 

[Dr Honda]

You will need to remove the carbs to get a good look at the rotary valve. It's between the engine case, and intake manifold.

No real reason to post a vid.

 

[RFoster130]

Let it go cheap. I'll be down tomorrow with $500.

 

[Jfrymania]

LMAO...I like the way you think! Obviously everyone can tell Im frustrated now. Always on the road being military and then buy this boat thinking I'm getting a good deal but it's been one thing after another. The only good thing so far has been meeting so many helpful ppl on this site.

 

[RFoster130]

When you had it out running, how did it do? Is it just hard to start?. How do your carbs and fuel system look?

 

[Jfrymania]

Alright back to this RV issue. When I remove the carbs and "look" at the RV what am I looking for? Sorry for the thousand questions, I'm really in new land here. Thanks!

 

[Jfrymania]

When you had it out running, how did it do? Is it just hard to start?. How do your carbs and fuel system look?

It's always been hard to start for some reason, that's why I put in new plugs. When launching at the dock the starboard fired right up, the port took four or five times to start. Even started and idled high then died. Then it finally fired up and smoked a little bit. Ran great for over an hour then stopped to let the boys swim. Starboard engine fired right up and then the starboard started but died after 30 secs or so. So I tried a few times and it wouldn't stay started. I even pulled the choke out cause it sounded like it was just dying out without throttle.

I have no idea with carbs, will find out tomorrow when I start looking into this issue. I wouldn't even know what to look for with the fuel system. Any help can be repayed in beer...........when y'all come visit...LoL

 

[Dr Honda]

The rotary valve is a thin metal plate that opens and closes the intake runners. SO... if you have the carbs off... ground the sparkplug wires, and crank the engine. You should see the metal disk spinning. (down in the intake runner) If it's not spinning, or it's rough... that's the issue. If it is spinning smooth... then we need to find a new thing.

I think the hard starting isn't attached to the new prob.

Also... as always with a 2-stroke... we need a compression reading also.

 

[LouDoo]

It would be a good idea to get compression readings on both cylinders before you do this. A compression test will give you a pretty good idea of the general condition of the engine.

The carbs. are relatively easy to remove.

1. Remove the air box.
2. Remove the spark arrestor and supporting bracket.
3. If your careful you won't need to remove the cables.
4. Lay an old towel in the hull.
5. Remove the fuel lines, pulse line, and return line.
6. Remove the 4 allen head bolts, that hold the carbs. to the manifold.
7. Carefully lay the carbs. on the towel in the hull.

Be careful not to drop anything into the carbs. or into the intake manifold. After you have checked if the rotary valve is turning stuff paper towels or rags into the intake manifold.

You will now be able to see the rotary valve hopefully rotate where the carb(s). mount to the intake manifold.

You probably should download a service manual for your boat, you can get one from this site if you join as a premium member or you can google and find one elsewhere.

Where in TN are you located?

Lou

 

[Jfrymania]

Thanks for the help. Compression tests were done about three weeks ago and was 145 or 147 on both engines. I have the manuals but like I said I'm mechanically challenged so it's like trying to read the Spanish menu at McDonalds. If it ain't got step by step pictures then I'm worried. I live down by Chattanooga, TN.
I know you guys have a lot of expertise and I really appreciate y'all taking the time to help! I am pulling the boat in the garage this morning and will take pics as I go through this. I feel like I'm about to do open heart surgery.....

 

[LouDoo]

I was reading your post and I went back over the directions I gave last night. In step two, I'm thinking you won't need to remove the spark arrestor, just remove the two screws that hold the bracket to the engine, just leave the spark arrestor in place. Actually by not removing the spark arrestor it will keep stuff from falling through the carbs.

Lou

 

[Jfrymania]

I was reading your post and I went back over the directions I gave last night. In step two, I'm thinking you won't need to remove the spark arrestor, just remove the two screws that hold the bracket to the engine, just leave the spark arrestor in place. Actually by not removing the spark arrestor it will keep stuff from falling through the carbs.

Lou

I attached a picture and wanted to make sure I remove the two bolts holding the spark arrestor to the engine. In the pic is it the two on top of the engine? i noticed in the manual when removing the spark arrestor completely there are two more screws underneath somewhere. I didnt want to dive into it if the two on top will remove the whole assembly.

When removing the lines from the carbs do i need to use a hose pincher and pinch them before removal?

 

[LouDoo]

Yes, just remove the two allen bolts that attach to the engine, the one under the A and the X. You will also need to remove the 6 allen head bolts so you can remove the air box.

Just cut the old clamps off, you can use hose clamps or cable ties when you put them back on. You may only need to remove the pulse line depending on how much slack there is in the hoses. If you still have the grey tempo fuel lines you might have another issue, but lets tackle one problem at a time.

Lou

 

[Jfrymania]

Sorry do you mean the R and X? In the picture there is only one screw under the Aand X...l

 

[LouDoo]

Yes R & A...........I guess I shouldn't have said anything.

 

[Jfrymania]

It would be a good idea to get compression readings on both cylinders before you do this. A compression test will give you a pretty good idea of the general condition of the engine.

The carbs. are relatively easy to remove.

1. Remove the air box.
2. Remove the spark arrestor and supporting bracket.
3. If your careful you won't need to remove the cables.
4. Lay an old towel in the hull.
5. Remove the fuel lines, pulse line, and return line.
6. Remove the 4 allen head bolts, that hold the carbs. to the manifold.
7. Carefully lay the carbs. on the towel in the hull.

Be careful not to drop anything into the carbs. or into the intake manifold. After you have checked if the rotary valve is turning stuff paper towels or rags into the intake manifold.

You will now be able to see the rotary valve hopefully rotate where the carb(s). mount to the intake manifold.

You probably should download a service manual for your boat, you can get one from this site if you join as a premium member or you can google and find one elsewhere.

Where in TN are you located?

Lou

No, thank you for the help. This is where the being of mechanically challenged now comes in to play. Under your instructions #6 reads to remove the four allen bolts holding the carbs to the manifold. No clue where, I looked in the manual and could not find this, its almost as if they want you to remove the spark arrestor and everything. I attached a picture of where I am at as of now. if you could point me in the direction of the 6 bolts then i should be ready to remove the rotary valve cover.

Something that prolly takes you guys 15 minutes to do is taking me over an hour....LoL

 

[LouDoo]

You are going to need to remove the spark arrestor, the four large bolts I'm talking about is under it. Pop out the spark arrestor, that's the screen looking thing. There are four small allen screws that hold it to the carbs. Be very careful not to drop these screws.

Lou

 

[Jfrymania]

Update! Got ask the way down and everything looks to move freely. So I pulled it out of the garage hooked the house up and she started.....wtf! It was still the our for times before out started but it ran fine. Any thought?

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Wow, that's great

But I've never seen a ski hooked to a house before. Post some pics of that>>> LOL (sorry , could resist)

 

[LouDoo]

Maybe the spark arrestor is clogged up. Get some kitchen degreaser, or Castrol Super Clean, Purple power, use full strength and clean the spark arrestor. In fact let it soak for a while, then rinse out with hot water. Blow dry and re-install. If it's running fine now, after you clean the spark arrestor, just put it back together.

Lou

 

[Jfrymania]

Haha. I was so excited it was running, I meant hooked....you guys know what I meant...lol

Back to the topic...so take the boat to the water run around for about twenty minutes then ran back to the dock. Someone was so excited they forgot to put on the drain plug.....oops
Cut the engines off, while putting the drain plug in and then go to re start. Same issue, would not stay started. Sounded like it was struggling for air. I pulled the choke out and held it open while starting. It turned over and sounded again like it was losing air or something. I'm gonna clean the spark arrestor anyways Cassius that sounds like a good idea. Any other thoughts our ideas.

Thanks for the help before and there's no way I could have done that earlier without you guys!