Ckrawiec
Well-Known Member
OK, so after MUCH trial, tribulation and frustration....the 1996 GTX is finally back on the water. The last piece of the puzzle was the rectifier/regulator...the 3rd one was the charm. I had re-built the carbs back to factory specs last winter (Thank you MIKI for the sticky post and ALL the other responders over the years offering words of wisdom and encouragement and sometimes unrelated bits of information that all came together), triple checked all the wiring, fuses, etc.....
So, this weekend.....I'm finally ready to give her the first start of the season......when out of the cottage window I hear my wife yell out to me...."Do we really need THAT ski"....is it ME or do women just know how to drain the life out of you (as she KNOWS that I really like this ski and I have invested a lot of time and energy and some money -but not too much) into it)......ANYWAY.....I respond back -> "Yes, dear"....muttering OTHER choice words under my breath!!!!!.
SO, I cheated and put a tiny squirt of ether down each spark hole, put the plugs back in hand tight and hit the START button (electrics were previously checked and ready, DESS key chirped twice)....SHE sprang right to life, idled at 3500 on the hose, throttle response was crisp and the battery voltage while running was a nice and steady 14.1 volts (static at rest was 12.4V). I tightened the plugs.
SHE's alive and well......took her to the ramp, dropped her in the water, started right up and my son drove her away.....BOY, I was like a proud papa watching her putter away. After a little warm up....my son said everything was great, good throttle response, speed was there, etc.....guages all working.....FINALLY. They are a labor of love (and hate - sometimes)!
Fingers crossed....we will see how the season progresses....but for now she's floating! Yay!
So, this weekend.....I'm finally ready to give her the first start of the season......when out of the cottage window I hear my wife yell out to me...."Do we really need THAT ski"....is it ME or do women just know how to drain the life out of you (as she KNOWS that I really like this ski and I have invested a lot of time and energy and some money -but not too much) into it)......ANYWAY.....I respond back -> "Yes, dear"....muttering OTHER choice words under my breath!!!!!.
SO, I cheated and put a tiny squirt of ether down each spark hole, put the plugs back in hand tight and hit the START button (electrics were previously checked and ready, DESS key chirped twice)....SHE sprang right to life, idled at 3500 on the hose, throttle response was crisp and the battery voltage while running was a nice and steady 14.1 volts (static at rest was 12.4V). I tightened the plugs.
SHE's alive and well......took her to the ramp, dropped her in the water, started right up and my son drove her away.....BOY, I was like a proud papa watching her putter away. After a little warm up....my son said everything was great, good throttle response, speed was there, etc.....guages all working.....FINALLY. They are a labor of love (and hate - sometimes)!
Fingers crossed....we will see how the season progresses....but for now she's floating! Yay!
