• This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.

Tweakin on the 96 GTX

etemplet

Moderator
Moderator
Funny thing with my GTX that I haven't ridden in a year.... LOL sad but true. I got everything spot on, new/rebuilt engine and everything works. I went to start it up last month and it was ornery but finally cranked on it's own, ran like crap in the driveway then cleared up. I figured that was it... all is well. Had more problems with it starting... these skis should take maybe 6 seconds at full choke then fire after sitting more than a week, this is also my experience after they sit for 3 months or more. They start up pretty well. :D I compound issues because I don't ride the skis very often.

So... I decided to pull the carbs and have a look. One of the needles was sluggish, there was no fuel in the carbs so I look over at the ski and the fuel is "OFF" :D :D I pulled the low speed jets and checked the nozzles in the carb throat, all looked well. I hooked everything up, turned on the fuel :D and the ski would not start on it's own... no pop, nothing. A squirt of starting fluid and boom fired up and ran, good idle. Hmmmmm.... I thought about bad gas and people will laugh but gas doesn't go bad as quickly as some people think. I've run fuel a year in the ski with no issues.. Anyway... I figured I'd look at the fuel delivery system, pressure test check the selector which is new. I detected no problems. I figured I see how well the carb fuel pump is working and that system so I stuck a clear hose in a fuel can of "fresh fuel" and connected it to the carb. Cleaned the spark plugs, install my spark checkers, and hit the start button. I wasn't looking for the ski to run, just see if it pulled fuel from the tank and how quickly. Ski fired right up. :D :D

What I might have is "just about" dead fuel. Perhaps it floods the spark plugs because it won't burn like it should. I guess I'll pull the old fuel out of the ski and put some good stuff in there and see what happens. Then again, I could just go ride it. :D LOL Just a note, the fuel in this ski is at least 14 months old and that was mixed with fuel that was a year old before that. Yea I suck at riding my skis. :)

I really enjoy working on my own ski for a change because I know that everything is good I just have to find out what isn't. LOL Touchdowns everyone !!
 
Last edited:
I'm sure that matters but there isn't a significant difference after 6 months between ethanol and non. My cousin has been a GM tech for a long time and opened his own repair shop 10 years ago, He posted on my FB group the general expectations on fuel potency is 3 months for ethanol, 6 months for non-ethanol. My fuel was over a year old mixed with fuel 2 years old. 6 months ago the engine fired right up on that fuel. Now it required a shot of starting fluid after which the engine continued to run and restart. The next day, it wouldn't start on it's own. Given this information, since most skis sit for 8 months out of the year... I'm gonna run mine low on fuel and pump the tanks out. That isn't necessary but I'm gonna do it. Pump the fuel into my fuel containers I keep at home and burn it while it is good. :D The skis will like me betta. :D
 
FINAL RESULTS - After putting everything back together I took the ski to the gas station and fueled up with 93 octane. I came home and just had to try it. Remember I drained everything and pumped the system clear of fuel. I pulled the choke and hit the starter.
In 5 seconds the carb pump pulled fuel from the tank, filled the water separator and 6 feet of fuel line, and the engine fired right up, not a hitch, idled great. It was saying... take me out for a ride. :D :D

Sure is nice being able to fix your own stuff ain't it. :D What a gift !!
 
I use marine stabil all the time and leave the fuel in the system over the winter and have not seen any problems. I use regular ethanol gas and mix 1/2 oz.to 5 gallons of gas. It fires up pretty quick in the spring with the old plugs when I clear out the fogging oil before new plugs installed.
 
I also use the marine stabil when winterizing, I also use the ethanol free premium gas during the riding months. I had bought a cheap ethanol tester once and tested all the different fuels at the different stations around me to see how much ethanol was in each. Once I seen the water in the tester after sitting I was sold on the ethanol free
 
I also use the marine stabil when winterizing, I also use the ethanol free premium gas during the riding months. I had bought a cheap ethanol tester once and tested all the different fuels at the different stations around me to see how much ethanol was in each. Once I seen the water in the tester after sitting I was sold on the ethanol free

Is that tester the one where you put the fuel in and let it settle? I bought that one too. I often suspect fuel and I want a KABOOM type test to show me how much energy is in the fuel. A friend told me a fuels rep had something where he could put a few drops of fuel in and it would test. He showed how quickly fuel degrades in tanks.

I've never seriously had an issue but on the skis after sitting almost 2 years I can say that was an issue "this" time. :D
 
Is that tester the one where you put the fuel in and let it settle? I bought that one too. I often suspect fuel and I want a KABOOM type test to show me how much energy is in the fuel. A friend told me a fuels rep had something where he could put a few drops of fuel in and it would test. He showed how quickly fuel degrades in tanks.

I've never seriously had an issue but on the skis after sitting almost 2 years I can say that was an issue "this" time. :D
Yea, it’s really just a beaker with likes on it. I have never looked into the type of tester that goes boom to measure energy
 
I took the ski out for a run yesterday, I hardly ride this ski and I was not with my wife and her 97 GTX. I noticed a fairly pronounced, I think some people refer to it as "dieseling" (maybe) between 4k and 5k RPM. I know the carbs are good, clean and pop-off is up around 36psi and good fuel. So it sounds like gurgling. I really can't get a smooth spot in between 4k and 5k. That's where the raves open and I know the carb skis have to transition there so it isn't generally an area of concern. Ski idles well, get up to 4k smoothly and jumps the 5k and above with good top end. Just rough between 4&5.

I'm not sure the low speed adjusters will affect this because this is a bit out of their range. I could be over-fueling the low speed a bit. I'm wondering if adjusting the raves 3 turns in will tighten the transition. Most skis I work on the raves are 3 turns in. I adjust them flat even with the top.
 
Every 787 I have been on has the weird misfire and gurgle at the 4500 rpm range.
Yes, I'm trying to clean it up some. :) I'm gonna have to ride my wife's 1997. If I remember correctly hers feels like it is shifting gears in that range with a flat spot but it's pretty smooth. I think my ski has enough to take her on in a race. Engine is broke in now and I hit 51mph on the GPS. :) I've been trying to catch her for 4 years. :D She loves it and I refuse to cheat. LOL
 
I’ve never twerked on any of my seadoo’s, but twerking is a relatively new thing that the kids are doing. Post a video
 
Back
Top