96 GSX having major issues

[96gsx]

My 96 GSX is having some wacky issues.
To start, the ski only has 65 hours on it and hasn't even had anything major go wrong (that I was told). It was maintained by the same shop since new and they said it was all in all very clean.

I just purchased this ski and during the test run it ran a little boggy on the low end, but all in all it ran good. The gas was over 2 years old so I figured the carbs may be a little gunked up or something.

So I took it home, siphoned out most of the old gas and put some new gas in, new spark plugs and took her on the water. After about 10 minutes of riding at about 10 mph to get out of the harbor she died out once it was time to speed.

I tried to kick it over and it would sort of start, then die out.

Once I got it home it looked as if it no longer had spark. So I cut the wires, and then took apart the coil box, and then rehooked it all up.

I went to start it and bam! it started right up. It ran for about 15 seconds then sort of sputtered out. I was then able to get it started another 2 or 3 times for a few short seconds before it just died out.

I am lost...........is it the carbs need rebuilding, is the electrical system broken somewhere? Are there any specifics I can do to find out?

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 96 GSX having major issues

I would definetly suspect the carbs and fuel selector valve, but I would also check to see if the charging system is working properly too.
1996 787's do break ignition pickup brackets which can cause erratic running until the bracket breaks completely off. SD upgraded them in 1997 with stronger brackets.

[96gsx]

Re: 96 GSX having major issues

Hey Bill,
We spoke on the phone today just incase you didn't realize this was me.


I think you are right with the carb issue. I knew the carbs should be rebuilt, but figured I could ride maybe once or twice to end the season off.

What I realized after thinking back on my steps, is that the jet ski runs every time I took the plugs out and put them back in. I wipe them up, put them back in and IT RUNS!

It will run for about a minute or so before it sort of sputters and shuts off itself. If I take the plugs out and inspect, they look very gasy and wet. If I wipe them up and restart, it runs again for a little bit.

So, the plugs seem to be fouling after about 30 seconds of run time.

I am planning on bringing it to a mechanic to have the carbs rebuilt.
Is that what it sounds like the issue is? Since it runs when I wipe the plugs up?

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 96 GSX having major issues

Yes I do.........

[1fastski.com]

Re: 96 GSX having major issues

a quick check would be the small ground wire on the battery , if its loose or worn it will make you loose spark . also pour a little gas down the carbs if it starts right up and dies then rebuild your carbs .

[96gsx]

Re: 96 GSX having major issues

Thanks for the reply.

I acutally figured out that it doesn't look like it is losing spark. But insteady fouling the plugs after about 30 seconds of running.

All seem to think its the carbs as it is probably so. I may bring it down and pay an hour to have it diagnosed to be certain it is nothing else major as well.

Thanks

a quick check would be the small ground wire on the battery , if its loose or worn it will make you loose spark . also pour a little gas down the carbs if it starts right up and dies then rebuild your carbs .