94 SPI Hard Start Today

[tjr]

Tried to start my 94 SPI:
1. pulled the choke, cranked, almost started first try.
2. then nothing but cranking and not a sputter.
3. Pulled the plugs, wet with fuel.
4. Continued to try to start until I killed the battery.
5. After recharging the battery cranked full throttle and after about 3 minutes it tried to start. Kept cranking and it finally started with LOTS of smoke out the exhaust.

Lake elevation is about 2500 feet.

This little ski usually starts easy. Every so often it will do this. I do premix and last year put in - new fuel selector, new fuel lines, rebuilt single carb, new SBT engine.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Technical Support]

Re: 94 SPI Hard Start Today

What is the condition of the rotary cover and valve?

[tjr]

Re: 94 SPI Hard Start Today

Last year I put a new rotary valve in. The cover was ok.

The ski runs great. In 2007 I put a new SBT engine in. After 1 month it "snagged" (according to SBT) a ring on the PTO cyl. SBT sent me another engine and I installed it in May 2008. Ran strong all summer.

So far this year it is running really good. However, this is the second time I had this type of hard starting. Last year it did this once.

Thanks.

tj

[dsolie]

Re: 94 SPI Hard Start Today

Fresh gas?? What's the standing and cranking voltage of the battery?

[tjr]

Re: 94 SPI Hard Start Today

dsolie,

I will check the voltage. I'm starting to think it has to do with using the choke. I think when this happened last year I quit using the choke on initial starts. If the ski would not start without the choke, then I would use the choke.

The lake elevation is about 2500 ft. I'm think the ski just brought in too much fuel when using the choke on initial cranking. Then again, maybe I am way off. When it would not start I looked at the plugs and they were soaked with fuel.

Thanks again

tj