97' GTX won't go over 30 MPH

[rrichr]

I have two 97' GTX's and the one my wife was on at the end of the day would not go over 30 and the RPM's would not go over 4-5K.

I cleaned the RAVE valves and boy did they need it. I changed the plugs about 20 hours ago. Everything has been running very good. The other one has no hesitation.

This may do the trick as I have not taken them out since I cleaned them. Any thoughts on other actions I should take?

[Bryan Glynn]

I agree, I think you found your problem. Sticking valves will not allow RPMs past the mid 4k's.

[rrichr]

Thanks for the quick reply Bryan.

[Bill O'Neal]

I highly doubt that is the problem, although it could be. Did the valves go up and down by hand ?
I've seen plenty of very dirty valves that still worked.
My guesses would be carb fuel filters or water regulator, but it could be several different things.

[nofear]

On a 97 GTX what would be the maximum rpm and what speed would you expect at wot if everything is in good condition

[Bryan Glynn]

Max RPMs should be somewhere around 6800+ and it should do 56 on GPS or radar.

[rrichr]

The valves where very thick with caked oil. Both skis had equal amounts of crud and only one was having this problem.

On my analogue guages it is 7K @ 59mph. The digital max speed with my 110 pound daughter was 61mph.

I will read the manual to replace the fuel filters and read about the water regulator.

[rrichr]

I did have to pull pretty hard when I took the alan bolts out.

[rrichr]

I checked the fuel filter tonight and the ski that would not go over thirty had major gunk in the filter. It is the ski that my sister-in-law flipped over.

Would flipping it over stir up bottom residue and clog the filter?

[Bryan Glynn]

It certainly will stir it up, but really no more so than normal riding will. It's usually something that happens over time, however you certainly could have stirred it up more than usual when it flipped.

[Bill O'Neal]

Now disassemble the carbs and clean the internal filters too.

[rrichr]

In the shop manual it references the internal fuel filter and I can see where it is on the carb closest to the front of the ski but it does not look like there is one on the other carb. Is it just located in a different spot?

Also, is there a trick to removing the carbs without disterbing the setting of the throttle cables?

[Bryan Glynn]

The filter you see is not the internal filter, it's the external. Each carb has an internal filter only accessible by disassembling the carbs for cleaning. Download the Install Removal guide for your ski in the Tech section to see how to get your carbs off.

[rrichr]

Is that the carburator adjustment article in the technical section that you are referring to?

[Bryan Glynn]

Yes the adjustment article is in there, and the carb rebuild guide is too.