New Tigershark owner has some questions

[Tommboy]

I just bought a 95' Monte Carlo. The ski is in great almost new condition. The previous owner had not used them in three years but said they ran great when he used them last. He had them winterized and they sat in a garage.
I'm going to try starting it tonight. I've replaced the battery, plugs, fuel filter, removed the air filter cleaned it up, I sprayed the heck out card with carb cleaner, removed the old gas and replaced it with 1 gallon of premix 50:1, I didn't replace the old oil, should I? Any other ideas on what I should I should do before I try starting it?

[Brian J]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

I would pull the plugs and put some 2-cycle oil down the spark plug holes and turn engine by hand to pre lube the pistons... then check the Jet Pump oil.

Spraying the carb... with carb cleaner really does nothing to clean the internals of the carb. The gas has been sitting in the carb for three years...
You should rebuild the carb about $35 if you do it yourself.

Other than that it sounds like you have yourself ready for it to start up...

Also might want to do a compression test as a baseline.

Good Luck.

[1fastski.com]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

never spray carb cleaner or starting fluid into a 2 stroke engine , you should first remove the plugs and put a dab a 2 stroke oil in the cyls . crank it ove some , do a compression test if ok then pull the carb /carbs and rebuild them . be very carfull you dont break anything on tigersharks , parts are VERY hard to get . and have fun

[surveyguy]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

if the gas wes not 'sta-bil' ized, then I'd dump the old gas and use in your ol' pickup or lawnmowers.

never use carb cleaner, it will destoy parts inside the carb.

[airborne2007]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

This doesnt go as an answer to your question, but you say you filled the gas tank with 50:1 gas mixture---plus the regular 2 cycle oil in the oil tank. I recently got a 98 TS1000--and I'm still waiting to get the manual from the previous owner. I'm relatively new to jet skis--just have gone out with a friend a few times. One question is do you always have to fill Tigersharks with 50:1 premix plus the 2 cycle in the oil tank? Also does anyone have a website or a link to a thread somewhere that gives a little bit of jetski maintence, etc. 101? Thanks again.

-john

[dank]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

If the oil injector is still on and working then you don't have to premix the fuel.

This is a great website to learn proper jetski care.

Look at some of the tech articles and videos.

[Tommboy]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

Thanks for all the tips and info. I didn't get a chance to start it, as I was informed that I need to get a flush kit to start it out of water. Is there a generic flush kit I can buy or do I need one specific for the tigersharks? Also is rebuilding the carb difficult? Again thanks for all your help!

[surveyguy]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

rebuilding the carbs isn't bad, but I am not most people. It kind of depends. If your screws come out easy, (pop the screwdriver with a hammer) then you're lucky. I had a couple break off I had to drill tap and put a different screw in. Now that I've done that, it isn't so bad. Get a clymer repair manual (not a solec). watch the sbt videos, and get the sbt kits.

[Tommboy]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

Just wanted to let everyone know that she fired on the first pull!! Ran a little rough at first and started to smooth out. Thanks for everyones help. See ya on the water!

P.S. For who ever was asking about the mixing ratio 50:1. It says it right on the gas cap.

[surveyguy]

Re: New Tigershark owner has some questions

good to hear, maintain that thing properly and you'll be in great shape!