'96 Yamaha Wave Venture won't go past 28mph

[jhunter]

I made an offer of $500 on a '96 1100cc Yamaha Wave Venture before I tested it in the water (hooked up hose and tested on land and ran fine). Everybody said it was a steal so i made the offer and it was accepted. The machine sat for 2 years covered on land. Owner didn't use it anymore and just wanted it gone cheap. After offer i tested it on the water (backwards right? - i live in Nashville and machine was in bath). It started fine and got up to about 40 mph quickly and then started bogging down. It then maxed out at 28 and wouldn't run above that. I ran it for about 20 minutes but still never went above 28. Felt like carb problems from past experience of working and rebuilding racing two stroke motors in the past. Not familiar with water machines thought. I ruled out compression because it jumped to 40 quickly then bogged. Low compression probably wouldn't get to 40 at all.

Any suggestions? One problem is i live in Nashville and it is my sales reps father-in-laws in NC. Hard to do work and testing on it without getting it home. Should i back out of the $500 offer or take the chance? Open to all advice.

Thanks,

Joe

[hollywood3160]

Re: '96 Yamaha Wave Venture won't go past 28mph

Hey joe, just because it cranked doesnt meen compression i good. You may be running on two cyl as opposed to three, if you said the ski sat outside for 2 years i would say the gas in it is toast! Even though you put fresh gas in it to bumo the octane up the carbs need to be gone through. My main concern is accurate compression test, the cylinders should read above 110 and should not have a difference in compression of 3-5 psi between the cylinders. You want them equal for "balance" check that first, you'll need a 14 mm adapter to screw into the spark plug whole, if that is good. And let us know wat the compression is, if it is good, then get the gas out of it and rebuild the carbs, change the fuel filter as well, and fyi take a look at the intake t the pump and see what it looks like... Let us know

best,
hollywood

[jhunter]

Re: '96 Yamaha Wave Venture won't go past 28mph

Thanks for the advice. I will do a compression check and start from there and let you know.

Joe

[torquenut]

Re: '96 Yamaha Wave Venture won't go past 28mph

I would also take apart the carbs, clean them and rebuilt them, two years is long time diapharms are probably elongated.