Kawi_Rider_316

Well guys Im new to the site but looking around I've already found some great information. Ive been around motocross bikes/snowmobile my whole life but this is the first watercraft I've owned - ridden many.

Anyway I was reading Skirunner's post and one of the replys seemed possibley what could be wrong with mine.

Problem:
Ski sat for two years, I got it home put a battery in it, drained the fuel and put fresh in, put new spark plugs in - fired right up.
Dropped it in the lake and I can ride it around it just seems like it has absolutely no power. If I turn even relatively sharp it just wants to pretty much go under water (doesnt have enough power to pull itself through the corner). Also doesnt want to start when warm. So tonight I took the jet ski of the lake and cleaned the carbs. Now I have never worked on a carburator anything like this. I just pulled out both jets (2 screws on opposite sides of carburator) took of the air filter/spark arrester or whatever that is called. ANd took the assembly w/ the spring and small 10mm bolt and sprayed that all out. Should have I taken anything else apart? Also, I was out of carb cleaner I used wd40 and sprayed it out with air gun - not sure if thats important or not. Put everything back together and put it on the lake. Seemed to run a bit better BUT the lake was glass smooth so hard to tell. Put it in the hoist and went home to look at how to adjust my low/high speed jetting. Went back down there and could not get it to start. It finally started and I took it out came back to adjust carbs and it died and wouldnt start back up.

Just wondering what Im missing, it seems as if its not getting gas. But Im not sure why/how its not?

Also I did a compression test and one cylinder is at 110 and one is at 100. This seemed a bit low to me, but people i've talked to said thats fine. So I figured I would run it the rest of the year then do a top end. Also from what i've read I must have an early 91, VIN # is 91 but it does not have reed valves so I've got the Mukini carb.

Any help would be great! I'd like to be out riding by the weekend!

p10sdad

Jetting is really touchy on these things. An 1/8 of a turn can make a difference. If you don't have reeds, you have a pre 91. 90 is the 1st year of the rear exhaust hull, and 91 starts the reed motor. Someone could have done a motor swap to keep the good reed motor

Kawi_Rider_316

I guess that is possible that the motor was swapped. It does have the rear exit exhaust. From reading on the internet, wikipedia says that the earlier 91's had piston port, and mid 91 ones and later had reed. Obviously wikipedia isn't the most reliable source out there however.

My next question, What jet is the slow speed and what one is the high speed? I will try to adjust that tonight. Also does anyone know stock jet settings? One is currently adjusted and 1 1/4 turns out, the other one at just under 1/2 out.

Skirunner2486

Kawi,

My problem ended up being LOTS of water in the gas, among a few other issues. Shoulda checked that earlier but I overlooked it. I would recommend ordering a carb rebuild kit for your particular carb. (ebay is usually my go to) Take apart everything on the carb and replace with what you got in the kit. Blast out all holes with carb cleaner. Remember how many turns your High and Low needles were set at first though. I found a lot of debris in mine that may or may not have contributed to the poor performance.

Good Luck

p10sdad

The bottom one is low and 1 1/16 the top is high and 15/16. I haven't done this in a while, so those numbers are off the top of my head, they may be reversed. Anyway your within an 1/8 either way, so it's a good starting point. Once you get it started, turn the hose on and make your adjustments small, then once you get close you can fine tune it at the lake under a load. Yeah maybe they did do a piston port in early 91, I don't really know

Kawi_Rider_316

p10sdad - Thanks for specs. I will adjust that tonight (hopefully). The ski is sittin on a lift at the lake right now but last night when I adjusted the carbs there was one adjustment screw on each side of the carb. I will check if one is higher than the other and use that as the top/bottom screws. Otherwise do you know which screw is towards the engine and what one is away from?

Skirunner - I will keep an eye out for a rebiuld kit on the Ebay. That may be a good starting point if my adjustments do not work.

Thanks guys, and more opinions and experiences always welcome!

p10sdad

I don't know on that carb. try Ponda, or 550subman, I'm pretty sure they both have 550's and I got rid of my 90

550subman

Not sure what carb you have mines not stock haven't seen a stock carb for a while. But my high is facing the rear of the ski and bottom is facing the front. I have a mixture setting too if that's what you call it. Its on the high side and looks different than the others. Hope this helps.