11 replies to this topic

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Hi -

I have a '97 speedster with twin 85hp Rotax engines. When taking off from a stop, the engines hesitate to the point of stalling. You can nurse the throttle through this stage, but you cannot just gun it and take off.

I know that the problem is somewhere in the carbs, but I'm not sure where to start. I don't want to take it in for $300 bucks worth of carb work for an adjustment or something I can do myself.

Anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing this? I'm thinking that it might be as simple as a good cleaning, but I'm not sure how to go about that. I was also told that it might be the idle air adjustment, but again, not sure where that is.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to email me at steveluchak@aggienetwork.com.

Thanks,

- Steve

[Bob86ZZ4]

Yepper, I would suspect carbs too. I would try a good fuel system cleaner first because that's the easiest and cheapest. I'm not thinking it would solve your problem tho. I think you may be in for a carb removal, take them apart, clean everything, and re-install. I would bet you could get a carb kit that would have the new gaskets and jets and accelerator pump (do our carbs have these?). Good luck. Let us know if the fuel system cleaner helped.

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Hi -

I have a '97 speedster with twin 85hp Rotax engines. When taking off from a stop, the engines hesitate to the point of stalling. You can nurse the throttle through this stage, but you cannot just gun it and take off.

I know that the problem is somewhere in the carbs, but I'm not sure where to start. I don't want to take it in for $300 bucks worth of carb work for an adjustment or something I can do myself.

Anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing this? I'm thinking that it might be as simple as a good cleaning, but I'm not sure how to go about that. I was also told that it might be the idle air adjustment, but again, not sure where that is.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to email me at steveluchak@aggienetwork.com.

Thanks,

- Steve

I'm gonna put it on the lake this weekend and run some cleaner through it... if that doesn't work it's going to the shop next week.

I will keep ya'll updated.

[Bob86ZZ4]

Another thought just came to mind. What about the fuel filters and water seperators. There is a plastic cylinder thing located near my fuel tank on each side (one for each engine on my boat) that the bottom section comes unscrewed from. These are used to seperate the water from the fuel. When they become full of water it starts running water into the engines with the fuel. I had a problem with mine when I hadn't emtied the water out for awhile and the boat started having the same problem you described.

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Another thought just came to mind. What about the fuel filters and water seperators. There is a plastic cylinder thing located near my fuel tank on each side (one for each engine on my boat) that the bottom section comes unscrewed from. These are used to seperate the water from the fuel. When they become full of water it starts running water into the engines with the fuel. I had a problem with mine when I hadn't emtied the water out for awhile and the boat started having the same problem you described.

I'll definatly check out the canisters tonight and let you know what I find.

I took it out to the lake this weekend... backed it into the water... and? dead battery. even after sitting on the charger (and starting in my garage) all night.

So I ran to academy real fast and changed the battery in the parking lot. Back to the lake to mess with it...

I sprayed half a can of carb cleaner in it of so and she started purring like a kitten... now I can open her up fast and all she does is go!

The weather was pretty nasty (very windy) so I didn't get to stay out as long as I wanted to, so I'm still going to clean them again with it in the driveway and make sure all the filters are all up to spec.

I will keep ya'll posted as to how it goes.

- Steve

[Bob86ZZ4]

Great news about getting it working with carb cleaner. I just can't figure out how spraying cleaner down the throat does anything much for the carb because all the fuel handling is done before it sprays fuel into the throat. But if it worked for you that says something. I would still put some good carb cleaner in the gas. Too bad about the battery. I killed my first two batteries by leaving them in the boat all winter. They wouldn't take a charge in spring. Now I use a battery tender and unhook the batteries from the electrical on the boat.

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Great news about getting it working with carb cleaner. I just can't figure out how spraying cleaner down the throat does anything much for the carb because all the fuel handling is done before it sprays fuel into the throat. But if it worked for you that says something. I would still put some good carb cleaner in the gas. Too bad about the battery. I killed my first two batteries by leaving them in the boat all winter. They wouldn't take a charge in spring. Now I use a battery tender and unhook the batteries from the electrical on the boat.

I just called about new fuel filters for the boat and they want $15 a piece for these guys. Is there any other place to get parts besides the sea doo dealer? I just can't see paying 30 bucks for 2 little screens that probably don't even work that well.

Also - Is this the 'water seperators' that you were referring to in your above post? I've got 1 for each engine mounted to the backside of the seats. They are in little cylinders just like you described... just want to make sure that i've got the right things.

Please advise.

Thanks,

- Steve

[Bob86ZZ4]

Ya, that sounds like them. I think mine are kind of white plastic bottom parts. I don't think I would buy new filters. Just unscrew the round lower part from the black top part. The screen is inside if I remember right. Take the screen out and blow it out with compressed air. Dump the contents of the bowl out and dump it into your hand and you should be able to feel the difference between the gas and the water. Then put it back together and away you go.

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Ya, that sounds like them. I think mine are kind of white plastic bottom parts. I don't think I would buy new filters. Just unscrew the round lower part from the black top part. The screen is inside if I remember right. Take the screen out and blow it out with compressed air. Dump the contents of the bowl out and dump it into your hand and you should be able to feel the difference between the gas and the water. Then put it back together and away you go.

How much pressure would be too much on those filters? They felt pretty thin to me... I don't want to put a hole in them, you know?

I tried cleaning them with some carb cleaner, but it was pretty ineffective......

[Bob86ZZ4]

Well, I guess if yours are gunked up that bad then I would buy new ones. Mine never seem to get dirty.

[TexasA&MSpeedster]

Well, I guess if yours are gunked up that bad then I would buy new ones. Mine never seem to get dirty.

I cleaned them as best I could this weekend with some air and more carb cleaner... The air got a LOT of junk out of them, so I'm just going to run with these for now... they are cleaner than they were, so that will have to do for now.

I also ran the motors in the driveway for a little while and used almost a can of carb cleaner on them (while there is some in the gas as well) so hopefully that will clear up my problems...

I'm going to try and get to the lake this week or next for a couple of hours so that I can see if my work did any good.

I will keep ya'll posted.

- Steve

[tiggerman]

With the boat having a plastic fuel cell, that junk either came from the gas pump, or gas was allowed to sit in the off season without fuel stabilizer being added. It can get "gunked" up and clog filters and gum up carb jets.