300/440/550 550 help ...

A buddy of mine brought his 89 550 over for me to look at and I need some input.
The ski is very hard to start and dont wont to run just off idle(like carbs are starving for fuel)Compression is 140 on front and back and I pulled the carbs and cleaned them.If I prime the cylinders with gas it will run.stock motor.I checked fuel lines and they are good and the fuel pump is working.
 

D-Roc

I forgot!
what kind of carbs are on this ski? Personally i would stick a 44 sbn single carb on it. The piston port motors where stubborn to start with the old round style mikuni carbs. The more info you give us the more we can offer suggestions.
 
it does have the old round mikuni..It feels like the carb is not getting any fuel but I know it is and I went through the carb carefully.WHat about a crank seal?
 

D-Roc

I forgot!
sure....a crank seal can cause hard starts and lean symptoms. Those old mikuni carbs suck ass!!! even if you rebuild them with all new parts their performance seems to drop by the minute. I think we need a little bit more info on the ski. Also it is an old ski so just about any or every part could be worn out and in need of replacing. Its hard to diagnose problems from a monitor. Post up a bit more information and maybe someone can help.
 

Endo

Non-tree hugger
Could be the pump...no gas what so ever. Check pulse line and worse case the carb will need rebuilt to replace the diaphragm's in the pump. If it is a stuck needle then you should be getting some fuel at the return line coming out. Just remembered...you had the restrictor question....is it in place???
 

Superjetqueen

ISJWTA MEMBER #6
Location
Holts Summit, MO
Could be the pump...no gas what so ever. Check pulse line and worse case the carb will need rebuilt to replace the diaphragm's in the pump. If it is a stuck needle then you should be getting some fuel at the return line coming out. Just remembered...you had the restrictor question....is it in place???

Okay, that is another good one...I went to the place where I bought the motor and told him that I needed an inline jet for my carb. He looked at me like I was smoking crack. He sold me one but I tried to put it in the gas line like the other one was (that Aqua took::inidan giver::) but it appears to small? To be honest I really don't know what I am doing...Do I just stick it in the gas line and hook the line back up to the carb? Is that why it is not getting any gas? I need all the help I can get....thanks for you patience....
 

D-Roc

I forgot!
if you have a superjet that you trying to put that return jet in....don't it should have a newer type mikuni SBN carb on it. also is your fuel selector turned on? take the carb off and clean it to make sure that the pump diaphram is actually moving when the engine cranks. When the engine cranks over it makes pressure in the cases. that pressure goes through the pulse line to the pump part of the carb. so if it is not moving with each pulse of the engine it won't pump the fuel.
 

Superjetqueen

ISJWTA MEMBER #6
Location
Holts Summit, MO
The ski I am working on is a 550 JS Kawasaki. It is my spare ski but I would like to get it running so I can ride it too...I will pull the carb and check the needle. May possibly rebuild it...this I have seen done....not sure if I can do it but will try...
 

D-Roc

I forgot!
you can do it, just lay everything out in order on a clean workspace. As sayed before you may want to look into upgrading the carb to a snb if you plan on keeping the old 550. you will need a spacer plate and longer bolts or studs but it really makes the ski run gooder
 

Endo

Non-tree hugger
Okay, that is another good one...I went to the place where I bought the motor and told him that I needed an inline jet for my carb. He looked at me like I was smoking crack. He sold me one but I tried to put it in the gas line like the other one was (that Aqua took::inidan giver::) but it appears to small? To be honest I really don't know what I am doing...Do I just stick it in the gas line and hook the line back up to the carb? Is that why it is not getting any gas? I need all the help I can get....thanks for you patience....

Yep that will do it. You need to have pressure to open the pop off. If there is no restriction (which is built into newer carbs) there is no build up of pressure and the fuel runs right on thru and never has a chance to go to the motor. So yes it needs to go in the return line. Should be a tight fit...basicly it has to stay put and not get pushed thru to the fuel tank. By the way is there two adjustment screws or three...good luck.
 
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