About sank my ski...won't start...next steps?

[227]

Wow Curtis I feel bad after reading this. Everything these guys have said to you is pretty much a 100% accurate. Never let a motor that’s ingested water sit. I had no idea that you had got water inside your motor, you said you ran out of gas. I’ve had to cancel many a days plans because I sunk my ski and had to get it running before any damage set in. In the future, if ANYTHING goes wrong with your ski call me. I’m local and at minimum I can direct you in the right direction to avoid some costly beginner mistakes.

 

[Marker Motorsports]

No biggie john. I didn't know either until I put gas in it and it wouldn't fire. I was stressed the last few days. I should have called randy or ross right away since i have their numbers. It's running now, sticks said he will take a look at the crank for me and i can go from there. Just another learning experience. Expensive it sounds like. Thanks though John.

 

[Marker Motorsports]

Andrew, I am going to look into the one way valve, I feel like its stuck open all the time.

 

[dmpus]

I guess you missed 1. of my "to do list". I really hope your motor to be fine. When that happened to me, my ski was 2 hours/5 days old. I first called the dealership and they advised to wait until morning and go to them.. well don't believe dealers either...

This forum is indeed priceless, it saved my brand new ski.

I sunk my brand new ski a few months ago, and guys here helped a lot. Here are the steps again:
1. Do it as soon as possible
2. Remove plugs and turn ski upside down.
3. drain all the water
4. disconnect tank and empty and clean completely from the bad fuel left.
4. crank the motor upside down a few times without spar plugs upside down.. a lot more water will come out
5. Spray some starter fluid in the cylinders, dry out and clean plugs, worm them up and put them back hot.
6. crank engine again, it should start right up if motor is all good. If it doesnt work the first time, pull out the plugs, spray some more starter fluid clean make them hot and try again. If engine does not give a single sign of life then you have a problem ..
7. with flush system running water through it, run the motor for a while and keep spraying fogging oil in the carbs just as much as you don't stall it.
8. Drive ski back to lake or ocean ASAP with full tank. Run the whole tank with really hard riding to burn out everything else left in the motor.
9. Put bilge pumps and don't repeat the same mistake .

P.S. forgot to mention, when you try to crank the motor for the first time, help it with little starting fluid spray directly in the carbs while cranking. The whole task require 2-3 enthusiastic friends for moral and physical help

 

[Marker Motorsports]

Oh no I did your number on your list. The soonest I could do it was this morning since I got your response last night. No garage, no lights. had to wait until morning. we will see what happens. now i know for next time. thanks for the help.

 

[227]

Just for future knowledge, here's a last resort crank saving trick. If you ever ingest water in your motor (Salt or fresh) and for ANY reason can't get it cleaned out and restarted within a few hours, (ex your in Mexico and you sank your ski and killed your battery trying to get it started and have to wait until the following day or later to try again), then the BEST thing you can do (after you have gotten absolutely as much water out of the engine as possible) is pull your plugs and fill your entire motor with mixed fuel. Rust occurs when Oxygen and water react together on the metal surfaces of your crank and bearings. If your engine is full of MIXED fuel then it is not only being lubricated by the mixed gas but NO oxygen can get in either to start the rust process. You can also fill your motor with oil but it will be a beotch to get it all out and restarted again.

 

[Marker Motorsports]

Thanks john. Great idea. I have the bodysurf contest at oside pier this weekend, but plan is to come monday and have sticks take a look at it for now. Looks like jetmaniac has cranks for sale for like 200$.

 

[NatesGr8]

Alright guys, first things first. I've been a long time lurker but not sure i've ever posted anything before. Thanks for all the great info on this site!

Now that that's out of the way. I recently went to winterize my ski and found out that it had water in it, both the hull and sadly the engine. I guess when my brother used it last and said he ran out of gas really meant he filled it up with water!!!! The ski is a 02 sxi pro with just about every possible bolt on. So as soon as i hit the starter and didn't get anything i knew i had trouble. Pulled the plugs and cranked it and got brown water coming out. I knew this was not good. Water was also pumping out of my pulse line which i guess had cracked, probably due to water going through it. So since i knew i wasn't going to be able to take it out and ride for a long time if i could get it running i immediately went for the tear down. I've got it down to the cases, crank still in, and am wondering if there's anything i can do to help salvage the crank if possible. Everything turned smoothly when i pulled it apart 2 days ago, so i coated it all in fogging oil, however today when i went to turn it things had stiffened up a bit. What do you guys think i should do next? Should i just go for a new crank? Or is there some kind of magical potion i can put in there to save it? I'm thinking of trying the premix fuel thing to keep moisture out. I also need to pull the flywheel cover to see what kind of corrosion is in there. It was fresh water not salt.

Thanks for any replies. Nate

 

[BruceSki]

You need a new crank and probably pistons unless you can clean them up. If I was buying a new crank I wouldn't run used pistons though.

 

[tor*p*do]

what he said, crank is toast. get a new or rebuilt one.
you might be able to get by with a hone and rings, but probably should get new pistons and bore
plus wrist pin bearings, clips, etc.

 

[djkorn1]

For an SXI pro, if it's not too built up, I would run an SBT crank and get a new wiseco top end, one size over and get it bored out one size over...should run like new (even a little faster). If you don't have any mods on it, I would send out the head and flywheel to be cut and lightened...very reliable mods ($200) that perk that ski up pretty good.

 

[NatesGr8]

Yeah I figured I was gonna need a new crank. As far as pistons and cylinders go they're in great shape, very minor surface rust that cleaned up easy. My mods are Ada head, factory dry pipe w water injection, boyson intake and reeds, full spectrum carbs, dual outlet exhaust, bored out nozzle and not sure what impeller. Is sbt the best place for a new crank? Also since its all apart what else do you guys think I should do w my mods? Considering boring out closer to 800 cc. All input s welcome. Thanks. Nate

 

[BruceSki]

You must replace the upper rod bearings where the wrist pin ride as well if you plan on re-using those pistons. They have been compromised with the water intrusion.

 

[NatesGr8]

You must replace the upper rod bearings where the wrist pin ride as well if you plan on re-using those pistons. They have been compromised with the water intrusion.

Yeah I know. I'm gonna be doing a complete internal rebuild, looking for the best prices now. Recommendations?

 

[BruceSki]

Jetmaniac.

 

[stanton]

there should be a warning sticker saying if you run out of gas do not tow, water pressure going through the pump fills the exhaust and motor up quick!

 

[Matt_E]

It's in the owner's manual if that helps. :biggrin:

 

[NatesGr8]

there should be a warning sticker saying if you run out of gas do not tow, water pressure going through the pump fills the exhaust and motor up quick!

Ski was not towed. Was brought back in on the swim platform of my boat.

 

[227]

my advice now is never leave the beach with a ski that doesn't run!

This is solid advice, probably learned the hard way. Reguardless of the circumstances, make sure your ski runs after a ride before you get on with the rest of your day

 

[Wolf Child]

show of hands....who wants my advice?