SXR I'm stumped. Ski won't run. I cannot figure out what's wrong. Help is appreciated

[JamesG]

I have a stock SXR 800 in a Q8 Sky. I recently had JSS install longer coil wires and I got VForce 2 Reeds in addition to a bored intake manifold. The first day out on the water after the mods the ski ran well. Powerful, but it stalled every once in awhile so I decided to adjust the carb screws. The ski got worse. And after messing with it a few times it would barely run or start.

So I sent my carbs to Art Gomez in an attempt to fix the issue since I thought I had something floating around in my carbs. Got em back and the ski is even worse; it won't even run on the hose for more than a couple minutes (if that).

Symptoms:
-running it makes it stall and it will not start back up. (as if it was flooding)
-fuel was not coming out of the carb holes when i tried to restart it.
-I let it sit for 10+ minutes and it started back up.
-however, throttle makes it stall, so i can only let it idle.
-the moment i give it throttle, it dies.
-i let it idle for 5-10 minutes and it sounded good, then it suddenly started to stall again and it died. throttle was never squeezed and adjusting the idle screw changed nothing when it was running.

Mods:
-EME Q8 Sky
-Vforce 2 Reeds
-bored intake manifold
-OEM coil w/ jss wires
-wetpipe
-skat impeller
-jetting: 147.5 and 77.5
-carb screws both at 1 turn out, because it seemed to run better on the hose like that

I'm thinking it's running rich or the coil is bad. Maybe the reeds broke somehow? Like I said I'm stumped. I need help.

 

[Bobert540]

Have you checked all your fuel And vac lines??

 

[Bobert540]

Checking it on a hose is not going to do much. You need the pump under load. Best bet is to leave the ski on the trailer and try to get it to idle when it's in the water.

 

[JamesG]

Okay I will try that tomorrow. I was advised to also arc the spark plugs on the head to check the spark, so I will be trying that too. Any other ideas?

 

[subhard]

Pull the head off and see if you soft seized. I had a similar problem with very similar mods last year.

 

[subhard]

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/113469

 

[JamesG]

Checked the spark on the spark plug and I'm getting an inconsistent spark. Will the coil cause these kind of symptoms?

 

[Bobert540]

Try cutting your wires back. Then check it again. Is it blue or have some orange?

 

[JamesG]

it's a blue spark

 

[tom21]

you prob have a corrosion issue in the start/stop wiring. I have had this issue before, sometimes its just a poor connection that looks good but is not. have a look in the ebox as water in there will also make problems.

 

[JamesG]

Update: Took the ebox apart at the beach and everything looked good. We then tested the ski in the water on the trailer with the ebox apart and rigged with a different coil; ran great. Put my coil back on just to be sure; ran great again... Then when i put my ski all back together and rode, it ran great but then died within 5 sec. FML, none of the other guys could figure it out.

Compression is over 160 with a weakened battery, so it's not soft seized.
A couple other riders suggested it could be the CDI or the Stator.
Tom: Wouldn't the start/stop button just make it stop randomly? My ski is more of a bog down due to increase in rpm or strain on the motor.

Everyone seems to agree that it's electrical.

 

[Mdavies_02]

Update:
Compression is over 160 with a weakened battery, so it's not soft seized.

His compression was 185 and it was soft seized. Just from what I got skimming through his thread.

 

[JamesG]

His compression was 185 and it was soft seized. Just from what I got skimming through his thread.

It says it was 155 and then 165 oddly. But your point is still valid. I jut don't think it soft seized because i never did a WOT run or anything different from the usual riding. I will check my head if it comes down to it.
Also I feel like a soft seize wouldn't make my ski run way rich and totally shutdown after a few seconds of riding.

 

[Shonuff]

I would suggest sticking needle & seat but you mentioned Art just went through it. How is your gas tank check valve?

 

[heynagel]

If the ski ran fine before the JSS coil work I would focus in on that being the problem

 

[JamesG]

Gas tank valve is good. 2 new symptoms found: coil wires were sparking when it touched my steering cable and my fuel filter was completely full when the ski was was running, which has never happened before. Any input on that?

 

[Joker]

Gas tank valve is good. 2 new symptoms found: coil wires were sparking when it touched my steering cable and my fuel filter was completely full when the ski was was running, which has never happened before. Any input on that?

If your plug wires are arcing then they must have a crack in the insulation. Might want to check that.

 

[JamesG]

A friend has a used coil I am going to try. In the mean time, other suggestions are welcome.
ebox is clean

 

[tom21]

going back to what you first said, ski ran good but stalled occasionally. you might try to syphon fuel from the bottom of the tank and see if you have water in it. this will give you this symptom. you send carbs out and it runs worse is what scares me. Then again in a better state of tune with water in the tank you could be experiencing this faster?

in your symptom box you say it wont start and that you see no fuel, so let me be the ahole for a second... did you hook up the supply and return backwards? sorry dude I have to ask. I dont know how it could have run at all but its worth a look. since you are thinking fuel these are easy things to check.

I am grappling with the spark arcing to your cable after you just had JSS replace the wires????

But this also is another weird thing I have seen when there is water in a cylinder, its like it wont spark in the cylinder it finds another avenue.

If in the end you just cant find anything you are welcome to bring it to my shop after 6pm and I will lend a hand. PM or call before you do anything crazy. it ran before, its probably something stupid. since im stupid thats my specialiteeee. ahhh durrr lol

 

[JamesG]

going back to what you first said, ski ran good but stalled occasionally. you might try to syphon fuel from the bottom of the tank and see if you have water in it. this will give you this symptom. you send carbs out and it runs worse is what scares me. Then again in a better state of tune with water in the tank you could be experiencing this faster?

in your symptom box you say it wont start and that you see no fuel, so let me be the ahole for a second... did you hook up the supply and return backwards? sorry dude I have to ask. I dont know how it could have run at all but its worth a look. since you are thinking fuel these are easy things to check.

I am grappling with the spark arcing to your cable after you just had JSS replace the wires????

But this also is another weird thing I have seen when there is water in a cylinder, its like it wont spark in the cylinder it finds another avenue.

If in the end you just cant find anything you are welcome to bring it to my shop after 6pm and I will lend a hand. PM or call before you do anything crazy. it ran before, its probably something stupid. since im stupid thats my specialiteeee. ahhh durrr lol

haha yeah I hooked it up correctly. But that is something easily overlooked. I will try to siphon the tank next too, thanks for the input.
And I might just take you up on the offer of taking it to you. I definitely need somebody more knowledgable than me to look at it.