importance of the correct return jet sizing

I recently discovered after spending countless hours on here searching for advice and trying every logical jetting combo known to man I started to see a lot of people post issues similar to the problems I was having and struggling to get their ski tuned properly and it always seemed to ended up with some "expert" on here steering someone to what they think is right cause that’s all they know. It blew my mind how much of a difference the correct fuel pressure made in my ski!! If this doesn't speak as to how far of a difference it made this is my first post on here after being a member for several years hopefully this tip can help someone else out too!!

So a little background on my setup I have a CPT 836 lw 4mil stoker engine with duel 48 novi-tec's MOD B pipe bored to 50mm and enhancer with 62T stator. So I finally had enough I was at the point of throwing a match in the gas tank I was so pissed with the how badly my expectations of this brand new setup was performing and no matter what the jetting it burnt more fuel in the same amount of time just riding around throttle blipping and trying to tune then my 1200 blaster running WFO with buck shots!!! I knew something wasn't right so I made a call to Tim at novi tec I told him my jetting and engine setup he instantly knew my issue was due to too high of fuel pressure due to the fact my engine is a stroker and cause of that the pulse signal that runs the fuel pumps is going to be a lot higher causing the pumps to pump more than they should aka too much fuel pressure. So he strongly advised me before I fool with any of the carbs jetting I need to get the fuel PSI in spec cause when it’s not you will do nothing but chase your tail with tuning.
So here’s how you can do this and after setting it up I was blown away on how easy it is to test and how HUGE of a difference it made!! now i cant speak for every carb mfg. but a drilled return is a drilled return and the industry standard is a 60 return jet but what iv learned is thats for a stock stroke engine which alot of us don't have... Every engine is going to be differant so it doesn't hurt to test it out and you don't even need to pull your carbs to check it!!!

heres the link from novi tec to show you what it will look like... ish
http://www.novi-tec.com/images/installationmanuals/yamaha/DY-XRF-SS.pdf

so You need to rig up a fuel pressure gauge a typical 0-15psi carb fuel pressure gauge that most auto parts stores sell will work, you need to tee into one of the carbs return line the tee needs to be in between the carb and the return jet then you need run the hose up the pole (or if your confident enough to ride your ski with your hood cracked with i strongly don't reccommend you can sneek the line out that way) so you can ride the ski and watch the numbers. make sure the hose is bleed and there is no air in the line to give you false readings you need to run the ski in the water. One thing Tim stressed is it's important that whenever your tuning your ski the pump needs to be loaded and preferably ridden and not nosed up to a pier hence running the line up the pole. You want to have 1-2 psi at idle and 4-5 psi at 3/4 to wide open throttle once you find out the return jet size you need you can remove this setup and keep it in your tool box like a pop off gauge.
It was quite interesting to see how stepping up the jet size how much of a difference it made with just the skis idling I started at 80 and no matter what it wouldn't idle for more than 10 seconds when I switched the return to 85 it would idle for a little while but still shook like a paint mixer so I tried the 87.5 it still shook at an idle but not nearly as bad as before with the 85. It was about 3-4 psi at idle and 5-7psi wide open it actually felt pretty good if I didn't have the gauge hooked up I would have called it done and would have been happy with that but since I knew it was too much psi I popped in the 90 return jet started it back up and it idled just as smooth as my 06 superjet when it was bone stock. I was really floored how smooth a light weight 4 mil stoker with a light weight fly and couplers could idle. I was sitting at about 2psi at idle and 5psi wide open. Let me tell you that engine and carbs came to life like Jesus on the 7th day!!! lol So after seeing how amazing it started to run I wanted to keep going. unfortunly I do not have a 92.5 jet to try so I popped in the 95 jet and at idle it started shaking again. I was running 1psi at idle and 3-4psi wide open I will say it ran good but not nearly as good as the 90 jet.

I can't thank Tim enough for his advise it's such an easy test to do and what a difference it can make.
 
Last edited:

DAG

Yes, my balls tickled from that landing
Location
Charlotte, NC
@ryan0, great write up. You say with a 95 jet it was 1psi at idle and 3-4 psi at WOT. What was your baseline numbers when running the 60 jet?
 
@ryan0, great write up. You say with a 95 jet it was 1psi at idle and 3-4 psi at WOT. What was your baseline numbers when running the 60 jet?

I didn't even bother testing it... it was running like a paint mixer and wouldn't idle to save its life unless you kept blipping the throttle the 80 return cleared it up a ton and when i tested it what i thought was 2 psi at idle and 5psi at WOT with the 80 jet come to find out the guage i was using when i verifed it with a pop off guage was about 1.5 psi low aka i was actually had 3.5 psi at idle and 6.5 at WOT. I bought another cheap guage off of amazon it was spot on when verifed with 2 differant pop off guages. unfortunly it was not designed for gasoline and salt water so the next day that gauge took a crap too but i already figured out my issue and was happy... Next time i rebuild my fuel pumps or build another motor i plan on buying this guage.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087UHYTA/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

from what it spec's out its stainless steel 4" liquid filled which would have been nice cause that line pulses a ton making the non liquid filled 1.5" guage i was using a pain to read. Also they say this gauge has an adjustment setting in the back to really dial it in using a pop off gauge.
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
I think they drill them out. I had a set of 46's on my Seadoo 1040 BB and had to do the same process when I was first setting it up. I went with dual pumps and the flow was much higher than what most were running.

I still have the gauge setup taking up space in a drawer somewhere. I've never needed it since but if I do, I'll have it.
 
How will a external mikuni high flow pump affect the psi?


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

a fuel pump is just the engine the drives the fuel to the carbs the restrictor is what would puts the fuel pressure in the range needed for the carbs the issue still would be if your carbs return is drilled to run an external or still the small hole. the way to tell if you take the pump side of the carbs apart and look where the return goes you can tell if its been drilled or not if its not it will look like a small jet hole.
 

bored&stroked

Urban redneck
Location
AZ
I've never even heard of a return jet. I'm assuming they are not stock on SBN's? How would one go about adjusting if your carbs dont have one?
 
@ryan0 I owe you a case of beer. Changed my return jet on my CPT836, Novi 48's, 50mm Bpipe, and 62T electrics and she came to life. Didn't really even tune it as the beach we were at was to rocky for quick testing.

I landed my first flat water back flip of the year, and 40-50 surf flips the next day. Just an absolute blast.

Thank you again for the advice
 

Attachments

  • Flatwater Flip.jpg
    Flatwater Flip.jpg
    86.3 KB · Views: 170
  • Flatwater Flip2.jpg
    Flatwater Flip2.jpg
    87.8 KB · Views: 164
  • Surf Flip.jpg
    Surf Flip.jpg
    144.1 KB · Views: 168
@ryan0 I owe you a case of beer. Changed my return jet on my CPT836, Novi 48's, 50mm Bpipe, and 62T electrics and she came to life. Didn't really even tune it as the beach we were at was to rocky for quick testing.

I landed my first flat water back flip of the year, and 40-50 surf flips the next day. Just an absolute blast.

Thank you again for the advice
awesome congrats!!!
 

2lick

Brap!!!
Location
Limerick, PA
Great write up and information on something I have never seen discussed. Thank you!

My question is does the Novi recommendation of
  • 1-2 psi at idle
  • 4-5 psi at 3/4 to wide open throttle
Apply to all motor/carb combinations?

I'm curious to check/set mine this week. Wonder if I'll notice any difference?
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Allow me to post some Novi documents from my archive...keep in mind, these are from 12-13 years ago....

Note the recommendations for the optional fuel pressure gauge and settings for idle to 2000 RPM and then at WOT.

If memory serves me correctly, I was running a 130 restrictor to achieve the correct fuel pressure with dual high flow remote pumps.

100_2685.JPG
 

Attachments

  • DK-XRF-SS.pdf
    242.6 KB · Views: 139
  • DS-XR-P9.pdf
    240.9 KB · Views: 92
  • DY-XRF-P.pdf
    258.6 KB · Views: 91
  • DY-XRF-SS.pdf
    245.9 KB · Views: 82
Last edited:
Top Bottom