300/440/550 JS550 bogging out, seems like water box is full?

[87sheerips]

hey everybody, looks like I finally found a solid forum to learn more about my machine. I have been involved in banshee forums for 10 years, and I finally got an old stand up. I love it so far, but it has some slight issues.

Heres what I have:
89 440 hull with a newly built 550 engine.

Everything works, runs great up out of the water and initially when it gets into the water. Why I fall, or make hard left turns (exhaust gets buried in water), it instantly bogs out. When I restart it, it takes about a minute for the water to clear out before I can ride it again.

I can clear it out for a couple falls, then I have to go let it sit for a while/drain water out of the exhaust.

1. There is a little nipple on the coil side of the exhaust, does a hose attach here?
2. Can I remove the water box, is this my problem?


I live on a lake and want to ride everyday and get good on this machine. Please help me out so I can rock this old ski! Thanks guys, and sweet forum

 

[ger87410]

I don't recognize that pipe, so am not sure how to connect it.

I don't see a pisser hooked up.

How do you have your cooling routed? Dual cooling?

 

[87sheerips]

I don't recognize that pipe, so am not sure how to connect it.

I don't see a pisser hooked up.

How do you have your cooling routed? Dual cooling?

I do not know what a pisser is, and it sounds like something useful and would help my water removal issue. I do not know how the cooling system works because I am completely new to this machine. I hate being a newby, but gotta start somewhere! Wish i had some more info for ya, but the picture is all I have for now.

 

[ger87410]

Look at your engine. It consists of 3 parts (from top to bottom): The head, cylinders, and block.

You should see a hose running from the firewall to the cooling jacket around the cylinders (don't remember if the fittings on the cylinders or block). 2 if it's got dual cooling.

The water flows around the cylinders and out the exhaust and the fittings on the head. From the fittings on the head, at least on mine, it goes to a tee with 1 line attached to the stinger and 1 line running to a pisser that's mounted on the left side of the hull directly in front of the firewall. The pisser 'pees' the extra water.

Stock my '86 550 came with 1 pisser being used and the other left open. I use the other pisser as a bilge outlet for now. I think if I directed all the water out the pipe, it'd experience the problems you're describing.

EDIT: I believe the stinger, in your case, is that hose fitting you were asking about.
It's hard for me to tell for sure, but it looks single cooling to me. I'd throw a tee on the line running to your pipe and connect it to stinger so you're not dumping all your water right at the exhaust manifold.

 

[87sheerips]

Ok, great thanks for the info! Let me try that today and see if it helps, thanks! Man, I just want to ride this thing all day everyday lol

 

[ger87410]

Keep a careful eye on your pipe, waterbox, and engine for excess heat after changing the routing. It should be ok as the water is still all going out the exhaust, just not all being dumped right at the exhaust manifold.

You're missing the plate that covers the PTO. Right there is a grease fitting for a bearing that needs greasing once a year. Make sure nothing is going to shake or swing around and get caught right there. Strap down your gas tank and battery. Use bungie cords if you have to.

Just be safe!!

 

[87sheerips]

Keep a careful eye on your pipe, waterbox, and engine for excess heat after changing the routing. It should be ok as the water is still all going out the exhaust, just not all being dumped right at the exhaust manifold.

You're missing the plate that covers the PTO. Right there is a grease fitting for a bearing that needs greasing once a year. Make sure nothing is going to shake or swing around and get caught right there. Strap down your gas tank and battery. Use bungie cords if you have to.

Just be safe!!

Awesome, that makes sense! Cant thank you enough for the quick response, I am about to be as addicted to jet-skid as my banshee's.. That is NOT GOOD :shock:

Ill let u know what happens, hopefully this rain stays away so I can test this.

 

[87sheerips]

Also, I have heard of people removing the water box due to related issues such as this. it also seems like the exhaust tube is excessively long, and could be trimmed to hug the side of the hull more instead of diving in the water, spraying me in the face, and bogging out. Is this not a smart thing to do?

 

[ger87410]

I've not heard of anyone taking out the waterbox to fix a problem. Doing so will most likely result in decreased engine performance and increased exhaust noise.

If you look at newer skis, the side exhaust doesn't really have a hose. The 90+ models more-less all come with rear exhausts. U can mod the exhaust to be rear.

Cutting the hose is pointless, IMO.

 

[87sheerips]

Ok, i will leave well enough alone and run a T like previously mentioned. Ill update tomorrow

 

[b.lee]

For troubleshooting you might want to run the fuel line from the Reserve outlet (at the fuel tank) directly into the Carb Fuel Inlet.
This will bypass the fuel selector knob and a bunch of unnecessary fuel line.

 

[87sheerips]

Well, i did the T-split and it instantly fixed my problem. I ran thru about a half tank last night (I couldn't get off it!) And after I crashed pretty hard trying some tricks it stated running strange like it wont go into the powerband all the way in the water. Ima let it sit overnight and see what happens today. It seemed hotter than normal too, just by checking the exhaust with my hand.

It ran amazingly better after the T-split on the coolant hose into the stinger and manifold so thanks for the advice!

 

[b.lee]

Could still be a fuel line issue.
Might want to route the fuel line from the reserve to the carb inlet.
You shouldnt even need to cut any hoses or anything.

My ski ran way better after routing the fuel line like this.

 

[ger87410]

Well, i did the T-split and it instantly fixed my problem. I ran thru about a half tank last night (I couldn't get off it!) And after I crashed pretty hard trying some tricks it stated running strange like it wont go into the powerband all the way in the water. Ima let it sit overnight and see what happens today. It seemed hotter than normal too, just by checking the exhaust with my hand.

It ran amazingly better after the T-split on the coolant hose into the stinger and manifold so thanks for the advice!

Crashed into what?

So does it work except for when pulling some trick sometimes?

Hot to touch is OK, as long as you can touch it without burning yourself.

 

[87sheerips]

Could still be a fuel line issue.
Might want to route the fuel line from the reserve to the carb inlet.
You shouldnt even need to cut any hoses or anything.

My ski ran way better after routing the fuel line like this.

By chance do you have a pic of your routing?

 

[87sheerips]

Crashed into what?

So does it work except for when pulling some trick sometimes?

Hot to touch is OK, as long as you can touch it without burning yourself.

Well I didn't hit anything, I just dumped it over and submerged the exhaust.... I am thinking this fuel line routing will help, I took it out last night and it ran amazing for about 20 minutes then it seemed to cut out once in a while like it was starving for fuel... Man, I love this thing I have to get these little bugs worked out because now I want another one to mess with lol

 

[Tyler Zane]

hey, man nice ski! i have a 92 550. i had some of the same problems. i ran a T just like mentioned and my exhaust started getting really hot. so i cleaned the fitting on the exhaust, replaced the water lines, and bought a new pisser on the side(old one didn't flow very well, more like a spray) and it fixed everything. as far as the fuel line, i have not tried but that sounds like a good idea. i know when mine gets a little under half a tank it doesn't run near as good compared to a full tank. when i get back from Iraq im gonna defiantly try it. it could only help. good luck and keep these skis kickin! i know i love mine to death. and its bone stock. even the prop and the mat


p.s. you may want to look into a after market bilge pump. i know mine took forever to get the water out of the hull. just food for thought

 

[87sheerips]

hey, man nice ski! i have a 92 550. i had some of the same problems. i ran a T just like mentioned and my exhaust started getting really hot. so i cleaned the fitting on the exhaust, replaced the water lines, and bought a new pisser on the side(old one didn't flow very well, more like a spray) and it fixed everything. as far as the fuel line, i have not tried but that sounds like a good idea. i know when mine gets a little under half a tank it doesn't run near as good compared to a full tank. when i get back from Iraq im gonna defiantly try it. it could only help. good luck and keep these skis kickin! i know i love mine to death. and its bone stock. even the prop and the mat


p.s. you may want to look into a after market bilge pump. i know mine took forever to get the water out of the hull. just food for thought

Thanks man, it moves pretty good too with the 550 motor/440 hull.. I am 200lbs and I have a riot on it.

I still don't know where this pisser deal is! lol, im learning more and more everyday with this thing...

I am going to try the fuel line switch today, and this might help with the fuel being low as well!

I have a damn good seal on the hood, so water is very minimal inside the hull so far, but when Im done with this thing Im sure it will have all the right accessories such as a bilge..

Thanks for all the input fellas, this really is a great forum :headbang:

AND thank you for serving our country!!!!!

 

[Tyler Zane]

hey bro no problem, and i love this forum too!

if you look a b.lee's pic of his ski in the signature box, right under the the hood line right before the MC there is a red circle. this is his "pisser". mine is located in the same spot just up a little further towards the front. but on some skis its in the back and hard to see. as far as i know all skis have one and i was always taught by my dad that if i see water stop pissing shut it off because it may not be cooling properly. i ride in a pond and mine gets clogged some times. when it does i notice my ski is hotter than normal. normally i can hold my hand on the exhaust no problem. my ski is a little different thou, i have rear exhaust. but yours being in the front may be an advantage(besides fumes in the face) because when im doing a tail stand the exhaust get sucked in the pump and i loose a lot of power.

 

[b.lee]

I'll get a pic of the routing tomorrow.

It's pretty simple tho, pop the hood, there are 4 hoses coming out of the Gas tank.
Unscrew the gas tank cap with the 4 hoses coming out.
It will have 2 straws for sucking fuel out of the fuel tank.

The longest straw is the reserve line. The hose that is attached to this straw, run it directly to the Fuel filter inlet or the Carb fuel inlet. You'll only need about 1-2ft of hose.