Please Help! Ski not running right and tonights the last night to fix it b4 Daytona

FLY6584

FLY6584

Location
Clearwater, FL
Well I thought I finally had the ski all ready and dialed in for Daytona and then today it all went south.

While we we're riding today it started to intemittenly bog down really bad at about mid throttle. At first we all thought it was an electrical problem and that one of the cylinders wasn't firing, but we checked the plugs for spark and both were firing.

After doing a mid throttle cutoff and checking the plugs this is what I found. The left plug is the front cylinder and the right plug is the rear cylinder. As you can see by the pics the front cylinder is running VERY lean. I dont know whats causing that.:dunno: I installed a bpipe and rejetted the carbs about a month ago and it is has been running awesome ever since.

We have narrowed it down to a few possibilities:

- Clog in the front carb

- Broken reed

- Air leak ruled out because its not running away on the trailer

- I'm still not ruling out an electrical problem. If for some reason that front cylinder wasn't firing would the plug still look dry and lean?:dunno:


I appreciate any help you can give. I leave for Alabama for School tomorrow so I have to figure this out tonight or the ski doesn't go to Daytona because I am having a friend from Tampa bring the ski to Daytona for me.:banghead:

Thanks:biggthumpup:
 

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WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
tear that carb apart and look for a clog or a torn fuel pump diaphram. I don't think a broken reed will make you run lean, I THINK it just ruins throttle responce.
 
deblaster

deblaster

Location
Tampa
I am not sure but I believe when the rev limiter or over heat sensor kicks in it only produces an intermittent spark on one cylinder, this might be why your plugs look different.
 
WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
deblaster said:
I am not sure but I believe when the rev limiter or over heat sensor kicks in it only produces an intermittent spark on one cylinder, this might be why your plugs look different.
Click to expand...
possibly but a limit or lack in spark wouldn't wouldn't make a plug look lean. it would look wet or rich
 
FLY6584

FLY6584

Location
Clearwater, FL
deblaster said:
I am not sure but I believe when the rev limiter or over heat sensor kicks in it only produces an intermittent spark on one cylinder, this might be why your plugs look different.
Click to expand...

Scott we did end up checking the overheat sensor and made sure that the two wires had no chance of touching each other and that didn't fix the problem.

As far as the rev limiter goes it cant be that because it has ran absolutely GREAT for the last month. The only time I ever hit the rev limiter is on wide open runs in chop. I still haven't even decided whether I am going to put an enhancer on their yet because it has ran so good without it.

Anyways back to your statement about an intermittent spark causing a plug to look lean. Does anyone know if this is true? I assumed if there was still fuel flowing the plug would still be wet. :dunno:

Thanks for the help though.:biggthumpup:
 
B-Roy

B-Roy

Makin' a Comeback!
Location
MICHIGAN
If there was fuel and no spark your plug would be wet. Since you have spark, youre not getting fuel. Check your gas line for cracks, than dive into that carb...
 
FLY6584

FLY6584

Location
Clearwater, FL
brian_roy_6 said:
If there was fuel and no spark your plug would be wet. Since you have spark, youre not getting fuel. Check your gas line for cracks, than dive into that carb...
Click to expand...

I agree, but everyone that rode the ski first said they thought it was a spark problem and that one of the cylinders wasn't firing.

I'm pretty sure it's a fuel problem, but I just didn't want to rule out a spark problem just yet.
 
#ZERO

#ZERO

Beach Bum
Location
Florida - U.S.A.
The back spark plug was completely soaked with gas and very dark in color. When this happens it can cause an intermittent electrical short to ground and not ark across the electrode when the engine is under load. I would check for a leaking needle and seat on the rear carb. If the front cylinder is running lean I would check for a restriction of fuel to or in the carb, internal fuel filter clogged, torn pump diaphragm or bent check valve in the back fuel pump. Just tear the carbs apart a double check everything, I have plenty of spare 38mm carb parts and can help you get it running good before Daytona.
 
meatball

meatball

User Title Unavailable
Location
Maryland
Have you tried it lately? If you have, I have an engine that did similiar when the front crank seal leaked, the problem was strikingly intermittent (would choose when to hit the 'rev limiter' and also the RPM is swayed about changed). I'd check the carb first for simplicity though.
 
FLY6584

FLY6584

Location
Clearwater, FL
meatball said:
Have you tried it lately? If you have, I have an engine that did similiar when the front crank seal leaked, the problem was strikingly intermittent (would choose when to hit the 'rev limiter' and also the RPM is swayed about changed). I'd check the carb first for simplicity though.
Click to expand...


What do you mean by "tried it lately"?
 
superramjet

superramjet

Location
Hutchinson, Kansas
try new plugs, it could be that simple. wildman and I torn down a motor once trying to solve a problem and it turned out to be only the plugs.
 
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