ski doesn't want to start after I shut it off

[onesojourner]

My ski is acting really weird. Yesterday after I would ride for about 20 minutes then shut it off. If I tried to immediately get back on and go it wouldn't start. It seemed like it was flooded. I took the plugs out for 10 minutes and let them dry out and then it was fine. I though I might have done something funny. I came back again after riding and it did the same thing. I just let it sit for ten minutes and then it started right up again. It is running top notch like always and I have not changed anything so I don't know what the issue could be. It would not even start when I put it back on the trailer, but I let it sit for a few and then it was fine.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

have you verified that you have spark when it fails to start?

maybe disconnect the black/white wire from your stop/start switch the next time and see if its getting wet or intermittant.

 

[onesojourner]

no I have not done anything other than pulling the plugs the first time. I think it has to be a fuel issue since its running awesome. it just seems to be flooding out when I stop it.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

so the plugs were wet when you removed them?

maybe you have a leaky needle/seat.

remove flame arrestor, with engine off, and look down into carbs will sitting in the sun, ( heat will pressurize tank)

see if you see any fuel dribbling down the carbs.

 

[onesojourner]

I don't think thats it since it only wont start immediately after I turn it off. once it sits for a few minutes (even in the sun) it starts fine.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

are the plugs milky?

maybe you got a leaky head gasket

once it starts and runs on the trailer ( out of the water)

will it fail to start again?

 

[onesojourner]

the plugs are not at all milky. I need to go pick up a new set. I guess I didn't try to start it again once I had it out of the water. I just blew the water out and took it home.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

well, since you dont think its excessive fuel, and you dont think the plugs are wet, and you dont think its a problem with the ignition....

Id say you dont have any problems with it.

haha

it sounds like a sketchy kill switch to me... but if you can explain to me why you think it acts flooded, maybe that would narrow it down.

 

[onesojourner]

I guess I say that just bc it wont start and letting it set for a few minutes fixes the problem.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

Do you have a primer on that ski Peter?

 

[azreark1]

i'm with flake...i think its a pressurized tank and its dribbling fuel into your motor when after you shut if off, check your check valve on your tank and make sure its working good.

 

[Mark44]

Just like mouth said if the plugs are all wet........ maybe you don't have spark!

Mark44

 

[Captain PegLeg]

I'm sure one of them are right. How do you know if they are not right if you don't even check it out? Try one at a time and see if any of the above fixes your problem while riding.

 

[onesojourner]

i'm with flake...i think its a pressurized tank and its dribbling fuel into your motor when after you shut if off, check your check valve on your tank and make sure its working good.

how do I do that?

 

[onesojourner]

oh and no I don't have a primer. I have a disconnected choke. I take the hood off and choke it once before I put it in the water and then I am good to go all day.

 

[D-Roc]

if the needle and seat were leaking and flooding it why would it start a few minutes later? wouldn't more fuel continue to drip into the motor still causing it to flood? i would check your reeds, my kawi had frayed reeds and it would start instantly when cold but if i shut it off and went to start it, it would be almost impossible to start unless i dryed off the plugs. let it sit and it would fire up and run "good" new reeds and it started perfect all the time and ran "better". something else to check.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

the check valve should ONLY allow air INTO the tank to replace the volume of fuel being removed.

make sure it lets air IN, and doesnt let fuel OUT.

( remove it and blow thru it, one way will work, the other shouldnt)

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

tru that logical process D-rock...

but do the reeds magically repair themselves after sitting too?

Im grasping at straws and throwing out the common things ive seen until he gives some more info to hopefully narrow it down...


I had a kawi with a head gasket leak, that was impossible to start without removing plugs and drying them off too. [ only wouldnt start after riding it, first start of the day ( dry) was always easy]

but they were VISIBLY milky, fuel mix/water mixed looking...

if the needle and seat were leaking and flooding it why would it start a few minutes later? wouldn't more fuel continue to drip into the motor still causing it to flood? i would check your reeds, my kawi had frayed reeds and it would start instantly when cold but if i shut it off and went to start it, it would be almost impossible to start unless i dryed off the plugs. let it sit and it would fire up and run "good" new reeds and it started perfect all the time and ran "better". something else to check.

 

[D-Roc]

he said his plugs were not milky so the head gasket leak is probably not it as the plugs would show that. the reeds will not fix themselves, 2-strokes like more fuel on a cold startup, it would appear that leaking reeds will cause a richer start as some mixed fuel and air is going back out then sucked in again with more fuel. the warm motor doesn't need the extra fuel and if he is jetted rich to begin with he may flood the motor. this is just me thinking here, he needs to check everything to figure it out.

 

[bluegtate]

I had a 98 SJ that did the same thing. It started up first thing in the morning, but the second I fell and the motor turned off it was almost impossible to get it started again. I would have to wait like you are saying you have to. My needle and seat were toast. I replaced them and the ski was good to go. How long has it been since you have done a carb rebuild on your ski?