2003 STX-12f

[Shuswap]

Ski should be in the water to get a good shot from the pisser and well above idle....not on the hose. Have you checked the screen at the water inlet on top of the pump housing? Item # 25 on page 9-2? Also, be suspicious of Item #5.
Suggest that you use a really bright small pin-point flashlight and trace the hoses....they may have been connected incorrectly as well. Get a small CLEAN mirror and perfect the skill of seeing around corners.
I doubt it's a spark plug, but if you run it for just a minute or two they (plugs) should all be the same temp...none of them should be cold. I would get the cooling system working asap.

There are so many unknowns with this ski.....and having a shot when on the hose....a shot that diminishes when you put it in the water leads me to suggest that item # 25, which I think you can take a look at easily.

[leejax01]

Thanks. Well figure a way to check it and the other fittings after work today. Told him after this, he may have to take it to the Kawasaki dealer, but it will sit a long time especially with trouble shooting and repair.

[meangreenman]

Dang, sorry to hear that the ski will be taken to a stealership after all that hard work...

[leejax01]

I warned him, but ultimately his ski and his choice. Said give it a few weeks to find a gauge at the least. What they will do is probably let it sit at least a week, do whatever diagnostics they can, blame the non running gauge in case they can't figure it out, give him a nice bill and collect the service fee. I figured a way to try the water flow and will do my best to get it going tomorrow. Thanks guys for the help, but still can't figure out how it runs good on the hose and for the first few minutes on water, then starts bogging and eventually goes to limp.

[Shuswap]

I warned him, but ultimately his ski and his choice. Said give it a few weeks to find a gauge at the least. What they will do is probably let it sit at least a week, do whatever diagnostics they can, blame the non running gauge in case they can't figure it out, give him a nice bill and collect the service fee. I figured a way to try the water flow and will do my best to get it going tomorrow. Thanks guys for the help, but still can't figure out how it runs good on the hose and for the first few minutes on water, then starts bogging and eventually goes to limp.

Temp rises with the lack of cooling water, limp mode, perhaps? Gauge would confirm the issue, I suppose. But a lack of pisser flow would alert me that there is an issue that must be dealt with before damage occurs.

[meangreenman]

it runs good on the hose and for the first few minutes on water, then starts bogging and eventually goes to limp.

I'd still like to help if I can but I'm still confused a bit about the symptom.

When it runs good first few minutes, what's the approximate top speed?

When it goes to limp mode, what's the approximate top speed?

[leejax01]

When it first hits the water, it runs with no issues. Then it starts to either bog and slows to around 30. Give it some time and will drop to limp. I assume the exhaust lacks water as the side outlet doesn't flow well, but does trickle at times in the water, but flows better when on the hose.

[leejax01]

Compression from 1 to 4 is 175, 180, 185, 180. I tried revving it today out of water and at times it would rev fine and at times it would sound like bogging, or restrained and when I release the throttle, would let off a pressure or hiss.

[leejax01]

http://static.photobucket.com/player...512_102546.mp4

[Shuswap]

I can't learn much from revving an engine without a load on it. They just don't respond the same. And it's something I don't believe offers much insight into an engine's issues.

Compression numbers need to be taken from an engine that has been run and warmed and then tested. Those numbers may not be the best, but they are good enough to get it to produce reasonable power. So, that is not the issue.

The cooling issue should be the priority, I believe.