2015 Kawasaki 15F maintenance question

[Olivieru]

Hi,

I'm new on this formum. I have a 2015 STX15F, about 3 years now that I bought at 43H. Has about 80H right now.
I clean and flush the ski every time I use it. Mostly fresh water, one vacation 3 weeks at sea. I do about 15-20H annualy.

I'm super happy with the ski, has never let me down. I take care of it, and it takes care of me
Every year I replace spark plugs, do oil change and filter. Have not done anything els really.

I have bought the kawiperformace full rebuild kit for the pump with the upgraded axle that I will be installing this winter.
This will give peace of mind to prevent engine damage if the bearings fail.

But I have some questions that I hope I will find answers here:

• In the manual i find the oil filter only needs to be changed every 100H. It seems i did some overkill doing it every year/20H. I think I can skip it new oil change and perhaps do it every 2 years ?
• Does anyone has a service manual for me? please send pm
• The steering has some play that i rather do not want. I cannot find any adjustment in the cable, could the ball joints at the end of the cable needs replacing? It has some slop in the balljoints.
• First year I did not have problems with it but now the oil dipstip keeps popping off after i go riding. Oil level is fine, ski runs great. Do i need to check some crankcase vent? I have blown though with my mouth and it does not seem blocked. What am I missing here?
  I fixed the issue for a year now with a cable tie. Problem fixed ? ps: no oil ever did blow out. Only the dipstick came out about 1cm .

[thegreatescape]

You entered the Yamaha zone. Try again here .http://greenhulk.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=92

[K447]



Try again here .http://greenhulk.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=92

Thread moved

[steve45]

I've heard of the dipstick coming loose before, but I don't remember the cure. Do a search here. Perhaps the air/oil separator is plugged up or something.

Play is a normal part of the jet pump design. The steering nozzle doesn't touch the jet stream until you turn it.

[Cranofwaterfell]

Yeah mine was pushing the dipstick up after I rebuilt the engine. I changed out the oil separator tank to the triangular shaped one and it stopped doing that.

[Olivieru]

I've heard of the dipstick coming loose before, but I don't remember the cure. Do a search here. Perhaps the air/oil separator is plugged up or something.

Play is a normal part of the jet pump design. The steering nozzle doesn't touch the jet stream until you turn it.

The play seems to be in the front joint of the cable, wich is a quick disconnect too.
Is it common to replace this part?

I can move the steering a little (play) without the nozzle moving. This cant be right I think.

[Olivieru]

Yeah mine was pushing the dipstick up after I rebuilt the engine. I changed out the oil separator tank to the triangular shaped one and it stopped doing that.

Thanks, do you have more info about the triangular shaped separator tank?

[steve45]

I can move the steering a little (play) without the nozzle moving. This cant be right I think.

You can get virtually all of the play out of it and you'll still have slop between the steering nozzle and the jet stream.

Driving a boat is like herding cats.

[Cranofwaterfell]

Yes, the separator tank from 2014 and newer is the triangular one. Part is number 52001 I think.

[steve45]

The parts diagrams show cylindrical separators for most of the STX-15Fs & Ultra LXx to be 52001-3738. The last couple of years had different numbers, 52001-0010. The 52001-0008 was a triangular version that was used on the 310s.

I would pull the separator and clean it out, it may be plugged with sludge or something. If that doesn't work, look through the parts diagrams and pick one of the later models to try. You may need to change the hoses, too.