1990 JS550 Wont run in water

C

Chris Libera

Location
Indianapolis, IN
My 550 starts on the trailer but won't run in water. I'm new to this and don't know where to start.

History: Ski was thrown in for free with another purchase, no battery, no info. Put a battery in it, shorted the solenoid when turning it over and it wanted to start. Replaced solenoid and almost started, took starter off and it was wet and corroded. Replaced starter and got it running, but then wouldn't start...pulled starter cable cap and they were falling apart. Replaced starter cables, started and sounded great! Put in water and it ripped! But then about 300 feet from the dock it died and I had to be pulled in. I pulled the plugs and turned the motor over and water shot out the head. Took her home, basically dumped it upside down to get the water out, let it dry out and it started! Took it to the lake and now I can't get it passed the end of the dock. Same problem, pull the plugs, crank it, and water shoots out the motor. I never tried hooking it up to a hose to see how it would run. Compression around 130. Like I said I'm new to this and have no idea where to start, but eager to learn and get this beast in the water where she belongs.
 
CRJ

CRJ

Hibernating
Location
Toronto
So you have a crack in something (Likely the waterjacket) and the water is fouling the plug, killing it. If water shoots out, its a big leak.

next step is start taking it apart to find the problem, grab spare parts from @Wizards Powersports and slap it all back together.

Then braaap all day!
 
SUPERJET-113

SUPERJET-113

GASKETS FOR CHAMP BRAP!
Site Supporter
Location
Lake Havasu City, AZ USA
Yeah, if your getting water into your engine that fast, you more than likely have a leaking old head gasket first, then if not the head gasket you could possibly have a leak in the water jacket somewhere on the cylinder.

I'd pull the head and look to if there are any signs of water intrusion past the head gasket. Replace head gasket and torque to specs in the even criss cross bolt pattern. Take some pics and post here if you can.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
C

Chris Libera

Location
Indianapolis, IN
Soon after I first bought it a friend of mine tested the compression after replacing the solenoid and putting a battery in it. Compression was about 200, but that didn't seem right to me so I've always just thought it was a fluke test. More parts started braking so I hadn't tested it until after I flooded the motor. Now like I said it's around 130, so maybe it really was 200? If that is true would that tell me more about a head gasket or water jacket?
 
C

Chris Libera

Location
Indianapolis, IN
Unfortunately I've been so busy this year I haven't started taking the 550 apart until now. I have 80% of the engine taken apart and do not see any cracks! What should I do? Just replace every gasket and put it back together? There is kind of a lot of rust, anything I should do about this before putting it back together? Any other recommendations while I have it torn apart? I will post pictures within the next couple of days, thanks for any advice.
 
Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
Damn that rust is from water sitting in there after you swamped the motor. After you got all of the water out you should of fogged the piss out of that motor before putting the ski away. Looks like it may of just needed a head gasket all along. I would do a head gasket, check compression and see what happens.
 
C

Chris Libera

Location
Indianapolis, IN
Lumberjack said:
Damn that rust is from water sitting in there after you swamped the motor. After you got all of the water out you should of fogged the piss out of that motor before putting the ski away. Looks like it may of just needed a head gasket all along. I would do a head gasket, check compression and see what happens.
Click to expand...

Should I lubricate any of it while it's apart, anything I can do to help it out?
 
C

Chris Libera

Location
Indianapolis, IN
Lumberjack said:
Damn that rust is from water sitting in there after you swamped the motor. After you got all of the water out you should of fogged the piss out of that motor before putting the ski away. Looks like it may of just needed a head gasket all along. I would do a head gasket, check compression and see what happens.
Click to expand...

I think I'm going to make a new post, since it's been so long.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom