1990 js550sx long crank times

[taylor shaffer]

I have a 1990 js550sx that i just bought and am having troubles with it. Initially it seems to start up pretty good, but after it runs once and then shut it off it is very hard to start, it takes at least 15 seconds of crank time before it even starts to fire, once it starts to fire with about half throttle it sputters for a couple seconds then takes off and seems to have good power to get me out of the water and to run once its planed out.

 

[taylor shaffer]

anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

[Lake St. Clair Rider]

Sounds like your carb may need to be cleaned or rebuild but I am no expert. One of the 550's we have will only start if you mess with the throttle.

 

[King Kang]

My PP 550 is quirky like that. It can sometimes take a bit of effort to get it running. Have you removed your rev limiter? I've heard they can fail and cause fuel issues.

 

[SkiPro]

Dude... Put it on Craig's and sell it while it will still start outta the water..

 

[Fleabags]

When you try to restart it, does it feel like it its flooded or starved? This would help diagnose. You may be dribbling fuel past the needle/seat after it is shut off causing it to flood out which would require excess cranking to get it going again. If it is starved, you may have to crank it to get the fuel pump primed again. Both conditions are easy to fix. Your comment regarding sputtering would suggest that you have too much fuel.
A carb rebuild, if it hasn't been done in a while, would establish a baseline going forward. Wouldn't hurt to remove the intake manifold and inspect your reeds as well.

 

[Nottjbarlow]

Zip ties on the fuel lines? Maybe lines are losing their prime?

Bn44 or sbn44?

 

[twisterad3]

Losing prime or small exhaust leak... I had a JS and Superjet with an exhaust leak, and they would run fine until they need to be started... By the time I had the superjet, I knew what to look for.
Hope that helps.