Other Beginning riding, Priming, and power!!

[NewKid]

I got a few questions. First off I rode for the first time today, and stood up just fine. Instantly even, but turning is another story. Im use to dirt bikes and not using the bars at all, but I wasnt sure about skis. Do I turn them at all? a lot? and when I turned te bars out of water I saw the jet go the opposite way, does that mean I dont turn into the lean? Any beginner tips or stories are much appreciated!! stance, throttle control, anything.

another question. I just got these three skis, gas tanks empty of course, but now they wont start because no gas is getting to the carp, theres no suction or something, any ideas? I heard "priming" them helps but I dont know how to do that.

lastly, I have 2 440's and a 550, I heard that isnt a lot of power, and power helps. True?

Thnks in advance!! I love the forum and all the help fellow riders provide.

 

[NorCalSJ]

Yes you use the bars to turn, most beginners make the mistake of trying to turn at a slow speed and just fall over, try getting the ski to plain out (medium speed) and just turn the bars what way you want to go its pretty simple just have to get use to it.

 

[NewKid]

Ya I wasn't going too fast at all. I see more expeirienced riders turn around at slow speeds like a 180. Is that just giving it a lot of gas?

 

[Snivilous]

To do a 180 you throttle it a bit, then push the back around and get it to slide. If you are carving you want to lean into the corner. Priming is where you have a small (hand) pump that just takes some fuel from one of your gas lines and injects it directly into the carb. Same thing if you just take some gas or starter fluid and squirt it into the spark plug holes (you might want to do this, just to get it to fire up for a second and suck fuel). You can always pull off the fuel lines from the carb and suck on them to get fuel to flow into them.

 

[rwilliamtaylor]

Your gas tank has a check valve on it. You can blow in the check valve to pressurize the tank. That will help the gas flow to the carb. If you use starter fluid make sure you use 2 stroke fluid. Especially if these skis have not run in a while.

Good luck. 550s like to break. You'll be a jet ski mechanic in no time. I call my 550 "problem child".

 

[NISMOtuner]

I feel your pain on the turning. I gotta get used to that as well.... Just rode for the first time yesterday.

 

[Byeai]

Its easy kinda lean the ski at medium speed and turn bars a little it will turn I ride it like I ride my GSXR

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

[NISMOtuner]

Are you supposed to turn the handle bars the same way you would when rising a motorcycle? Bc I've owned plenty of crotch rockets and if that's the case then ill be right at home next time I get on the water.

 

['kotajoe]

yes, turn the bars just like you would a motorcycle

 

[zyxwvu44]

Speed is key. It is much more scary at first but way easier to turn when you are on plane. If you are going 5 MPH and the nose is in the air and plowing, you are very unstable. For just learning, i would use the bars more than leaning. Start leaning more and more as you get comfortable with how the ski handles.

 

[NISMOtuner]

Sweet. Can't wait to get out there. Now if I can just rig my gas filler neck long until I can get a new one... Mine broke last night so I gotta figure out a way to keep water out tomorrow.

 

[onedumbtrucker]

Sweet. Can't wait to get out there. Now if I can just rig my gas filler neck long until I can get a new one... Mine broke last night so I gotta figure out a way to keep water out tomorrow.

Yah, water in the tank is VERY BAD. And it doesn't take much to toast a motor, I know from experience. A thimble full or two is more than enough.

 

[RivMan]

You do NOT turn the bars like a motorcycle.

A motorcycle is turned by counter steering, jet ski is just the opposite. You steer into the turn, and lean into it as well. It took me a month of skiing before I stopped accidentally trying to counter steer.

-Rob

 

[NISMOtuner]

Aww crap, then that's gonna be hard to get used to...

 

[Snivilous]

It's like steering a motorcycle in a parking lot!

 

[eeerieski]

Just get out there and try, it won't take that long to get the hang of it. standup jet skiing has a very steep and very long learning curve, it may take you a year to learn how to slowly turn without falling over, it did for me but I was about 100 pounds heavier than the average rider.


A few tips riding standups:
1. NEVER LET GO
2. When in doubt, power out.

as for the primer, some premix gas in a bottle poured down the carbs should be enough of a prime. Or you could install one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/primer-kit-...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item3cc43f91c0

 

[NISMOtuner]

Sweet thanks for the advice!