It took me all day and I practically tore my ski down and put it back together with no definitive answer. I have spark, compression, and fuel.
- pulled Ebox checked connections/Epic wiring (all was good before but just crossing off my list)
- reprogrammed Epic - 3rd time
- checked for spark - yes
- pulled flywheel to check stator position - all good and retorqued with fresh flywheel cover gasket
- pulled water box to check for broken baffle causing too much back pressure preventing combustion - water box good to go
- pulled fuel lines/filter - all fresh
- good fuel flow from pulse line during start
- pulled manifold to check reed condition - I was almost certain I had a broken reed...NOT. Both sets of reeds were good.
- previously I had pulled the carb to check and clean needle/seat, both jets. All was clean and reinstalled, but somewhere in this process I fubar'd my carb (sbn 46)
Ski turns over great, makes good spark, has compression, and has fuel (way too much fuel apparently). After I pulled the water box to check for baffle failure I moved to the carbs to check reeds. At each stage of tear down I would recheck for ignition. With the carbs and mani pulled I just turned it over (don't know why I tried this but it gave me some answers). The ski rumbled to life and burped out a large gush of fuel out of the intake orificies! So ski died out after burning what fuel was present. Reassembled ski and gave it a spritz of starting fluid (no fuel lines connected but carb/mani installed). Ski fired up like it normal and let me hit the throttle and died. Connected lines with fresh fuel. Couple primes and great fuel flow from pulse signal, but no ignition with ski turning over great. Still have positive spark. Pulled carb and hit start again without fuel and it fires up great!
So, I'm guessing my carb is flooding the engine. Do I assume needle/seat bad? The needle tip looked fine, no grooves. Jets were clean and clear.
Carb specs:
SBN 46
2.5 NS
137.5 low (was a 130 weeks ago but changed to accomodate lots of early, advanced timing on Epic curve)
150 high
80 gram (black spring)
Don't have a pop off gauge, but ordering one.