FX-1 Intermittent Spark, need help and ideas?

swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Here's the symptom. 94 FX1, stock everything as far as this is concerned.

Hit start button, I get spark for the first revolution or 2, then nothing. I got it to start a few times... then I give it gas and it bogs and dies. This is all in my garage, not in the water. It ran great two days ago in the garage. Only recent mod of note is a new ProK flame arrestor. The last time I started the ski was after I put that on to see if it revved any better. With all my thinking on this, I wasn't sure if the flame arrestor swap would warrant a tuning screw adjustment.

If it matters, when I revved it and let off the gas I saw a little flash shoot throught the pluse line. I assume thats normal, hence 'flame arrestor'. But I wanted to mention it.

So the obvious guess is the CDI... but I don't know how to test it. It looks like a PITA to even get to. But if thats what ya'll think then thats what i'll do.

I've killed the battery almost a dozen times trying different things (fuel, fuel filter, compression, primer, pouring gas down carb lol)
I haven't trimmed the plug wires back since it ran recently.

This is really depressing. I haven't been able to ride much lately due to our newborn, so I was super stoaked to get a kitchen pass for tomorrow and hit the lake. Sorry for my sob story, i'm just venting I guess.

I hope ya'll can help or point me in the right direction.

For what its worth, I have a 95 WB1 that I believe I was having carb problems with, but the more I think about it, it could be the CDI as well. (bogs above idle after about 10 min of riding) But if ya'll think I should swap the CDI's out I can try that.
 
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Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Unplug the black and white on the s/s wires near the e box.lf she starts then it's the start/stop switch.But the good news is you can still ride by leaving it unplugged.Turn your thumb screw down to where it will die when slow down!
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Ok, good news bad news.
I unplugged the black and white wires and the spark did improve! I had the plugs out of the head.

I figured the day is not lost and there is hope after all. I drop the plugs in, turn down the idle and hit the little green button. It starts, runs for a few seconds and dies (i'm giving it a touch of throttle...)
I continue to try this, and when it does start, I give it gas.... BOG!
So the answer is: its a little better, but still doesn't seem to want to run right. I replaced the fuel filter.. just for the hell of it.

Should I be adjusting the pilot or main for the flame arrestor??? I thought about putting the stock one back on, but I have a hard time imagineing that a F/A would require a different tune.

Any other suggestions based on these symptoms? Thanks again to driftmaster & Sanoman for their suggestions!
 
jeremy chambon

jeremy chambon

Need more power
Location
rockford MI
just an idea it mite be way off but could it be the coil they do go bad once and a while and a f/a should not do that i can go from running a stock f/a to running n/a and it doesnt make a diff if any one knows the ome readings that would tell u if the coils good or bad
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Yep, had a good day at the lake. So it looks like I had two issues.

1. The stop switch was killing my spark. (do ya'll replace the whole thing or just re-wire it? Maybe do some cleaning on the contacts?)
2. The carb was a disaster. I tore it down and ended up stealing parts off the carb that my wife was in the middle of rebuilding LOL!!!!!!!!!

I ran the ProK flame arrestor all day.
Thanks to everyone for their help! I'm really glad I didn't yank the friggen CDI on both boats just to figure out it was the problems above.
 
Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
swapmeet said:
Yep, had a good day at the lake. So it looks like I had two issues.

1. The stop switch was killing my spark. (do ya'll replace the whole thing or just re-wire it? Maybe do some cleaning on the contacts?)
2. The carb was a disaster. I tore it down and ended up stealing parts off the carb that my wife was in the middle of rebuilding LOL!!!!!!!!!

I ran the ProK flame arrestor all day.
Thanks to everyone for their help! I'm really glad I didn't yank the friggen CDI on both boats just to figure out it was the problems above.
Click to expand...

Save yourself a ton of aggravation and money.Send it to Jet Ski Solutions in GA and let him rebuild it for you.He is on the X.
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Ok, I'll hit him up. I didn't know if there was a chance the wires might have rubbed and shorted.
Hmmm... I have some other questions but it sounds like I need to ask him.
 
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