Other need help with 2001 XL 800 couch

[The Penguin]

my boss has a 2001 XL 800 that is not running right.

he recently took it to a "mechanic" and supposedly had the carbs gone cleaned and rebuilt, but he says it only ran good for about 2 hours after he got it back.

symptoms - not running "right", not making power. rear plugs fouled (black), front plug clean. Also said that rear cylinder was smoking when he removed the plugs, front was not.

ski has oil pump/injection...my first thought is that he's not getting sufficient oil to the rear cylinder or that the mechanic screwed up the jetting when he cleaned and rebuilt the carbs.

I'll have results from a compression test by tomorrow evening, looking for suggestions in the meantime.

thanks

 

[engineman44]

did he have the fuel lines replaced when carbs were cleaned

 

[The Penguin]

I doubt it.

 

[JonnyB]

dropped powervavle in the rear maybe. how many hours on the ski?

 

[The Penguin]

it's a PV engine?

I'll get the hours from him tonight.

 

[JonnyB]

it's a PV engine?

I'll get the hours from him tonight.

yepp

 

[JonnyB]

wonder if the "mechanic" didn't put the oil line on right on the carb for the injection

 

[The Penguin]

is there a right and wrong way to put the oil line on?

 

[waterfreak]

I would say that you lost the rear cylinder. Compression test should verify this!

 

[JonnyB]

might not have zip-tied it on etc. If so if could have fallen off after the 2 hour mark.

 

[The Penguin]

I would say that you lost the rear cylinder. Compression test should verify this!

that's what I thought when he told me it was smoking. He doesn't have a compression tester so I'm bringing mine in to work tomorrow.

might not have zip-tied it on etc. If so if could have fallen off after the 2 hour mark.

gotcha. Wasn't sure if there was something special that should have been done to it.

 

[JonnyB]

gotcha. Wasn't sure if there was something special that should have been done to it.

I should have said, I wonder if the mechanic properly secured the oil injection lines when he reinstalled the carb

 

[waterfreak]

I should have said, I wonder if the mechanic properly secured the oil injection lines when he reinstalled the carb

any decent mechanic would of suggested converting to pre-mix while doing the carbs. Most of my customers agree to do it after I give them a few horror stories!!

 

[WaveDemon]

full compression on those motors is 120psi

 

[The Penguin]

any decent mechanic would of suggested converting to pre-mix while doing the carbs. Most of my customers agree to do it after I give them a few horror stories!!

I basically told him the same thing about premix, and if we get this thing fixed - it's going to be premix from now on. The "mechanic" is a guy that works out of his truck and a storage unit...hence the quotes: "mechanic"

The mechanic recommended not to converting to premix because the oil pump delivers different oil ratios at different RPMs and is better for the motor. I told him bullsh..t, that 40:1 or 50:1 is fine and $6 to replace fouled plugs is cheaper than $1500 when the oil pump goes out.

full compression on those motors is 120psi

thanks - about to look for a link to the manual...I think Shonuff has it on his website.

 

[The Penguin]

link to the XL800 manual we have in our library here is no good - anyone have it?

Does the exhaust have to come off to get to the carbs so he can verify all oil lines are attached?

 

[JonnyB]

If a line fell off then the engine bay should be a mess. Take a flashlight and check if there is a bunch of oil at the bottom of the hull

 

[The Penguin]

dropped powervavle in the rear maybe. how many hours on the ski?

220 hours

 

[The Penguin]

he took it back to the "mechanic." compression in rear cylinder is zero.

told me he got pissy with the guy and didn't leave the ski with him...and he didn't way what the compression was in the front cylinder...but did say that "everything still moves"

Guess I'll have him bring it to me so I can pull the head and see how bad it is.

 

[JonnyB]

I'm going with dropped powervalve