Why wont my ski start without the primer? Fixed*

[Quinc]

On a side note. I'm not saying to do it. But IMO primers are one more thing to fail, or possibly cause an air leak. I keep mine simple and run without a primer. I use a little squirt of flammable brake cleaner for cold starts. Normally only needs a squirt for the first ride of the day. Zero issues, love it.

Might want to switch to starter fluid.
http://www.brewracingframes.com/safety-alert-brake-cleaner--phosgene-gas.html

 

[kswiatk]

Or just stick it on the reserve line so it doesn't affect the carb if it leaks

 

[JamesG]

I have the same problem. Great power but my ski wont start after 15 minutes of sitting without a primer. Once it's running it's perfect

 

[88kawi5fiddy]

run a 60 or smaller main jet in the return, and hope for some starting! if you have aftermarket f/a, run the popoff around 20 psi. try to tune your idle mixture on the trailer.

 

[Vumad]

Put the old crusty internals back into the carb and now she idles... Maybe the vibrations from the blaster caused the new oem gaskets and/or check valves do go bad after only a season and half?

OEM/Genuine mikuni or something aftermarket? My SBT kits were bad when they were brand new. The o-rings wouldn't seal the fuel pump.

Consider getting a set of the allen head screws JM sells. I could get my carbs nice and tight w/o fear of stripping which wasn't the case with the stock phillips.

Ethanol eats carb parts.

 

[Big Kahuna]

On a side note. I'm not saying to do it. But IMO primers are one more thing to fail, or possibly cause an air leak. I keep mine simple and run without a primer. I use a little squirt of flammable brake cleaner for cold starts. Normally only needs a squirt for the first ride of the day. Zero issues, love it.

I noticed at Daytona when I tried to crank my motor, it was actually pumping fuel through the primer line.

 

[Quinc]

OEM/Genuine mikuni or something aftermarket? My SBT kits were bad when they were brand new. The o-rings wouldn't seal the fuel pump.

Consider getting a set of the allen head screws JM sells. I could get my carbs nice and tight w/o fear of stripping which wasn't the case with the stock phillips.

Ethanol eats carb parts.

Yup Mikuni OEM kit. We have horrible gas in California, but it should have lasted longer. When I get a chance I will look more into and try and figure out exactly what is failing.


Primer is hooked up to the return.

 

[88kawi5fiddy]

any chance the check valves got bent on installation? ive barely touched one on its edge before and it bent it too far to use.

 

[Quinc]

any chance the check valves got bent on installation? ive barely touched one on its edge before and it bent it too far to use.

Could be, but odd that it ran perfect for months. First the needle went bad (would no longer seal) then a couple months after that the rest of it went to sh*t..

 

[Quinc]

I believe I have it fixed now. It was constantly leaking fuel around the intake manifold on hot days. I replaced the o-rings with paper gaskets and now she starts with the press of the button, idles, and only needs the primer after a couple days of not being started.

 

[augustaf]

Here is another issue I have noted repeatedly: the fuel pump checkvalves develop 3 or 4 "pleats" at the sealing surface. Just a thought, if more corn was used to feed cattle instead of making ethanol, maybe "steak" would be less than $10 per pound.

 

[DAG]

View attachment 275566 View attachment 275566 Here is another issue I have noted repeatedly: the fuel pump checkvalves develop 3 or 4 "pleats" at the sealing surface. Just a thought, if more corn was used to feed cattle instead of making ethanol, maybe "steak" would be less than $10 per pound.

Creases in the check valves happen b/c of too much fuel pressure. Ever since I drilled out the tiny return hole and run a jet in the return line I haven’t found a bent check valve so far. (knock on wood)