I'm hoping some of you can help me with some general questions I have about my tender boat for the houseboat - my jet ski. It's a '98 Yamaha XL1200 w/ a 2 stroke 3 cyl engine. I bought it last fall. The previous owner bought it from the local Yamaha ski dealer that confirmed to me that the motor was replaced in August '10. When I bought it, the owner only had 36 hours on the motor. Previous owner admits the ski has always been somewhat difficult to start initially, as the choke cable doesn't work too well. I've always had to give it a shot of starter fluid down the carb and then it starts right up. Once started, it runs like a top with no hesitation and good throttle response. It'll do 55mph with no hesitation and sounds normal when running at any speed. It never dies. It idols well, but pretty darn rough. If you turn it off for any reason, it'll start back up with no hesitation.

My questions / concerns:
It will NOT start unless I use the starter fluid. If I get the choke cable adjusted, will this thing still require the starter fluid?
I know it's a 2 stroke, but it has a noticeable smoke cloud that dissipates quickly behind it when idling through the water. Is this normal?
It idols rough. It'll shake the mirrors so much that you can't see anything in them. Is this normal?

My wife is scared of the ski b/c it's difficult to start and load in the water from the houseboat. I need this thing to start for her in case there's ever an emergency.

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

A cold engine needs a richer mixture to start, which is what the choke is supposed to do. Fix it and it should help the starting issue.
I think the rough idle is a result of the low-speed mixture jet either too lean (if adjustable) or clogged (if not). Fixing that should help the starting too.

Since 2-strokes are designed to burn oil, SOME smoking is to be expected. How much depends on the engine.

I think the easiest thing is to take it to the dealer for a "tune up"

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Thanks for the advice. That's my thinking too a good tune-up.

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

I had an outboard that would not idle or run well at all on a Jon Boat unless I put in some seafoam. Didn't take much but if it wasn't in there it would die at idle quite often. With the seafoam it idled like a top. Mabye run a can through the next tank and see if that helps? Can't hurt either way.

Look into a Fuel Primer Kit. It replaces the choke with a line that squirts gasoline directly into the carburetor, rather than use a choke to suck the fuel into the carburetor. Many jet ski owners replace their chokes with the primer kit, and it works much better. It is easy to do, and doesn't take much time.

Come to think of it, the previous owner suggested I install the fuel primer kit. I'm writing that down now! Thanks!!

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

i bought a 98 xl1200 yamaha new and it had the same starting problems. the dealer put a primer kit on it and the problem was solved. i dont think i would use startig fluid on it unless you want to replace pistons(been there done that). it did idle good though,have your shop tune it up.it rode great,was very fast and loved gas!it also had a lil exhaust smoke but just at a idle.

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1991 gibson 44 executive
454's
norwich,ohio
docked on the good ole ohio river in marietta

Edited: 06/05/2012 at 02:11:23 PM by 42gibson

Yeah, I called the local stealer and talked to him about all these items. He said the fuel primer kit is needed on this thing and happily quoted me $270 to install it. Geez! I'm going to call around to ma & pa shops to see what they'd charge. I too was warned about the starter fluid, so I'd like to get this fixed soon.

Regarding the rough idling issue, he determined the idle just needs to be adjusted up a little. I have been slighly pulling the handle when going through the no wake zones, b/c it ran smoother, so this is probably the issue.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

When I installed mine, it was very simple. You remove the choke cable, install the primer lever in that hole, cut the fuel line, install a Tee in it, remove the choke butterfly in the carburetor, put a plug in one of the two holes, put the injector in the other hole, and hook up the tubing. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours, at most. Most kits have instructions showing how to do it. I hate to see you spend a lot of money!

What they said about the primer kit. I have an 1997 Kawaski 1100. Was a bear to start. I installed the primer kit several years ago - problem solved. It basically pumps gas down the throats of your carbs. It is easy to do - you can do it yourself. One tip if you do it yourself - put the injector in the freezer for a while before installing it so that it will shrink some. The hardest part is how tight the engine compartments are on jetskis.

I have 2 1999 GP1200's which I believe have the same motor and they are both hard to start the first time. They also both run very rough...shake like crazy especially out of the water. I have found this to be pretty much normal. One thing about these motors, they recommend switching to premix and doing away with the oil injection. The oil lines are known to fall off and then there goes the motor. If you switch to premix and remove the injection (replace with a block-off plate) you can hook the primer up directly to where the oil injection was hooked up. Just an idea.

You guys are making me dizzy. As a wise Toby Keith puts it, "There was a time, back in prime, when I could really lay it down." I used to think others were crazy for hiring others to do stuff like wax their cars. Now-a-days I assume pay for it b/c I simply don't have the time or will power to do it myself. I've officially grown old. I don't surrender my man card altogether though, as I still change my own oil myself (in the cars)!

On the ski, I do verify the oil line is tight each time before I start the ski up. The problem with this motor is the carbs are on the bottom of the engine and you practically take the whole top of the motor apart to get to the carbs. I think I'll leave this up to the professionals.

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

Access is the major pain. Like the Capn said - I would have them block off the oil pump and convert to premix. I had one of the oiling lines come off - a 2 cent clamp broke - and I ended up galling a cylinder. Rebuilt the motor over the winter.

So, change to the primer and convert to premix.

Are you sure the carbs are on the bottom? If this is a yamaha I think the carbs are on the starboard side near the top.

CapnLazy, I think GoVols PWC is upside down, and he don't know it yet. Shhhh...

LOL! The stealer told me the carbs are on the bottom. I can see the butterfly valve located bow side of the engine close to the hull.

Maybe I could just cut a hole in the bottom to gain access!

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

Yes, and you could let the water out that way, too.

Are you sure you're not mistaking the Oil Pump for the carb? This motor has 3 carbs on the starboard side of the motor. The oil pump is in the front, near the bottom.

Well, I bought a primer kit for the ski and was waiting to have it installed after the 4th week b/c I wanted to ride it all week. As typical, it wouldn't run properly for me. At this point, it'll just start and idle, but once you try to give it gas, it'll die. I put it in the water, started it and idled over to the ramp where I put it on the trailer. It's now sitting at Irby's Ski Repair for the next ~2 weeks waiting for a carb rebuild to the tune of ~$300. Hopefully that's all that'll be required!!!!

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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.

My neighbor just had a tender problem that you might want to consider: Are jet skis night-legal, with lights and stuff? My friend went out and watched the fireworks over the bay, and as he brought his trawler to its mooring about 200 feet from his own back yard, he noticed the blue lights of the Department of Natural Resources, engaged in their usual July 4 fundraiser, nabbing the unwary on their way home. They were up the creek a good quarter of a mile away. My friend put his ship to rights, offloaded coolers, and headed ashore in his inflatable dink. As the last cooler was handed ashore, two boats sped over at full throttle, rooster-tails a flyin', many megawatts of spotlights (but no blue lights) blinding my friend and frightening his wife. Both were ashore. The water cops rudely demanded ID over their loudhailer, and proceeded to tie up to my friend's dock in a private creek. My friend, an ex-Navy CDR, politely requested that they remain in their craft, that they didn't have permission to step on his dock without identifying themselves. Things went downhill from there, and my friend, ever the gentleman and superb boat handler, was cited for not having red/green lights affixed to his inflatable dinghy. Moral of the story: they WILL find something to get you on, if they've made up their minds to. Best not to give them an obvious excuse.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC