1993 Polaris starter problem?

[laura&cole]

We have a 1993 Polaris jet ski that has been rebuilt. It ran fine last season. We have cranked it a few times over the winter and it has been fine. We tried to crank it last week and it wouldn't even turn over. We can turn the engine over by hand and after much messing around finally got the starter to turn over but it still won't crank. We have drained & replaced the gas and tried starter fluid... still will turn over but won't crank. We tried to check if we're getting a spark... and we're getting nothing while trying to start it but someone said it has to be actually running to be getting a spark anyway?

We know very little about mechanics in general, and even less about jet skis. We're trying to muddle through this since we can't find anyone in three states who works on one this old. Anyone have any suggestions? Help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: 1993 Polaris starter problem?

We have a 1993 Polaris jet ski that has been rebuilt. It ran fine last season. We have cranked it a few times over the winter and it has been fine. We tried to crank it last week and it wouldn't even turn over. We can turn the engine over by hand and after much messing around finally got the starter to turn over but it still won't crank. We have drained & replaced the gas and tried starter fluid... still will turn over but won't crank. We tried to check if we're getting a spark... and we're getting nothing while trying to start it but someone said it has to be actually running to be getting a spark anyway?

We know very little about mechanics in general, and even less about jet skis. We're trying to muddle through this since we can't find anyone in three states who works on one this old. Anyone have any suggestions? Help would be greatly appreciated!

Make sure the battery is connected real right and fully charged. Also make sure the ground wire and positive wire going to the starter on tight and there is no corrosion on the connections. Your ski needs 3 things to run...compression, spark, and fuel. First thing is to pull the spark plugs and check compression. I believe on that motor compression should be between 100-120psi on each cylinder and all 3 cylinders should be within 10psi of each other. If your compression is correct, put about a teaspoon of fuel in each of the spark plug holes (NEVER USE STARTING FLUID), put the plugs and wires back on and try to start it. If it starts and runs for more than 30 seconds you're good. If it starts and runs for 30 seconds or less then you're not getting fuel. If it doesn't start at all you have no/weak spark.

If you have no/weak spark, first make sure you are using new plugs. Next, cut the zipties off the spark plug boots and remove the boot by unscrewing them. The wires will be left. Cut 1/4" off each of them and put the boot back on and tie it down with new zipties.

Try that and report back.

 

[laura&cole]

Re: 1993 Polaris starter problem?

Well, finally got it started. Think it was a mixture of old gas and a bad starter. We drained the gas, put new in, added fuel stabilizer, and got it to start and run. However, every once in awhile the starter will just "click" instead of turning over... in which case we have to beat on it a bit and it starts right up. We're guessing it needs a new starter, which we don't really know how to replace... I guess we'll have to figure that out next. For now, at least it's running!

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: 1993 Polaris starter problem?

I could be wrong but I believe on those skis the starter is underneath the exhaust pipe. You have to unbolt and move or remove it to access the starter. It's not a terrible job. Once you do, it's 2 bolts that go into the crankcase and it slides right out and dettatch the wires and replace.

 

[upallnight]

Re: 1993 Polaris starter problem?

Once you unbolt the starter from the block, attach a slide hammer to the starter and use the slide hammer to get it out of the engine.