Polaris 1050 blown head. Please help.

[CrownVicNick]

I had trouble starting my Polaris last Sunday, so I sprayed what I thought was "a little" starting fluid in the air cleaner and I heard a very loud POP. I got over it, thinking it was a backfire, and got my jetski to run and ride. After about 2 minutes of riding, I noticed decreased performance; then within a minute, it would only go slow; then it wouldn't run at all. When I pushed it to shore and tore into it, the paint on the cylinder cover was charred and smoking, as opposed to the bright red of the other cylinder covers. The head was broken at a bolt, and the bolt head broke/popped off. Chunks of that part of the head went into the water passages and tiny pieces may have entered the cylinder in the (2mm tall x 20mm long) opening from the damage, but the walls are scratch-free.

Could the water/steam entering that cylinder be what over-heated it?

Could it be that just replacing the head could fix the problem?....considering that the starting fluid was the culprit of the head breaking.

Or do I need to remove the engine?

Thanks

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: Polaris 1050 blown head. Please help.

Spraying starting fluid into your ski is a bad idea. For one, it doesn't have any lubricant in there. The best thing to do is take a teaspoon of premixed (40:1) fuel and put it in each of your cylinders through the spark plug holes, put the plugs on, and start it. It will fire right up...the best thing to do when you first start it up each year to prevent unneccesary cranking on the starter.

Anyways...when did you exactly hear the pop...was it right away or after it had been running for a few seconds, etc? I find it difficult to believe that starting fluid would cause your condition. What kind of water do you run in? (fresh, salt, both) and do you beach your ski at all?

Thanks.

 

[CrownVicNick]

Re: Polaris 1050 blown head. Please help.

I run my skis in freshwater lakes and I do beach them. I'd had it out 5 times this year and it had been fantastic in every way. It wouldn't even fire after cranking it a bunch of times. The pop was immediately after spraying fluid through the air cleaner and it didn't start immediately. I kept trying and got it running within a few minutes. Not sure of the problem. Obviously I'm new at this. Thanks!