Summertime is the season to make waves on a personal watercraft, but sometimes your ride may be sidelined on the shore due to needed repairs. When that’s the case, there’s no time to waste. The warm days and sunshine of summer won’t last forever. Losing out on these precious days would be truly unfortunate.
Common repairs for personal watercraft
Owners of personal watercraft will typically experience these issues over time. At the first sign of trouble, it’s best to inspect your personal watercraft to diagnose the problem. With prompt repairs, you can keep your PWC ready for the next time you want to ride. Here’s what to look for with your personal watercraft.
1) Starting Problems
If your PWC seems sluggish to start, there are several things to investigate. It’s best to start with the simple things first. Check to make sure that cable and wire connections aren’t loose or corroded. If that’s all that is causing starting problems, it’s a very easy fix. Other simple problems to inspect can be a bad fuse or weak battery. Next check the ignition switch, which works in conjunction with the starter to turn over the engine. Finally, confirm your starter is up to the task. Sluggish starts are the first sign of a failing starter, eventually leading to total failure altogether.
2) Choppy Performance
If your ride isn’t as smooth as it should be, it could be due to anything from electrical to fuel system problems. If there is a weak link in your electrical system, check components like the solenoid and voltage regulator rectifier. The solenoid acts like an electromagnetic switch to activate the starter, and the voltage regulator rectifier manages the flow of voltage so that components don’t get too much or too little current. The fuel system is a non-electrical system that could also cause poor performance. If your engine isn’t receiving a consistent flow of fuel, performance will be choppy. Inspect your fuel system for maintenance issues.
3) Fluid Leaks
Leaks are inevitable for any machine in which fluids are present. At the first sign of leakage or spotting, inspect your personal watercraft to find the source. Running low on fluids can cause expensive damage and eventually result in failure for your machine to operate, Plus, on the environmentally minded side, leaks can also pollute waters where you ride your personal watercraft. Worn gaskets and seals are a major source of leaks. Over time, they can become brittle, corroded or deformed. Replacing gaskets and seals provides a secure seal to keep fluids in place.
Make Waves All Summer Long on Your Personal Watercraft
Staying on top of maintenance will keep you ready to take your PWC for a spin whenever the sun shines. That’s important because you only have so much leisure time to enjoy making waves. Make sure to squeeze every minute of fun out of the days of summer.
