IM VERY NEW To these Jetski's so please dont roast me.. While riding either on your knees or standing the jetski bounces all over the place. If I go to full throttle it will instantly start bouncing. Its almost as if all of the weight is in the rear of the Jetski and the front is light. Any ideas? I bought the jetski rebuilt with some modifications, the problems is I dont know what he did. Is there maybe something in the front to help with stablility that could be missing? Or do I just need to learn to ride with it bouncy.. I see alot of others riding the same ski and not bouncing the same.... PLEASE HELP!

 

check the ride plate. it's on the bottom by the jet. make sure it's in good shape. ive also heard of guys changing the ride plate ofr different styles of riding. different designs of ride plate make them ride different.

 

What you are describing can be typical especially with a heavily modified ski for tricks. Hoedogg could be right with the ride plate. You want to check the length. You will want an extended ride plate if you are a recreational rider. By extended I mea it should extend beyond the furthest point of the ski by about 1-3 inches. The stock plate will be recessed about 2 inches. The ride plate is the metal piece below the impeller on the back of the ski, it's what the ski "rides" on while you are riding it. If that looks intact, you may want to try to modify how you ride the ski. If you are kind of timid and stand toward the rear you will put more weight toward the rear just as you described and cause the catapaulting feeling you are describing. Try riding with your feet further forward, when I ride my toes are right below the fuel selector. Then you can even try leaning forward. Don't get discouraged it takes a lot of time to get it right. Hey at least you got up on your first day. A buddy of mine didn't get up until his third day and another still hasn't stood up (prolly at least a dozen trips).
Save a horse, ride a KAWI
Rock

 

Yeah I got up right away, that was the easy part, Just cant get this think to quit bouncing! Ill check the plate tonight and see if there even is one. Maybe its missing all together..

 

What is happening is you are cavitaton the impellar.(basically the pump is out of water to propel you) Check out your intake grate. It probably is single loader(meaning it is flush with the bottom of ski). Upgrade that to a double loader,(sticks down about a inch or so) and that will keep your pump loaded much better. Also make sure your impeller is not all nicked up, and is stainless steel. Make sure the pitch if the impeller is right for the ski. Generally progressive pitch impellers work best. Cheap aluminum impellers flex under heavy load, and let water pass by them, so don't waste your money on them. Like some others said keep your weight forward, and the nose of the ski down. good luck. Ps you haven't jet skied until you've been in the ocean with it. There is absolutely nothing more
fun than wacking the waves:-)

 

Okay i looked last night and sure enough there isnt a Ride plate on the ski at all.. This is great news, this should take care of things.. Thanks for all of your help! Also Im going to check in to the Double Loader, doesnt hurt to have a little more help keeping water flowing..

 

Wow, I can't beleive it even moved without a ride plate! I bet that was quite a ride. Let me know if you need any help finding one. I have a stock one I could just give you to get you going. The top loader intake grate is also a good idea. It just depends on how hot your ski really is. Remember the more aggressive the ride plate and intake grate the better you will "hook up"however these will also increase your drag in the water diminishing your top end. The key is to find a happy medium.
Save a horse, Ride a KAWI
Rock

 

I bid on one on Ebay, hopefully Ill have it bynext weekend. I really dont want to limit my top end to much, Im looking to see whats out there as far as the loaders go. My wife likes to play around on it in and out of the turns so maybe a top loader would be best for her.. She would tell me, I dont really need to worry about limiting the top end speed, because i dont need to go that fast anyway.. What does she know!!!

 

The top loader won't really affect the top end that much. In fact in choppy conditions you will be faster because you won't porpoise so much, and you will keep the pump loaded. The only down side to a top loader is that in when the water is glass the ski will chine walk a little bit. But how often is the water glass though. good luck