Kawasaki Jet Ski
Repair.

Kawasaki: The Heaviest Hitters on the Water

The Kawasaki Ultra 310 family — 310R, 310LX, 310LX-S — are the most powerful production jet skis in the world. The 1,498cc four-cylinder supercharged engine puts out numbers that other manufacturers' top models can't match on paper. They're also large, heavy machines that demand proper maintenance to keep that power coming reliably. When a 310 comes through our shop, we take it seriously.

We also service the STX 160 and older Kawasaki models. The 160F platform — the naturally aspirated four-cylinder — is a straightforward, solid machine that responds well to proper seasonal care and regular service. Parts availability on older models can be a challenge, but for most skis from the late 2000s onward, we can usually source what we need.

Common Kawasaki Jet Ski Problems

Supercharger bearing wear (Ultra 310) — The supercharger on the Ultra 310 is a high-output unit that needs regular service. Bearing wear is the most common issue — you'll hear it as a whine that gets louder over time, often followed by a change in power delivery. Catching it early means a bearing replacement. Letting it go means a full supercharger rebuild or replacement. Kawasaki's recommended interval is 50 hours for supercharger inspection — which most riders miss because it feels soon. We recommend staying on it.

Intercooler issues — The 310 runs an air-to-water intercooler that requires its own cooling circuit. Scale buildup in the intercooler passages reduces heat exchange efficiency and eventually affects performance under load. We flush and inspect the intercooler system as part of major service on 310s, and when a ski comes in running hot or losing top end power, the intercooler is one of the first things we check.

Cooling system blockages — Kawasaki's cooling system design on both the 310 and STX platforms can accumulate debris and scale, particularly in saltwater environments. We see overheating issues regularly on high-hour machines that haven't had the cooling system serviced. A thorough flush and descale usually resolves it.

Impeller wear — The Ultra 310 moves a lot of water, and that means the impeller takes wear from debris faster than on lighter machines. A worn impeller on a 310 kills the numbers that made you buy the ski in the first place. Inspecting and replacing the impeller as needed is part of keeping these machines performing correctly.

Kawasaki Performance Tuning

The Ultra 310 is already at the top of the stock performance ladder, but there's still room to push further. An ECU reflash on the 310 platform extracts additional power from the factory-detuned maps. A stainless impeller upgrade pitched for your riding weight and style adds top end. We know this platform and we'll build a package that actually makes a difference without compromising reliability.

Models We Service