Hey guys, I am new to the forum and I am looking into purchasing a set of 97 seadoo's. One an spx and the other one is a GTi. The GTi is having problems and he said it is not going over 20mph. he had both skis serviced in april where they changed the wear ring and change the pump oil. He just took them out for the 1st time since the service last weekend. Do you think the problem could be the carb? Any info would help. I want to see what you have to say before I purchase the skis.
-
This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.
1997 Seadoo GTi Not going over 20mph
- Thread starter petcutz
- Start date
- Status
bell99man
Active Member
Take anything a seller says with a grain of salt. Why would he service them in April and just now ride them? Seems really improbable to me. Go to your favorite parts store and buy a compression gauge. They are about $20 and will save you $1000 if the seller is playing dumb. You just pull the spark plugs, screw in the adapter, squeeze the throttle and push the start button. Watch the gauge and when the needle stops climbing let go of everything. It should get to about 150psi for those engines. 130-150 is showing some wear. Below that and a rebuild will be coming soon. If it needs a battery you may want to walk away. It usually means a dead engine and he doesn't want that discovered.
If the compression checks out, then it could be a carb issue. Look at the fuel lines when you go to check them out. If they are grey, it definitely has carb issues but that can be fixed. Just be sure to figure that into your offer. I would reduce the offer by a $100. Look at the wear ring. If it looks smooth then he may have put a new one in. If not, it's more than one ride old and then you know what kind of seller he is. If it is the oem ring it should have a fiber glass core wrapped in black plastic. You should not be able to see any of the white fiber glass. If it is all white it's not oem but that is not necessarily a problem. While you are back there look at the impeller for dings and dents. If it's beat up take a $100 off the offer. Good luck and read all the tech articles in here as well. It may help you spot something.
http://www.seadooforum.com/forumdisplay.php?21-How-To-Tech-Articles
Kevin
If the compression checks out, then it could be a carb issue. Look at the fuel lines when you go to check them out. If they are grey, it definitely has carb issues but that can be fixed. Just be sure to figure that into your offer. I would reduce the offer by a $100. Look at the wear ring. If it looks smooth then he may have put a new one in. If not, it's more than one ride old and then you know what kind of seller he is. If it is the oem ring it should have a fiber glass core wrapped in black plastic. You should not be able to see any of the white fiber glass. If it is all white it's not oem but that is not necessarily a problem. While you are back there look at the impeller for dings and dents. If it's beat up take a $100 off the offer. Good luck and read all the tech articles in here as well. It may help you spot something.
http://www.seadooforum.com/forumdisplay.php?21-How-To-Tech-Articles
Kevin
Thanks I will check compression.
Hey Guys thanks for the advice. I am going to do a compression test on them tomorrow. The guy is a client of mine and is the original owner so I don't think he would lie but you never know. One thing I always tell the people I'm buying shit from is "I know where you live!" lol. He has all the receipts of the work he has had done. The reason last weekend was the 1st time since he as talking them out is because he purchased a boat. The ski's have been sitting in his garage for 2 years. They are the super clean inside and out. I do know that the fuel gauge on the GTI doesn't work but I guess that's pretty common. He also said the SPX always has had a hard time idling in the water.
Last edited by a moderator:
IDoSeaDoo
Well-Known Member
Is it going 20mpg with the engine revving all the way (pump cavitation), or is it just not revving up? Does it start hard? Compression check is MANDATORY on marine purchase, but if it starts well, it probably has decent compression. My first guess is that after they put on a new wear ring, they forgot to put on the neoprene pump seal. it may be that simple 
without that seal, you may face a situation where the pump is sucking air from a crack between the pump and the hull causing massive cavitation and lack of speed.
without that seal, you may face a situation where the pump is sucking air from a crack between the pump and the hull causing massive cavitation and lack of speed.Is it going 20mpg with the engine revving all the way (pump cavitation), or is it just not revving up? Does it start hard? Compression check is MANDATORY on marine purchase, but if it starts well, it probably has decent compression. My first guess is that after they put on a new wear ring, they forgot to put on the neoprene pump seal. it may be that simple
I will ask about the engine revving. Also, would I be able to look into the pump to see if the pump seal is in there or is it completely hidden?
IDoSeaDoo
Well-Known Member
you MIGHT be able to see it from underneath the ski though the intake grate... but I HIGHLY doubt it. The pump pretty much goes right over the seal and unless they did a less than perfect job installing it, a piece of it might be visible around where the pump meets the hull. Funny, I just installed said seal on my XP. In that process I made sure to stick it on where it won't poke out where water might be deflected by it.
It is not revving up so pump should be fine. Sounds like carb.
- Status
