1997 xp!...

[seadoosnipe]

Well, I was just delivered a 1997 XP for me to go over for the member so he can make sure it was a good choice to buy.

I took a hour or so just looking it over, did a compression test


The thing fired right up, first lick!............ I was kinda shocked! Why?

Because this is one of those times I would have told the member not to buy it. The reason is because he only paid $900 bucks for it. One of those things where "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is". It looked good but I know from years of experience, looking good doesn't mean your going to get to ride it anytime soon.

It needs some standard maintenance but from an initial inspection, the impeller and wearing ring look great!!!!!!

I'll keep ya'll posted as I continue to work on it.

I might hook up the lap top and do s Ustream vido when I'm working on it for ya'll to drop in if and when you like...........I'm going to attach a pix of this nice looking XP.....

I offered the member $1000 bucks, told him he'd make an easy $100 dollar profit..... He kinda laughed about it......:cheers:

 

[grader33]

Big TY to seadoosnipe!!

First off I would like to thank seadoosnipe for taking the time to look at my ski and and fix what needs fixin. I bought the 1997 Seadoo XP off craigslist about a month ago.

My job recently forced me to relocate from Indiana to Alabama. We found an apartment out on lake. I sat here all last summer and watched boats and skis tearing it up all day. I have never owned a boat or pwc prior to moving to AL. I have watched all winter the local advertisements, ebay, and yes craigslist hoping to find a good deal on a used ski. My price range was limited due to a recent addition to the family, I was looking between $1000-$1500 range. I had lurked on this forum and others prior to buying this '97 and tried to learn as much as I could, as I was shopping for my first ski.

So I found the posting on craigslist and called to ask about it. The owner was very helpful and told me alot about the ski on the phone. Stated he had the title and paperwork on the trailer. Said he was the second owner, and claimed it was a freshwater ski. I could see in the posting that it was a Florida ski so I had my doubts about being a freshwater ski. After talking to him I deceided it was worth the hour drive to take a look. He said it had sat in his garage for the last two years simply because he was working and Florida and didn't have time to ride. He told me that the battery was dead, but when he parked it, everything worked and it had no problems.

After checking the return policy on a battery, I picked one up and off I went. I got there and installed the battery, pulled the plugs and put a little fuel in and hit the start button. It fired up and I only ran it for a second. I looked the hull over and couldn't find any damage. It appeared the worst part was the hood was cracked a little. It was on a one place trailer. So my thinking was at $900, I would still be o.k. even if it was a lemon and I had to part it out.

I have no place to work on it at my apartment complex or any tools with me. After reading the forum I got in touch with Seadoosnipe to see if he would take the time and go through the ski with more detail than I could. I drove it down on Wednesday and dropped it off. He has been every helpful and very welcoming. Me being a "yankee," I now know about southern hospitality.

Got a call from Seadoosnipe the next day, and he asked what I wanted first, the bad news or the good news. I said the bad news, I was already having a bad day so I figured give it to me. Expecting to hear that engine was bad and no compression. He surprised me and said that compression check out good and he had it running. I stopped back by on my way out of town, heard the ski running.

He is going to do some further evals with the pump and other things, replace the fuel lines, tune the carbs, and hopefully I will come out smelling like a rose. I can't wait for the upcoming riding season. It has be unseasonably cold here in Alabama. I am sure Seadoosnipe will provide more updates, and I will update as I can.:hurray:

 

[seadoosnipe]

Riding..

Well, felt bad because I had already fogot your username....LOL... But, I would not have put your personal info in my thread without your approval.

Yeah, I spent a few more minutes on it today after you left. After priming, it is running on the fuel pump and fuel circuit.

Tomorrow, I'm headin down to the dock to basically, turn it around on the trailer. But, since I'll have it in the water, If it all sounds good once I'm in, I might make a straight shot down the channel from the dock and back, just to see how tight the pump is.

The damage done by the Tempo lines is done. Therefore, takin it out for a quick spin will not do any further damage.

I'll let you know how tight the wearing ring feels tomorrow. I would have the wife take a pix of me riding it but I wouldn't want to tease you that I was the first one to ride it..........:rofl:

We'll work out of this thread. I'll call you on the phone when we're ready to do the pump. We'll hook up on web cam.

Yeah,............ as much as I hate craigs list (which most here know my feelings on it), you got a killer of a deal!!!!!!!!! and great to meet you.:cheers:

 

[grader33]

sounds good, hoping for more good news, fingers crossed

Sounds good! I have got my fingers crossed for more good news. Let me know how the ride goes! Let me know if you need anything on my end.

Again, it was great to meet you!

Thankis
grader

 

[scooper77515]

Haven't heard back from Snipe, so he must have flipped it and not made it back to shore.

Too bad...I kinda liked the guy...

 

[seadoosnipe]

Oh you so bad....

Haven't heard back from Snipe, so he must have flipped it and not made it back to shore.

Too bad...I kinda liked the guy...

There you go, already going out to scare the new members. He's gonna figure I sunk!......:rofl:

No, actually didn't get it to the water today. Might end up with a carb go through first. I had it running the other day when you dropped back through by priming. I couldn't get it to run by itself today. So, I might have to go through the carbs first.

I did get 25 feet of gas line today so, if I can't get a tune good enough to run tomorrow, I'm gonna just go ahead with the work. I am looking forward to riding the XP though. It'll be a nice comparison to my GTX......

I'll keep you up either here or by email (telephone). And what ever you do, don't believe Scooper.... I've known him for about 3 years now, he's quite the practical joker.........:rofl:

 

[grader33]

today was a beautiful day in Alabama

What a great day it was in Alabama! It was 70 and sunny here today. Looking forward to getting together tomorrow as we discussed. I have a few things that I have to do tomorrow, prior to heading to work, but we should be able to work it out.

The weather is definitly exciting for me, won't be much longer and riding season will be here! Let me know if there are any other developments or if you need anything. Glad that you didn't sink it, I havent even rode it yet!!

 

[grader33]

hood

Also I found a used, but in very good condition hood piece for my ski to replace the one that is broke, on the left side where the black piece wraps down and connects. $80 dollars shipped, do you think it is a good deal? I am thinking with what I have in the ski so far I can afford to put a little money into it to get it back into great shape from good shape.

It includes the mirrors, it wraps around the gauge cluster.

Just wondered what your thoughts were.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Sounds cool....

Yeah, with the cost, you could fix it up a little and only add to the resale value. Didn't you say I could buy it for $950!?........:rofl:

I was looking at doing a plastic weld on it but with all the bouncing, it would probably come apart again. So, yeah, if you got one available, you might go ahead and get it.

Weather?... you must have got the good side of the high pressure. We're getting the cloudy side. We actually got a few sprinkles but it didn't really come down to much. The temps were warm though, about 65-70*F. The paper said 60% rain tonight and tomorrow but they are only right 20% of the time. So, there's a good chance it won't rain. If it rains, I might just be able to fit it all in my garage to start work on it.



I'll give you a shout out tomorrow.......:cheers:

 

[grader33]

Do I need anything else???

Ok I bought the hood/Cowl piece that is broke. The guy I bought it from is parting out an XP. He asked if I needed anything else he could save me on shipping. He does not have the rear corner bumper piece that mine is missing. Can you think of anything else I should try to pick up from him?

 

[seadooya]

Ok I bought the hood/Cowl piece that is broke. The guy I bought it from is parting out an XP. He asked if I needed anything else he could save me on shipping. He does not have the rear corner bumper piece that mine is missing. Can you think of anything else I should try to pick up from him?

price is right, i'd get the mpem, rectifier, coil and relay.

 

[Dennis]

Snipes' test ride

Yo SNIPE,
Make sure you attach the lanyard to yourself and strap your PFD on real tight!!
Things will get a little crazy after that XP high-sides your old wrench-bending *ss off and you go skipping across the water like a flat rock at 50 mph!!!:rofl:
Good Luck, DAWG

 

[seadoosnipe]

Doggone DAWG!.....

Man, I can't believe ya'll don't think I can ride better than that. Though, I must admit, the last time I was barefootin, I slammed the water face first and saw stars. Anyone who barefoots, knows what a face slam is.

Updating the thread a little. Took off the carbs, both were in pretty bad shape. I found water had been sitting in the fuel chamber. Jets were stopped up, rust in the check valve block assembly, needles sticking. So, it tells me that somehow, water has gotten into the gas tank.

The accelerator pump was totally trashed. I was worried about the diaphragm but was able to use a flat razor to get it up off the surface to remove and soak the housing. I now have the accelerator pump working well.

If you ever need to rework one of these and need to test it, you can take the line that supplies gas to the pump from the carb and dip it into a small cup of fuel. Then, manually stroke the cam. I use a clear gas hose I keep to replace on my weedeaters to allow me to see the fuel being sucked into the pump.

I'm now rebuilding the fuel pump on the mag. It was in bad shape too, just like the PTO but because I just dropped it into soak too, was easier to clean up. I had some extra parts left over from previous members carb kits that we'll probably get away without having to buy new kits.:hurray:

Because of this obvious sign of rusting, I wondered how long it had been since it ran on it's own. Un-assisted by me pouring fuel into the cylinders. I figured the hull license (if still on) would give me an idea. I went out back and uncovered it and saw, the last time it was in the water was in 2005. So, for this ski to have sat up for the last 5 years, me put a dab of fuel in the cylinders and it fire right up, ......that's a good motor.

I did float it. Water came in through the shaft seal so I'll have to grease it up and see if it's going to hold. I have a feeling, setting up so long, the seal just needs a bit of TLC to stop it from leaking.:cheers:

 

[scooper77515]

and you go skipping across the water like a flat rock at 50 mph!!

I have done that once or twice. Kinda humbles you when you lose control and do cartwheels over the handlebars and across the water.