Are you smarter than a fifth grader - exhaust valve

[peirek]

Exhaust valve issue - recommendations?

97 GTX.
So here is one for you. I noticed my PTO RAVE valve was leaking as there was a collection of black exhaust/oil oozing from around the base. Now I have to admit I have owned this ski since 2001 and have never removed the valves for cleaning. After reading on here it will be part of my annual maintenance.

When I removed the exhaust valve I found a very strange thing. The corner of the valve was missing! My first thought was did it just break?? But after looking at it closer you can see by the carbon deposits it has been missing for a long time. Maybe since new? I very carefully inspected inside the port. Luckily for me the piston was in the up position so I did not have to concern myself with it laying on top of the piston. I did not find this piece. I can not find any indication of abuse to the piston skirt or rings (of course I can only see a portion of one side only). Is it possible it broke and was pushed out the exhaust? I am leaning towards it was broken when new. I cannot imagine this breaking in use and not taking out the piston and block.

I also discovered the exhaust piston (plastic part that the exhaust valve screws into) was stripped. So the valve has not been opening for some time now. That is probably why my RPMs were limited to 6400.

I must admit that the ski ran pretty darn good until just recently when it started to bog. I just completed the almighty fuel line replacement, carb cleaning, fuel switch cleaning etc. when I decided to "check out" what was leaking around my rave valve. The fun never ends.

I am leaning towards cleaning, inspecting, and putting the broken valve back in as it will only marginally effect the low end. I am having a hard time justifying $90 for a new exhaust valve.

Any thoughts?

 

[bena4]

Yeah same thing happened to me on my 98 challenager 1800 on the right side two valves were broken and on the left side one was chipped. I took the heads off to see and everything looked fine. I did talk to a seadoo tech and he said that i was lucky bc most of the time the little parts fall down onto the piston and blow it up. One intresting thing that he said that he sees alot of is on yamahas i think was that the powervalves break and lodge them self into the smallest part of the exh and create a blockage causeing the machine to bog down.

 

[peirek]

I have been keeping my eye out on ebay to pickup a cheap replacement part but that has not happened. Either the price is too high >$40 or the shipping is ridiculous. Seems there are not many good deals out there on ebay for these machines...........Apparently too many people needing rave valve assemblies.

This is still a mystery to me. Granted I did not purchase the machine new but my sister in law did. So I know it has not been abused or major work done. I am leaning towards broken new or the mechanic at the sea-doo repair did my sister in law a dirty deed by either breaking it or putting it in her machine during routine maintenance.

 

[seadooya]

if anything, didnt hit the piston, but the valve made with cracks thru out it. And it just blew out the exhaust.

Pm me, i got one w/ shipping for 50 buks? if interested, shoot me ur address...i got paypal.