Ended the season today

[jjsinaz]

Well I blew the engine in the GTX today. Seized the PTO cylinder. The last time out I had a leaking exhaust pipe to manifold gasket and I believe I ingested water thanks to the after market flame arrestors the PO had on it. Finally got that fixed and took it out today to see how it ran. When I took off the first time, it accelerated good but something did not feel or sound quite right. Made it to the opposite side of the lake and it slowly wound down and stopped. Hit the starter and clunk..so I knew I was screwed. Finally flagged a boater down and got towed back to the launch.
When I got it back home I pulled the plugs and could see right away that the PTO cylinder was toast. Pulled the head and pics are below. The engine is an SBT reman with approximately 75 Hrs on it. Pics below. It looks to me like the pitting on the PTO side of the head might have been from a previous failure. Looks like this was a lean seize to me. Don't know if I should just do the top end or just pull it and send to full bore for a rebuild this winter

 

[jjsinaz]

Thinking I might fix it and sell it. Getting tired of wrenching on this thing. Wish to hell I'd have kept my 94 GTS

 

[mikidymac]

At 75 hours the crank and balancer should be fine.

Send cylinders to Fullbore and rebuild the fuel system.

I agree the head was probably like that from SBT.

 

[emspjay]

Man that sucks to hear. I'm not sure how much they go for in your area but it might not be worth putting in a new motor and selling it. Might want to consider parting it out if they do not sell for much money in your area. If it is in great condition and the market is strong in your area then maybe that would be better putting a new motor in it. I have one and mine is not in the very good condition and before the hour meter quit I think it showed 240 hours, so I don't know what I'm going to do when it goes (most likely part it out). My area the market kinda sucks. A few weeks ago I put my mint almost showroom 1997 GTI on craigslist for $1500.00 (no trailer) and told anybody that responded $1300.00 was my best. I know it is the end of the season in my area but I don't know if I will get more in the spring? So I just pulled the add because it is way too nice of a ski to sell for less than $1300.00, I will just keep it as a spare for friends to ride.

 

[soccerdad]

Sorry man, that does suck. I'd fire a top end on it and you should be fine. (but it sounds like something killed the fuel supply to the PTO side) I would go through the carbs. If you rebuilt them in the last couple of years, I would just pull them, spray them out and put them back together. I don't see a need for new kits. The gaskets will be fine. And for the PTO side, open the HS screw 1/4 turn. That is what the factory did on the 97 which is (nearly)identical.

 

[jjsinaz]

Thanks SD. I did rebuild the carbs last year and it was running fine until the leaking exhaust pipe. It ran like crap that day, I suspect because it was sucking in water. I have a couple of concerns 1) Rust in the engine. I blew it out as best I could running it on the trailer and started it a few times after that before I pulled the pipe off, But once i pulled the pipe, it was a couple of weeks before I got it all put back together. 2) Whenever it was running poorly last time out it was backfiring. I'm afraid I might have damaged a crank seal. I will do the top end but I think it would be prudent to pressure test the engine once it's all back together before running it. I don't have those block off plates for pressure testing but I think maybe racerxxx sells them or loans them out.

I am just nervous because it had been running fine prior to the water ingestion incident.

I guess once I get the jugs off I can examine the crank for rust and if there is rust, then I'm going for a full rebuild

 

[jjsinaz]

Okay, pulled the jugs this evening and found the real culprit. PTO connecting rod seized to the crank. I'm no expert but my thought is that the backfiring blew the PTO crank seal. Experts, your thoughts? So I guess I am getting a new engine. It kills me to have to dump another grand into this but I already have a lot of time invested (and money) in restoring this thing. I'll have to think about this. Maybe I'd be better off just parting it out Just disgusted at this point

 

[mikidymac]

A seized rod would typically be from lack of lubrication or wear and/or rust. If a crank seal was bad it would seize the piston first.

 

[omboli]

Man that sucks to hear. I'm not sure how much they go for in your area but it might not be worth putting in a new motor and selling it. Might want to consider parting it out if they do not sell for much money in your area. If it is in great condition and the market is strong in your area then maybe that would be better putting a new motor in it. I have one and mine is not in the very good condition and before the hour meter quit I think it showed 240 hours, so I don't know what I'm going to do when it goes (most likely part it out). My area the market kinda sucks. A few weeks ago I put my mint almost showroom 1997 GTI on craigslist for $1500.00 (no trailer) and told anybody that responded $1300.00 was my best. I know it is the end of the season in my area but I don't know if I will get more in the spring? So I just pulled the add because it is way too nice of a ski to sell for less than $1300.00, I will just keep it as a spare for friends to ride.

I will buy it

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Sea-Doo Forum mobile app

 

[emspjay]

I will buy it

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Sea-Doo Forum mobile app

Not for sale anymore, it is winterized and wrapped. If I decide to put it up for sale again in the spring I will let you know. Sorry to hi-jack your thread jjsinaz.

 

[jjsinaz]

NP Emspjay.