I'm buying a 98 Challenger, WHat should I...

[jjackson]

I plan on buying a 1998 Seadoo Challenger with twin 110's and was wondering what should I be looking for before I purchase it? I already figure I will do a compression test on the engines but mechanically what esle should I do?
Any advise would be usefull

 

[SeadooBOB Square Pants]

I plan on buying a 1998 Seadoo Challenger with twin 110's and was wondering what should I be looking for before I purchase it? I already figure I will do a compression test on the engines but mechanically what esle should I do?
Any advise would be usefull

Check the wear rings and impellers that will cost you a fist full of bills real quick if you have to replace those. Look under the boat where the water enters the jet pump behind the grate you will see an impeller, check if you can to see if the impeller has dings or huge dents. Also if the wear ring looks beat-up or has huge scrap marks like it ate a rock or rope.

 

[fonthillhdtv]

I just bought a 99 challenger. Check the exhaust ,each one has 2 round plugs welded into them make sure they are not leaking( the bottom one is the one that usually corrodes) if they look corroded they will need to be welded soon and if your not technically inclined it will cost you a couple hundred to have it done take that into consideration when pricing the boat. Also check the gauges the gas gauge is notorious for not working. Check that your getting your 2 beeps when the key is installed and that it beeps when shifting into neutral.
Good luck

 

[jjackson]

When checking the wear rings what should I be looking at, what is the "wear ring"? Please bare with me I never owned or worked on one of these boats before.

 

[kustomkarl]

The wear ring is the ring around the impeller in the jet pump assy. It will wear out first to prevent any damage to the pump assy or the impeller. The wear ring should have a clearance of .014" or 1mm measured at the blade center of the impeller measured by the jet nozzle end of the pump( the item that directs the water flow) You can get a 12" long guage if needed at like auto zone. the clearance should look like a piece of paper thick between the wear ring and the impeller.

I would test drive the seadoo too to be sure it performs like it should. Here is some information to you can look over if you want.
http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=134

Good luck with your purchase.

Karl

 

[SeadooBOB Square Pants]

When checking the wear rings what should I be looking at, what is the "wear ring"? Please bare with me I never owned or worked on one of these boats before.

No problem thats what this place is for people helping people I was in your shoes two years ago I wish I had asked questions and joined sooner. Any who the picture below will show you what the wear ring looks like removed. The thing ahead is the impeller. obviously that wear ring is shot, if you see all the wear it has, no pun intended, that would need to be replaced, that cost a pretty penny if you pay someone to do it. Also as stated if the wear ring is toast the impeller might be dinged up.

When you go to look at the boat check all the items suggested to check not just what I am putting out there. But when you are looking at the boat go to the back and look under boat by the engines you will see two grates, this is where the water enters and if you look into those grates you will see the wear ring and impellers. The link below is an example of someone here that has pictures of the impeller. Good luck and happy boat buying welcome to the forum.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/whistlerZ28/DSCF0822.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php%3Ft%3D4256&usg=__ugitWdHWoXs3yeCP2l1FfTVs--E=&h=480&w=640&sz=104&hl=en&start=139&sig2=9Wep1Wni6JpPWUVN8SWv2w&um=1&tbnid=aHm753YlL9iLYM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dseadoo%2Bimpeller%2Bview%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26start%3D126%26um%3D1&ei=zCebSpqMKKjeswOEk6SWDg

 

[timmyboy76]

take it for water trial. .if it revs up and takes FORRRREEEEVVVVVERRRRRR, to plane, then wear ring a problem. Make sure, its hitting up into the high 6k rpms, and it's dong low/mid 50-ish at least.

 

[SeadooBOB Square Pants]

take it for water trial. .if it revs up and takes FORRRREEEEVVVVVERRRRRR, to plane, then wear ring a problem. Make sure, its hitting up into the high 6k rpms, and it's dong low/mid 50-ish at least.

:agree: the tach should read from 40-50ish depending on conditions.

 

[jjackson]

Well I bought it!!!!!! Thanks everyone!

Thanks everybody! I really felt comfortable buying the boat after everybodies advice.

Great Website!!!

 

[fonthillhdtv]

Hi JJackson
I just notice you are from Windsor I'm from Niagara. did you buy your boat locally is it green and white I was looking at a boat in windsor a few weeks ago,wonder if it's the same boat . What did you end up paying if you don't mind me asking.

 

[jjackson]

Actually I looked at that one, it is in Lasalle which is a suburb of Windsor. HE was asking just under $10,000 for it. Seeing how close to the States I live I figured I would take advantage of that. I ended up paying $2500 (US), the boat needs a little work but nothing too major. BTW, does anybody know where to get the windshield latchs for a fair price?

Looking forward to getting out this weekend

JJ