Installing new starter into 1995 GTS

[seadoosyd]

Hey there Sea-Doo forum!

Today I just ordered a new starter for my 1995 GTS 3-passenger Bombardier as it was pretty faulty. Are these easy to repair yourself or is it recommended to have a dealer repair it? The nearest Sea-Doo dealer said it would be like $250+ to install a new starter through them but I just ordered one on eBay for $40 and free shipping... is it easy to do yourself or do you absolutely need a dealer? Thanks for your help (also any tips on installing one are greatly appreciated)!!

 

[Ckrawiec]

Not that hard to install but you may need to remove stuff that would be in the way....btw, aftermarket starters are usually junk....you’re better off rebuilding the OEM starter with a new brush kit.

 

[seadoosyd]

Not that hard to install but you may need to remove stuff that would be in the way....btw, aftermarket starters are usually junk....you’re better off rebuilding the OEM starter with a new brush kit.

Around how much does a new brush kit cost? Is it difficult to do?

 

[JeremyD615]

The brush kits are about $20 and available on Amazon. It’s not difficult to do. The hardest part is removing and reinstalling the starter, and you’ve got to do that either way...

 

[Dmpaul89]

I just put a new aftermarket starter in my GTX. it works good so far. It was a real pain to install, but I did it without taking the exhaust manifold off. you cant see much so your working blind most of the time. Anyone with Mechanical experience should be able to pull it off. Maybe try to find someone who does this type of work on the side, like small engine repair service. I wouldnt say its an easy job by any means

 

[Ckrawiec]

On the '96 GTX, the starter motor is tucked under the carbs, so all in all, it was an "easy" job to get the starter changed since I was taking the carbs out anyway.....but a fair amount of working only by feel was still involved.

The starter tucked up on the "other side" of the motor under the exhaust manifold is more difficult (from what I have read)...but still doable with long ratchet extensions and lots of patience....you also will be working a lot more by "feel" alone as you can't really see what you are doing.

 

[Arriva2001]

I just did this same job a month ago and it’s not very bad. Probably took me two hours. I recommend long ratchet extensions so you don’t have to remove the exhaust manifold. And @AKnarrowback gave me a tip to use something in your socket to hold the bolt in place so you don’t have to fish it out from underneath when you inevitably drop it multiple times (it really is hard to see anything down there). I used hot glue and it worked great. I found a YouTube video of a guy using this method that inspired me. Let me find it and link it here for you.

 

[Arriva2001]

 

[Arriva2001]

He says it takes 20 minutes...took me about two hours (I’m not super mechanically inclined, and had never done anything quite like this) so your time may vary [emoji3]. One other tip if you do this, is I put my cell phone down in the hull with the flash on and took several pictures of the bolts and wiring connectors on the starter. That gave me an idea of what I was working with since there is no way to see down there otherwise.

 

[Ckrawiec]

The sticky socket trick is a very valuable idea, especially working in visually or positionally challenged locations. For smaller nuts/bolts say up to 10mil, I use a piece of paper towel in the socket and wedge the nut/bolt into that...the paper towel will snug up the nut (or bolt head) while you are fishing for the hole or bolt thread and it'll just fall off, disintegrate, wash away eventually. For "larger stuff", a couple squares of plastic bag in the socket has also been effective.