Is this the top speed?

[96spxpos]

Hey all;

so, I was finally able to gps my 1996 spx 717 yesterday after work...
since i've had it the last two months, the motor has been submerged up to the seat with water twice, i have a nasty hull leak, had a crazy tuner pipe leak pouring water onto the motor/in the hull, and a blown mpem....
through all this, i was never fully aware of the top speed, but at best, it felt like 40, 45 TOPS on glass...
So, i borrowed a gps and hit 47.6-47.8 MPH on this was on PRETTY CHOPPY water...

Does this speed sound about right, or should I be aiming and fine tuning for 53, like i was kinda told through forums..
Should I be happy with this, or am I barkin up the wrong tree?

Let me know what you think....

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

sounds quick for a 96 SPX, but i've only ever owned 951s... i've ridden X4 hulls though, and they are wicked fun.

 

[96spxpos]

i've rented some of those bigger PWC's in recent years, you know, the big yamahas with reverse, and they seemed pretty sturdy, because let me tell ya, on this 96 spx, i can be in the canal here at IDLE speed, standing up and turning the handlebars all the way to make a u-turn, and it definitely comes close to flipping..didnt happen on those big rentals...
yea, this ski is DEFINITELY lighter, as I can hit a small wake from an average sized boat and pull up on the handlebars like i do on my street bike when doing a stand-up wheelie, and i basically get this entire ski out of the water...and im not a big dude by any means, 5'10, 170 lbs..
so these things are DEFINITELY light..
(theres a youtube video if you look up 1996 spx, theres this big dude with these huge white rubber boots on, that even with no wake, he just uses his weight to bounce the ski, and the thing keeps coming out of the water)
heres the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4PHYG34Xh8 ITS ACTUALLY HYSTERICAL! Listen to what these kids are saying...in the "hood"..lol

But what is an "X4" hull? does it have to do with the HIN#?
and anyone please feel free to chime in on what speed I SHOULD BE REACHING.
Thanks!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

the X4 hull is the generation of hull your ski has. like a TJ is a 97 to 06 wrangler... all are 95% the same... (hull anyway)

my 02 XP can, from idle, pop out of the water, even with it's 530 lbs... but yea I rode a '96XP and it would pop even easier... but mine will do 67... and the 96 couldn't come close... not to mention the bigger gas tank... each has it's pros and cons... i'd love a '96 XP for a backup ski. but for long trips with the wife (on a GTX w/a 15 gallon tank) it's just not practical... but for shorter river runs it's a blast!

 

[96spxpos]

thats funny, cuz i have YET to put another person on the back of this ski with me.. i think it'll be quite embarassing to tip over when some hot chick goes to get on...lol...but, its obviously been done before, so it shouldnt be that bad, as long as she's not tank ass.

 

[Thumper3322]

I don't know.. but my buddies 95 spx will do about 55mph, which is only a 650 and it's completely stock.

 

[96spxpos]

yea, well, thats why i'm figuring i've most likely got some tired and worn out rings or something...uke:

 

[LouDoo]

You should be doing a little better. My 96GTI with the same motor runs about 50-52mph, that's indicated, so actual is probably about the same as your ski. However the GTI is larger and heaver.

A couple of things to check, check the compression, factory specs. is 150psi, less than 135 could be causing performance issues. The other is check the wear ring and wear ring clearance, should be no more than .040", you can check it with a feeler gauge.

Lou

 

[96spxpos]

Hey Louey, you're gonna get all the girls talkin like that! lol...well, the ski is kept on a boat ramp, no trailer..im going to use the neighbors davit(s) sometime this week to get this thing completely out of the water and on a cart or something for the first time since i bought it, then i can check the wear ring...
I'm new to the PWC world, but i thought that the worn wear ring issue only effects when you take off and its trying to plane out?
so a worn wear ring can effect your top speed too then, huh?

 

[96spxpos]

also

also, i'm doing pre-mix, and mixing at exactly 40:1 ; and i noticed after every ride my plugs are more on the oily fouled side...
I know you can make carb adjustments to fix the lean/rich mixture, but i was wondering if i could also fix this issue a little bit by using a TINY bit less oil in the premix?

And, will running rich effect your top speed, or no?

 

[LouDoo]

You should be able to run 50:1 premix, if you still have the parts I would switch back to oil injection. It's better to be running a little rich than too lean.

Lou

 

[96spxpos]

well, to be honest, i KNOW i'm gonna get HELL for this from all you guys, and I can potentially blow my motor, but i actually did away with the oil injection because when i first got it, i was having a carb issue, so when i took the carbs off, i also took off the left side throttle cable that hooked onto the oil injection pump, and when i went to install the carbs back on, i was never able to set the cable/spring back up the right way, and i didnt wanna chance the possibility of it not working right, so i jest left it unhooked, did away with the injection line to the pump, and went to pre-mix...so yes, THE OIL PUMP IS STILL IN THE MOTOR!!! looked like a bitch to get to, considering i was/am doing all repairs on the boat ramp with the sun blarin on me, bent over constantly blowing my back out...
And the FUNNY THING IS; i was "paranoid" when i first did this, and the ONE GUY from SBT told me, yea its ok to leave the pump in, no problem;
Then he transferred me to the service dept, and the mechanic said REMOVE that pump, as it can possibly cause engine damage...
when i get the ski outta the water this week, i will try and set that pump back up again, or at least remove it and put in a block-off plate...