Jet Drive salt damage - Can I do anything?

[lamajama]

I just upgraded to a very clean original-owner 2008 GTX and although the owner emphatically stated he rode only in fresh water
the jet drive has all sorts of damage which I usually attribute to salt water riding. His lake is off the ocean and perhaps there is
salt water mix in the lake or it's very brackish water but regardless, I'm asking what can or should be done to clean this up. Should
I wire-brush it and treat it with some sort of chemical? wire-brush and paint it? or just leave it? The ride plate has some as well
but nothing like the jet drive and some of the various bolts etc. I just serviced the jet drive myself and all is good there.

Some direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ryffish]

He obviously lied to you about it being a fresh water ski . It's definitely been in saltwater . Personally if it were mine I would clean it up and sell it .It looks like a problem child to me

 

[jdanthony]

It's not as bad as some I've seen. I've used a wire wheel and got rid of as much as I could, prep it and paint it. I've also heard of people cleaning it up and spraying a lubricant on it.

 

[lamajama]

He obviously lied to you about it being a fresh water ski . It's definitely been in saltwater . Personally if it were mine I would clean it up and sell it .It looks like a problem child to me

I appreciate your thoughts. I'm not sure how you get a "problem child" from this though. The rest of the machine is mint with 80 hours. He had service records etc but the SC is going to
be pulled and sent in as he hadn't heard of the "2 years" time frame. The jet drive was very good inside, and the wear ring and impeller is great shape. Starts immediately. I wasn't hopping
on for a ride right now in Washington but as I say he had bills, receipts etc from *new*.

 

[lamajama]

It's not as bad as some I've seen. I've used a wire wheel and got rid of as much as I could, prep it and paint it. I've also heard of people cleaning it up and spraying a lubricant on it.

Thanks jdanthony. This is kind of what I thought but was wondering if there was or is a chemical that I might spray on that might arrest or stop any further corrosion before I painted it. Then at least it would stop as I expect only fresh water rides at this point. Thanks for the comments

 

[ryffish]

If someone tells somebody there selling a freshwater ski there should not be any salt stains any where the engine should be pristine including the block I hope your paint on bottom of your engine block isn't peeling off from saltwater . I actually think it's kind of crappy when someone says they are selling a freshwater ski and it's not . It happened to me once .

 

[Chester]

I wouldn't be overly concerned about that, it's minor. It would be a good idea to remove the jet pump and replace the bushings in the 4 pump mounting holes and replace the zinc anodes. If you want, you can remove the nozzles and have them sand blasted and repainted. Some of my customers that live in West Van and North Van leave their Sea-Doos in the ocean all summer long and are way worse than that.
If you want, you can call me 7787-241-0446.

Chester

 

[Coastiejoe]

If you clean up the ride plate, use a quality paint but nothing like an epoxy as the ride plate is the cooling plate, (radiator) for your antifreeze. Epoxy does not let the plate work properly and it will cause an over-heat issue.

Clean up the impeller area as best you can then keep spraying a good lubricant onto the area. It will get progressively easier to clean. Vinegar will also break it down as well.

 

[Chester]

...I hope your paint on bottom of your engine block isn't peeling off from saltwater...

Even if it is peeling off, it will not affect anything, the engine will not fail due to it.

Chester

 

[lamajama]

Even if it is peeling off, it will not affect anything, the engine will not fail due to it.

Chester

There is NO sign of any salt damage inside the hull whatsoever and there is no way the PO could have cleaned it up that totally.

 

[lamajama]

I wouldn't be overly concerned about that, it's minor. It would be a good idea to remove the jet pump and replace the bushings in the 4 pump mounting holes and replace the zinc anodes. If you want, you can remove the nozzles and have them sand blasted and repainted. Some of my customers that live in West Van and North Van leave their Sea-Doos in the ocean all summer long and are way worse than that.
If you want, you can call me 7787-241-0446.

Chester

Hi Chester,

You can't quite see the anode but it's in good fine shape. I might replace the bushings as you mention though. I was looking to prevent any further corrosion on the nozzle
and area so I might spray something on it to clean it up and then paint the nozzle. The ride plate is no issue. Thanks for the advice.

 

[lamajama]

If you clean up the ride plate, use a quality paint but nothing like an epoxy as the ride plate is the cooling plate, (radiator) for your antifreeze. Epoxy does not let the plate work properly and it will cause an over-heat issue.

Clean up the impeller area as best you can then keep spraying a good lubricant onto the area. It will get progressively easier to clean. Vinegar will also break it down as well.

Thanks Coastiejoe. The cooling plate is just fine, very minor evidence. I'll scrape the areas inside the drive and throw some Fluid Film on everything. Maybe paint the nozzle as it looks god-awful....

 

[pwgsx]

Sand blast and paint or get it powder coated. What does the driveshaft look like?

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I ride in brackish / salt all the time, salt doesn't create a problem ski, lack of maintenance does.

I prefer Fluid film for exterior parts

for interior engine parts I prefer CRC 656

my pump and engine are both pretty spotless even after 200 hours

 

[Coastiejoe]

I'll second Spim's thoughts exactly. I use the exact same stuff. Bought a refillable aerosol can I put the CRC in and charge it with air.

 

[lamajama]

Driveshaft is just fine. I've been using some vinegar and water to loosen the white deposits
and will take a Dremel with light brush to the deposits then paint the nozzle area. Any particular paint or is
A tremclad paint sufficient?