Just bought 2003 and 2004 GTX SC. Advice on these SC's ?

[mmhintze]

Newb here.

Just bought a 2003 and a 2004 supercharged GTX's with 50 hours. Both have red superchargers. I pulled the intake hoses and could not hand spin the impeller without exerting great force. I assume these superchargers are tight and ok. I read somewhere that the red units do not have the infamous ceramic washers. True?

Also, one of them has a lot of blue grease where it marries to the engine, while the other was clean at that point.

Both run great.


Thanks!

 

[speedster98]

The blue grease is where they lubed it to re-install the sc. My 03 had the red sc and the ceramic washers. I bought mine at 130 hours and the ceramic washers were luckily still in tact. The first thing I did after the test drive and purchase was pull the sc and get it rebuilt. I don't play around when it comes to a $3000 rebuild on an engine. That's why no matter what every 100 hours I get it rebuilt.

 

[moon]

Welcome to the site. I also have the 03 & 04 185 supercharged but yellow. I just had my supercharger rebuilt on the 04 at 121 hours and will be picking it up today, i will be looking to see if there is grease on mine. The 03 didn't have the ceramic washers in the supercharger. The only problem i have had is the 03 oil pressure switches, still working on getting the problem solved. Hope you enjoy the skis, they are fast & fun.

 

[mmhintze]

Both of mine are yellow also. The red I spoke of was on the supercharger itself. I read somewhere that the superchargers painted red did not have the ceramic washers. True/False ?

Welcome to the site. I also have the 03 & 04 185 supercharged but yellow. I just had my supercharger rebuilt on the 04 at 121 hours and will be picking it up today, i will be looking to see if there is grease on mine. The 03 didn't have the ceramic washers in the supercharger. The only problem i have had is the 03 oil pressure switches, still working on getting the problem solved. Hope you enjoy the skis, they are fast & fun.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I have red in a few locations that the 03 does not, I have not read that about the 04. That said, someone will know for sure about the 04 or the fact that they are RED in color...

 

[KK40384]

Both of mine are yellow also. The red I spoke of was on the supercharger itself. I read somewhere that the superchargers painted red did not have the ceramic washers. True/False ?

Not true. Reds could have ceramics

 

[moon]

My 03 it didn't have ceramic washers, we found this out after we pulled the supercharger.

 

[mmhintze]

Thanks for the responses. It sounds like I better pull/rebuild the SC on the 04 just to make sure. I asked the original owner about the blue grease on the 2004 SC. He says it has not been touched, so this must be factory grease.

 

[mmhintze]

Getting back to this old thread. Thanks for any help/response.

Just pulled this off of my 04, and the washers are indeed metal right? Seems like a magnet sticks right to them.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Getting back to this old thread. Thanks for any help/response.

Just pulled this off of my 04, and the washers are indeed metal right? Seems like a magnet sticks right to them.

I ASSUME the ceramic washers have a metal base to them. But I do not know this. I'm basing this on every ceramic washer I have seen in other applications have all been coated metal washers. If I am correct, then a ceramic washer would also be magnetic.

But again, I am only basing this on other applications, not our Seadoo's.

 

[mmhintze]

Sorry.... pictures attached now. Didn't happen the first time. Can you tell from the pictures ?

 

[Tytan]

It's hard to tell if the washers are ceramic using a magnet with them still installed on the SC shaft as everything surrounding them is steel. The original ceramic washers had a dull green hue to them. Looking at your pic I would guess they are ceramic as that SC looks untouched by the lack of wrench marks on the collar and end nut. 03 models have a different clutch set up that I have no experience with the 04s came with ceramic washers. If it was mine I would get the 04 supercharger rebuilt with the latest kit from BRP. Spend the few extra bucks and get the oem kit from BRP not an aftermarket kit.

 

[mmhintze]

It's hard to tell if the washers are ceramic using a magnet with them still installed on the SC shaft as everything surrounding them is steel. The original ceramic washers had a dull green hue to them. Looking at your pic I would guess they are ceramic as that SC looks untouched by the lack of wrench marks on the collar and end nut. 03 models have a different clutch set up that I have no experience with the 04s came with ceramic washers. If it was mine I would get the 04 supercharger rebuilt with the latest kit from BRP. Spend the few extra bucks and get the oem kit from BRP not an aftermarket kit.


View attachment 24173

Ok, thanks a ton. I was thinking that they must be steel from the look. I'll have them replaced at the dealer. I also have a 2003, but everyone says that it doesn't have the ceramics.

Do those slip washers actually "slip"? That doesn't look like a part that should be slipping or spinning like a clutch.

 

[red2blue]

Ok, thanks a ton. I was thinking that they must be steel from the look. I'll have them replaced at the dealer. I also have a 2003, but everyone says that it doesn't have the ceramics.

Do those slip washers actually "slip"? That doesn't look like a part that should be slipping or spinning like a clutch.

There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. Clutch washers are not the only parts in need of replacement. The bearings...specifically the cages that hold them grow brittle with time.

If you can't be sure of any parts replacement in the last 10 years...you are way over due for full rebuilds on both sc's.

 

[ski-d00]

Red is right about the bearings, especially the older ones in the 2003-2007 years where they can have catastrophic failure around as early as 60 hours and rarely make it as long as 200 hours before major damage to the sc housing.

I've never seen ceramic washers in an 04 but not to say that a very late 03 model could have them. I can only recall doing maybe 20 03s, they have always been metal but wear out pretty quickly but don't break apart like the 04 and newer. Also, never seen metal in an 04, always ceramic.

The ceramic washers do not have any metal in them, they are just a solid piece of ceramic and break apart. Would have been better I think if they were metal lined with ceramic like a brake pad.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I just assumed it was a given. You need a rebuild no matter the type of washers you have.

 

[mmhintze]

Ok, great advice. They have less than 100 hours on them, but I have them out, and I will have them rebuilt.

Thanks guys.