new to seadoos Need help?

[spongerssuck206]

Well I am a spearfisherman and owned boats in the past but I am switching gears into more seadoo spearing. I do not own one yet but in the market and one has caught my eye. Its a 1996 seadoo bombardier GTI. It is very clean and comes with trailer and everything but the owner doesnt have time to fix it. He says it doesnt run and replaced the battery thinking that was the issue with it but still nothing. He says it wont turn over nothing at all. What could be the issue? I dont want to buy something that is going to put me in a hole like my last boat.

Im going to look at it tomorrow to see if I can figure out the issue it might be other than what he tried. I work on engines all the time so im pretty handy with engines.

 

[MacAddict]

First and foremost on any 2-stroke engine is compression test with a good tester. But being as it won't turn over, that won't help you. Pull the plugs out and turn the PTO in the back by hand and see if the engine turns over by hand. If it does not, the engine is seized and needs to be completely rebuilt. If it does turn over, put plugs back in and try to start. If there's just a click from the back box, then it's a bad solenoid. When you put the desk key on, the gauges should react and you should get two beeps

 

[mobilefleet]

remove the seat and ask to remove the pto cover at the back, that covers the driveshaft. Usually 2 wing nuts hold it on or 13 mm nuts so take tools with you. Remove spark plugs. Grab hold of pto and try to move it clockwise (as facing rear of boat). If it does not move I'd walk away. Locked engine, could also be jetpump frozen up or starter jammed into flywheel but any case with a non runner be ready to spend money. You should feel some resistance as it turns over a revolution indicating at least some compression, but without being able to start it all jetskis are a risk you take. I just got a 96 XP for 500 on a trailer and at that price I dont care if it runs or needs an engine

 

[spongerssuck206]

Is it possible that it could be electrical?

 

[spongerssuck206]

remove the seat and ask to remove the pto cover at the back, that covers the driveshaft. Usually 2 wing nuts hold it on or 13 mm nuts so take tools with you. Remove spark plugs. Grab hold of pto and try to move it clockwise (as facing rear of boat). If it does not move I'd walk away. Locked engine, could also be jetpump frozen up or starter jammed into flywheel but any case with a non runner be ready to spend money. You should feel some resistance as it turns over a revolution indicating at least some compression, but without being able to start it all jetskis are a risk you take. I just got a 96 XP for 500 on a trailer and at that price I dont care if it runs or needs an engine

Yeah the guy want 600 for it and its super clean with a trailer i figure as long as the engine isnt ceased ill be in ok shape and just keep it on non op until i get it going

 

[mikidymac]

Where in Ca are you? Honestly I wouldn't pay over $500 for a non running ski.

 

[spongerssuck206]

Where in Ca are you? Honestly I wouldn't pay over $500 for a non running ski.

im in orange county area

 

[mikidymac]

I used to be in Placentia but now about an hour north of Santa Barbara. Welcome to the forum.

 

[spongerssuck206]

I used to be in Placentia but now about an hour north of Santa Barbara. Welcome to the forum.

thanks im a little hesitant on buying one not used cause i dont know anything about them

 

[mikidymac]

I would stay away from one not running if this is your first ski. They can become money pits extremely fast.
For example I was given 2 1997 GSX's a few months ago and already have over $1K into them. Free and cheap can become very expensive. It could just as easy as be a $25 part as a $1,000 engine on a non running ski.

 

[spongerssuck206]

I would stay away from one not running if this is your first ski. They can become money pits extremely fast.
For example I was given 2 1997 GSX's a few months ago and already have over $1K into them. Free and cheap can become very expensive. It could just as easy as be a $25 part as a $1,000 engine on a non running ski.

im going to look at it tomorrow just not sure i mean it looks really clean just might be something simple but then again like anything that sits in water it can like you said get bad quick heres a photo of the ski

 

[mikidymac]

Ok, two things.
1. That is the original 3 seater hull so value is pretty low.
2. That trailer is way too small for that ski.

In no way would I pay over $500 if it looked perfect.

You need to check compression before you make an offer.
1. Ground the plugs on the provided grounding lugs
2. Pull one plug at a time.
3. Hold throttle wide open and crank until the needle stops climbing.
4. Repeat for other cylinder.

150 psi is perfect. Less than 120 psi engine is shot or if there is more than about 5 psi difference between cylinders.
If it is below this range walk away.

Expect to invest at least $200 into the fuel system and another $100 in miscellaneous parts even if everything checks out perfectly. It is money that has to be spent no questions asked on a new to you ski if you want it to last longer than 15 minutes.

Factor that into your bottom line.

Also as you being a spear fisherman that is not the best hull for open water and swells.

 

[jdanthony]

There is better stuff out their.. Walk away. :cheers:

 

[spongerssuck206]

Ok, two things.
1. That is the original 3 seater hull so value is pretty low.
2. That trailer is way too small for that ski.

In no way would I pay over $500 if it looked perfect.

You need to check compression before you make an offer.
1. Ground the plugs on the provided grounding lugs
2. Pull one plug at a time.
3. Hold throttle wide open and crank until the needle stops climbing.
4. Repeat for other cylinder.

150 psi is perfect. Less than 120 psi engine is shot or if there is more than about 5 psi difference between cylinders.
If it is below this range walk away.

Expect to invest at least $200 into the fuel system and another $100 in miscellaneous parts even if everything checks out perfectly. It is money that has to be spent no questions asked on a new to you ski if you want it to last longer than 15 minutes.

Factor that into your bottom line.

Also as you being a spear fisherman that is not the best hull for open water and swells.

well it doesnt even turn over so checking compression is out of the question lol. knowing that other stuff you mentioned really helps. i really appreciate it!! i think im gonna look for an actual running one lol. what hull do you suggest? and or ski

 

[mikidymac]

You can jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver.

Honestly I would look for a 1997+ GTI or a 1996-1997 GTX.

 

[spongerssuck206]

yeah ive done that on a work truck but i still need to find out the condition

 

[soccerdad]

The issue is that if nothing happens when you put on the DESS key, then the MPEM (brain) could be fried. IT may not be, but you have to assume that. That will set you back a couple hundred dollars. You have to do the compression test. If that is good then assume the MPEM is bad and put that in you pricing. IF the compression is low, or uneven (more than about 5 PSI) then just walk away. It may be a good deal and simple stuff. But you have to assume that it is bad unless you can prove otherwise.