Newb needs help please. Buy reman or used?

[Silvervortec]

Hi, Newbie here from Iowa.

First off I just purchased my first jet ski, its a 2000 RX millennium with a blown motor. Before I purchased it I pulled the rave valves and could see the the rear piston was bad, so I figured it only need a top end. Well I was wrong, After puling the motor I found out the whole block is bad including the case. I did some looking around on craigslist and found a used 951 for $800 with a fresh topend from a guy who parts out skis. Is ti worth taking the risk of a used engine or should I buy a reman? I've noticed its hard to find a reman without a core charge.

 

[69boss]

I wouldn't buy used unless there is a warranty and you know or trust the seller. My experience with 951's isn't good. I own 4. All but one has had motor problems at least once, couple of them twice. The motor is working hard to produce 130hp. Everything needs to be real real right.

 

[Matt Braley]

Yeah there is really no such thing as a "good crank" hiding in a used 951 I'm afraid. That's just my experience. I have a 50ish hour crank with a bad rod and I can already tell some bearings are looser than others.

Start fresh with a rebuild and you have a keeper you can trust. I bet the SES(or Full Bore, SBT, etc.) price is not that much more than $800

 

[mikidymac]

You have a few options. I had the same situation with a 2003 GTI. I bought used cases on eBay, the crank from seadoo and they took my crank as a core, sent the cylinders to FullBore and the head to group k to have it cleaned up. The other option is SBT you will have to call them but they will sometimes take even a bad core but charge you for the damaged parts.
I wouldn't buy any used engine for a ski that I was going to keep especially a 951.
For the same price or even less than SBT you can build a much better engine as I described if you have the patience and time.
Minnetonka4me is a great source for used parts too.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

i have a set of cases laying around that I believe will work for SES, at least based on what i've seen them take, these have existing welds but they should work for SES but would require a weld charge for SBT. I'd let them go cheap if you need to find replacement cases to build a core.

 

[Silvervortec]

Thanks for the quick response guys! The only reason I was thinking about the used engine is because I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep the ski. Its not really practical for me and my girlfriend to ride all the time, I'm 6'5” and she is 5'8" so handling might not be the best. I might just get a 3 seated and sell this one for a profit.

 

[Silvervortec]

Thanks for the quick response guys! The only reason I was thinking about the used engine is because I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep the ski. Its not really practical for me and my girlfriend to ride all the time, I'm 6'5” and she is 5'8" so handling might not be the best. I might just get a 3 seated and sell this one for a profit.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

SES should take that, their weld repairs are usually cheap. $800 used vs like $900 rebuilt w/warranty... that's a no brainer to me... spend the $ and get a good setup.

you don't want to do TWO engine swaps.

 

[Silvervortec]

I just talked to SES and he said they can fix that hole and the crack in my cylinder for $1000 rebuilt. So I'm just gonna go that route since they give a warranty to!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Sounds like a plan to me.