Repair or not 97 GTX

[97explorer717]

Picked up for $200. Figured I couldn't go wrong. I know there's $200 worth of Parts there. My plan is to bring the ski back to life. Motor or pump is locked up. I highly suspect the Motors shot! What do you guys think? If it's not worth it I'll just part it out. Needs a seat cover and the Triads replaced. Otherwise I think it would actually clean up really nice.

 

[mikidymac]

That is probably the most popular and one of the best seadoos in my opinion. The hull is fun and playful and the 787 engine is one of the best seadoo made. 110 horsepower and pretty darn reliable.

The hull will buff out pretty easily, new seat cover is about $100. A new engine with warranty is $1000, figure another $500 for carb rebuild, oil and misc little things. So for $1,700 and some elbow grease you will have a really nice ski with everything gone through.

First step is to pull the pump and see if it is the engine or pump that is locked up then go from there.

Make sure you remove the driveshaft seal stainless hat before removing the pump and if the engine is bad pull the rear PTU flywheel before you pull the engine or cylinders.

 

[GGuillot]

Picked up for $200. Figured I couldn't go wrong. I know there's $200 worth of Parts there. My plan is to bring the ski back to life. Motor or pump is locked up. I highly suspect the Motors shot! What do you guys think? If it's not worth it I'll just part it out. Needs a seat cover and the Triads replaced. Otherwise I think it would actually clean up really nice.

That's what I picked my 97' GTX up for, $200, sitting in a barn, trashed with a locked up water filled motor, but it was within 30 miles from me. I initially budgeted about $1500 - $1700 for basic stuff, but since it stretched to a year getting it done, and I wanted to be through and make it look good, it creep over $2000 pretty easily. Most of my time and efforts were because I wanted to change the bottom gelcoat and re gelcoat the top. Things add up that I didn't consider initially, cosmetics, alignment tool, ski slings, life vests, etc.

But no regrets, it's like new now and I've been really enjoying it along with the family since late last Summer when I completed it. Reliable, cranks every time and performs well on the water, I can cruise with the wife on the back or let one of my boys really cut up on it.

 

[AKnarrowback]

I really enjoy mine. Tops out around 50, rides like a cadillac, rips it up like my xp. It was given to me because the inner seal on the crank is leaking, I told them to buy the parts and I'll fix it for free but they just wanted it gone.

 

[etemplet]

We have two of those for personal skis. I really don't see any other multi-role ski from Seadoo that would make me part with these two. I put that woman to work on them too !!! Bad eye she has though for lining up stuff (see the numbers on my ski !!! LOL )but she tries. I'd tell her something but i don't want my azz beat.

 

[jts32]

I vote to fix it also. I have a couple and we love cruising and floating in the backwaters with them. Plenty of power, stable, and fun to ride. Plus plenty of storage to pack along a good sized cooler of beer!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Considering those are great skis people will buy if running instead of paying for something multiples more expensive, fix it!

 

[AKnarrowback]

Well Buddy.........

Looks like you don't have a choice. It's unanimous. Better get the tools out and get that thing going.

You won't be sorry. The 97 GTX really is a good machine.

 

[97explorer717]

Some nice looking ski's!! Guess I'm in it now. Engine is on the way. Found a stock engine, 52 hrs, 155 each cylinder. Feel pretty good about that. I know the engine is toast. Guy I purchased it from was talkin something about started to convert to premix and "I was mixing the oil". "Maybe I ran too much oil in it". Yeah right he ran it with no oil in it! I'm still going to tear it down and see what's going on with it. Curious more than anything but pretty sure she's locked up tight. Could be the pump but I doubt it. Not with what he said. My first Seadoo was a Explorer (see user name) and the pump was locked up on it when I purchased it.