Hey guys. im looking at a seadoo spx that is up for sale. i guess it needs a rave valve. i know basics on these motors but i have never tinkered with a rave valve. i have a few questions about it. 1) will a bad rave valve destroy a motor? 2) what do they do. and 3) is there any test to make sure this guy isnt jerking me around. its a good deal i think if i only need to replace the valve. he told me i could compression check the motor and spark check it so i dont feel like he is hiding much. help me out guys!!:thumbsup:
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Spx rave valve
- Thread starter GTIRFI8
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Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
I'll answer in order:
1) it could. But we need to know what's wrong. If it broke,.. Yes, it will drop a hunk of metal into the engine. If the bellows melted, or it's just warn. No... it wont' cause damage, but will need to be replaced.
2) They are an exhaust valve that helps build low torque, and top RPM's.
3) If the valve is bad... the engine may not run right. BUT, and quick compression test will clue you into the health of the engine. I'm going to assume it's an 800 engine... so you are looking for 150 psi. But, anything over 140 is still OK. (depends on the price, and how much work you want to do)
1) it could. But we need to know what's wrong. If it broke,.. Yes, it will drop a hunk of metal into the engine. If the bellows melted, or it's just warn. No... it wont' cause damage, but will need to be replaced.
2) They are an exhaust valve that helps build low torque, and top RPM's.
3) If the valve is bad... the engine may not run right. BUT, and quick compression test will clue you into the health of the engine. I'm going to assume it's an 800 engine... so you are looking for 150 psi. But, anything over 140 is still OK. (depends on the price, and how much work you want to do)
i called the guy again asking and he said he didnt know if it fell into the motor. how hard is it to check if it fell into the motor?
donkey
New Member
UH OH,,sounds 2 different things,,the up n down part would be the rave valve,,,,but the spinning part would be the rotary valve,,,
Brian J
New Member
I'm seeing red flags. When people are trying to pawn off junk they will throw around odd ball diagnosis like that. However $600 is cheap (in my area anyway) I would go look at it if it was close to me and proceed based on the condition of the hull and a compression test.
Maybe I missed something, but does the ski run? If not you need to consider it a non-running ski which is a significant factor on the price. Personally unless the ski is in pristine condition it's worth maybe $300.00. If it just needs a rave valve, why didn't the owner just fix it?
When buying a used ski the two most important things you can do is a compression test, and a ride test.
Lou
When buying a used ski the two most important things you can do is a compression test, and a ride test.
Lou
Thanks for all the input guys. the ski looks mint. i told the guy if i was to come look at it i would bring a compression tester and check for the spark. he told me that fine by him. so it didnt seem like he has much to hide about the ski. if the ski has compression and spark i think it would be worth getting it. is there any way to test this rave valve? i dont think the guy would like for me to start to disassemble his ski. any idea on what you think i should do?
and no the ski doesnt run but he said something that made me worry a little bit. he told me it was running and then it just stalled and thats what he figured out the problem is and just didnt want to get involved. in RI the skis are going for 2000 to 3000 so i figured if i dumped some money into it i could turn it around for a profit.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
a rave issue wouldn't make a ski NOT run..
i'm suspicious as hell
what year is this ski
a rave issue wouldn't make a ski NOT run..
i'm suspicious as hell
what year is this ski
the ski is a 1997
RebuiltSeadooBaffles
Member
If its clean then $300 for it is a good price, no more, figure $1000-$1200 for a rebuilt engine as I bet it needs one
okay so now i have the story coming full circle. he told me now that the rave valve broke in half and fell into the motor. its not siezed but its not going to let the motor turn over due to the fact a chunk of metal is in the motor. now he also said it turns over if he puts a monkey wrench on the drive shaft and easily spin it. now that the story is out do you guys think its worth buying it and just pulling off the head and honing it out and just clean it all up. let me know what you guys would do. thanks!!
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
worth the risk, if your handy, have time and not worried about the initial investment, would I buy it right now? , maybe, edit: probably... but i'd start by lowballing him , but i'm also fresh out of projects and a little bored right now.
IF it pans out, your going to be out some gaskets and a little time, and got a nice ski. IF it doesn't you've got a little bit of a headache, but $400+ in parts either way, can't lose out too bad.
if it meets you half way, say, top end or 1 cyl being bored to match, then you have a nice ski for sub $1000
Your Criteria that you need to meet: time and money, if you have a little of both, and some tools, some mechanical know how, a spot in the garage and a small stand, go for it.
i'd probably show up to look at a ski like that with 600 in my pocket, start by offering $350 and going up from there and walk away if things start to get sketch, (title, vts, wear ring, buttons, gauges) all those are deductions, although limited deductions because the ski is discounted already
take a peek at the piston, see if it looks scored.
summary: its worth a trip back with some cash in your pocket (assuming you meet the above criteria), myh only advice is that this is a mistake if you have a $500 budget, and no room for repairs in the budget.
as long as you have wiggle room for repairs, your fine with this, it might be a real nice pickup, or a super turd but even as a turd, you won't get blasted on your initial investment at all, just a PITA to part it out.
when buying broken ski's , assume the worst, hope for the best... but never ever make the mistake of not assuming the worst
if the owner is lost mechanically, then pulling the head while your there isn't a bad idea, but i'm not a fan of 'discovery' in the presence of the owner, generally makes the price go up if you find a simple issue. (doubtful)
the main thing that would concern me is the talk about rust.
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Okay its nice to hear it from another person. well i honestly am out of projects myself. i rebuild an entire 650sx and a 1999 spi. i have all the stuff but im honestly doing this to make some money. i have a mother board that got snapped in half on my sit down 2005 gti rfi and i dont feel like throwing 1700 at minium on computers into it right now. i figured if the rave valve fell into it i would need at most a new jug and piston and rings. but here is where i start to get worried. i cant turn it over because of the metal in the head. that means i wont be able to do a quick test for spark. i have a camera i may be able to put into the head and look around (god i love blowing money on snapon tools) so say i get the ski for 300. think i could rebuild one jug and bore out the other to be safe for under 800 (i work for a bike shop and have parts unlimited parts i can get). again im new to this whole rave valve.
It's a desirable ski so if you can get it for a good price go for it. Worst or maybe best case you'll have a nice ski with a new motor at a reasonable cost, and you may get lucky and the repairs could be minimal. I would offer $400.00, this does include the trailer?
Lou
Lou
Nah it doesn't have a trailer included. I think I'm going to go for it and the worse case I have to buy a jug and head. I just hope it didn't go to the bottom end. And I believe they made it in 99 if not it was a 95 I had a few kawi's between the seadoos so I forget what year it was.
RebuiltSeadooBaffles
Member
99 was the last year for the SPX 787. WORST CASE is it needing a engine, best case is a jug/piston/head.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
i'd still say bottom line, it will be hard to lose any significant money on this, the only question is how much money you'll make.
worst case you lose a hundred or two and some time, best case you triple your money.
worst case you lose a hundred or two and some time, best case you triple your money.
Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
$600... no trailer... and the engine is done.....
NOT WORTH IT!!
A rebuilt engine will cost you $1300 with shipping and a 2 year warranty. A good used trailer will be $400. SO... you will be into it for +$2200. AND... that's assuming the pump is OK... the electrical is OK... and it's nice cosmetically.
So... unless you are building it to keep for yourself... and you are going to keep it for a few years (to justify the expense) and, you just WANT an X4 800 ski... I would pass. At this point... it's a parts ski, and who knows if there is even $600 worth of good parts in it.
My last thoughts.... the guy said you can check the compression, and spark. If it's not cranking over with the starter... you aren't checking either. AND... that basically makes the seller full of crap.
NOT WORTH IT!!
A rebuilt engine will cost you $1300 with shipping and a 2 year warranty. A good used trailer will be $400. SO... you will be into it for +$2200. AND... that's assuming the pump is OK... the electrical is OK... and it's nice cosmetically.
So... unless you are building it to keep for yourself... and you are going to keep it for a few years (to justify the expense) and, you just WANT an X4 800 ski... I would pass. At this point... it's a parts ski, and who knows if there is even $600 worth of good parts in it.
My last thoughts.... the guy said you can check the compression, and spark. If it's not cranking over with the starter... you aren't checking either. AND... that basically makes the seller full of crap.
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i agree i plan on seeing it by the end of the week and check it out with my little camera that i could fit down the spark plug and look around to see the damage. i dont really mind rebuilding it because again im all out of projects and im going a little crazy when i go home with nothing to do.
if you guys know anyone parting out a 2004 or 2005 gti le rfi PM me i need some parts pretty bad for it.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
i think we made it clear that $600 is still too high right ?
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