Weird DESS Fix

[blue452]

Hey guys awhile back I had posted for some help regarding my ski 97 GTS just shutting off for no reason at random intervals. Sometimes right out of the gate, other times after 45 mins or so ....

Well it finally got so bad I couldn't stand it anymore and after tearing the electrical system out for the 20th time trying to find some kind of short I decided to get a new DESS post. Browsing the manual I found the procedure to check the resistance on the post with an ohm meter. My DESS post was testing out at about 1400 with the lanyard on ... obviously this was my problem .. I could get it down to 10 if I pressed the lanyard on and held it by hand ...

Next out of pure frustration I just started beating the durn thing against my work bench ... and the dang thing registered zero on the meter .. I took the cap off, put a different one on .. and sure enough it registered zero as well ... does anyone know whats actually inside one of those posts? Beating it shouldn't make it work .. just doesn't make much sense to me.

I know its not a permanent fix .. but hey ... it works for now .. at least I can run the ski until I get a new one ..

So for you people whom think you have an electrical short in your post ... try to beat the crap out of it and see if that fixes it ...

BTW anyone got an extra DESS Post? I don't want a brand new one .. just one that works and I can't see paying $90 for one .. that just seems insane to me ... part number 278000638 thanks guys.

 

[jhjesse]

So there may be some truth to the old saying "Don't force it, just get a bigger hammer." :rofl:

 

[blue452]

yeah it appears so. It's weird. Just don't break it ... can you imagine ... sitting in the middle of the lake hitting it with a hammer ... the looks I would get then ..

 

[PeterDollar]

Browsing the manual I found the procedure to check the resistance on the post with an ohm meter.

Hey Blue452, I need to test my DESS post. What's the procedure?

 

[blue452]

Sure ..

Quick and dirty is don't unhook the post from the box .. but instead push your ohm meter pin through the sheath .. if you do this be careful not to push it too far and liquid electrical tape it back over ..

anyway ..

3 steps below is with the lanyard OFF the post!

connect meter leads to BLACK and BLACK YELLOW wire .. should be open circuit no continuity

connect to white gray wire and other lead to switch terminal .. resistance should be close to 0 on your ohm meter

connect to black wire and the ring on post resistance should be close to 0 on your ohm meter

WIth lanyard ON post .. this is where I found my problem ..

connect leads to black and black yellow .. the meter should be close to 0 ohms ..

mine read like 1200 .. and when I hit it on the table it would go down to 0 .. it would work for a while .. and then when I started stalling .. I checked the post and sure enough 1200 on the ohm meter .. hit it a few times got it down to zero .. ski ran fine ..

I replaced my post couple months ago for $20 off ebay ..


ALL INFO above is on page 07-02-12 of the 97 shop manual

 

[PeterDollar]

Thanks Blue452. I tested according to your instructions and got about 20 ohms for each test. Is 20 Ohms "close to zero"?

Does that represent a dud DESS post?

 

[seadooya]

BTW anyone got an extra DESS Post? I don't want a brand new one .. just one that works and I can't see paying $90 for one .. that just seems insane to me ... part number 278000638 thanks guys.

got one, if needed?