What to expect

[ikenhammer]

On a whim I bought 2 Seadoo skis. '92 SP and '95 SPI....$500.00 for the pair. Don't know much about them but I'm a motor head and can adapt. The kid I bought them from said they didn't run. I looked at them and they are in great shape for their age. Motors turn and have good compression. Before I attempt to get them running, other than the usual carb cleaning, gas and oil changing etc what kind of precautions should I take or problems can I expect?

Thanks

 

[rvaughn704]

That was a buy.
You can part them out and make money.

What was the compression ????
Lets make sure that is good before spending any money on getting them running.

 

[ikenhammer]

'92 @ 136 and 139
'95 @ 142 and 144

 

[Spimothy Leary]

nice price for some older ski's if they don't nickle and dime you to death with stuff you did VERY well.
good enough compression IMO.
look for green goo when you pull the carbs, if none that's a good sign.
other's will chime in on pre-start list, but oil/gas/carbs, replace fuel lines, oil lines for sure, i'd pull and check pump over real well, since its obviously been sitting, pump rebuild isn't that expensive.
i've never seen the inside of the older models to be honest so not sure about what kind of carbon seal, zerk fittings are involved, somebody might chime in with more details on that.

 

[rvaughn704]

That is good enough compression.

Now start with the advice already given and see if you can get them to run.
Hopefully the MPEM is good in both of them. They probaly are.

 

[68ragtop]

Great skis. I started out with 1992's simple ski's, easy to work on & usually not very expensive to maintain or repair. Had a blast on those machines.

 

[ikenhammer]

Great skis. I started out with 1992's simple ski's, easy to work on & usually not very expensive to maintain or repair. Had a blast on those machines.

From owning snowmobiles and various boats over the years I've always known 2 cycle oil to be blue. These skis are filled with a yellow oil, like your average motor oil. Is there a yellow 2 cycle oil that is sold or could this be conventional motor oil? If conventional oil is in it would that reduce or prevent ignition from spark?

BTW Love the '68 ragtop! I had a '68 LeMans that I put a 455 4sp in....swap cost was minimal.....ultimate cost was my license being suspended for for 3 months. Youth and motor muscle don't mix!

 

[spx800]

2 stroke oil can be many colours. the stuff i'm running now is purple; some are red, some are blue. Just depends on the brand.

Again, just make sure its low ash api-tc.

 

[RodInEscondido]

Genuine SeaDoo XPS full synthetic is kinda a yellow and ok to use in any SeaDoo (but expensive if you do not need it). If the previous owner cannot tell you what oil it is, like in showing you a empty/full container, I would recommend draining, clean out oil system, replace oil filter and little oil lines, and fill with proper oil (lotsa threads here on oil but see what spx800 said).

Have fun, lotsa good info on this site and good folks willing to help.

 

[ikenhammer]

Genuine SeaDoo XPS full synthetic is kinda a yellow and ok to use in any SeaDoo (but expensive if you do not need it). If the previous owner cannot tell you what oil it is, like in showing you a empty/full container, I would recommend draining, clean out oil system, replace oil filter and little oil lines, and fill with proper oil (lotsa threads here on oil but see what spx800 said).

Have fun, lotsa good info on this site and good folks willing to help.

Ok I've been laughing for 3 hours now. I spoke to the previous owner and he said he used Penzoil 10W30 for the 2 stroke oil. He said they both quit running shortly thereafter. Has this potentially hurt the engine in anyway?

 

[ikenhammer]

Also the '92 quit turning over today. Now it just clicks in the MPEM. I assume its the starter relay. Are they like just like auto relays....replace?

 

[spx800]

Ok I've been laughing for 3 hours now. I spoke to the previous owner and he said he used Penzoil 10W30 for the 2 stroke oil. He said they both quit running shortly thereafter. Has this potentially hurt the engine in anyway?

Yah that can't be good..

 

[RodInEscondido]

Ok I've been laughing for 3 hours now. I spoke to the previous owner and he said he used Penzoil 10W30 for the 2 stroke oil. He said they both quit running shortly thereafter. Has this potentially hurt the engine in anyway?

Arrrrgggghhh!!! The last personal experience I had with using standard automotive oil in a 2-stroke motorcycle about 40 years ago resulted in, as a beginning, all the bearings in the lower end destroyed. Hopefully you get lucky, but expect the worst.

Starter relay works the same as automotive starter relay, but do critical check of battery and cables; wiggle them around and any crunching feeling means they are bad. Ground to starter is typical because it is difficult to examine.

Sorry to be bearer of bad news, but maybe things will work out ok ... karma: ya been doing lots of good deeds lately?

 

[rvaughn704]

Also the '92 quit turning over today. Now it just clicks in the MPEM. I assume its the starter relay. Are they like just like auto relays....replace?

Can you turn this motor by hand with the Spark Plugs out ????

 

[ikenhammer]

Can you turn this motor by hand with the Spark Plugs out ????

Yes I can. It feels smooth and consistent.

 

[rvaughn704]

Yes I can. It feels smooth and consistent.

Okay my money is on the starter has gone out.

 

[ikenhammer]

Replaced the starter relay and motor spins over very nicely. No spark though. What is the most likely culprit before I start buying or borrowing ohm meters and what not to try to track the problem down? I don't mind throwing a little money at these since I got them for so cheap. :thumbsup: