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1997 xp sinks

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Josh6t_97xp

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I am new to this site but have experience posting....
I bought a 97 xp today and the issue is that it sinks. I believe i have found the the reason but want a little help. Well anyway, there is a rubber boot where the VTS rod goes through the haul and the boot is ripped could this be the issue? Seams to me that this is the most likely but are there other things i should check before putting it in the water?

thanks Josh
 
If the VTS box is not tightly sealed, then your engine bay will fill up pretty quickly.

The VTS motor will be shot as well (this is how mine was when I got it, so I detached the VTS). I still had to replace that boot and seal up the hull.

Also, when you put it in the water, check to see if the carbon ring seal is working. This is on the drive shaft, and has a boot that pushes it against a lip on the shaft. If this leaks, it is a large hole under the surface of the water and will fill the hull up quickly.
 
Ripped VTS boot = fill hull with water
Ripped VTS boot = dead VTS module (unless it is dried out before applying power)
 
ok thanks its also got a bad coil i believe so i need one of those before i hit the water but im doing mulitple things as I go along. I bought it for $700 so im not worried about working on it a little. Has a new motor so i figured that has to be worth about 900 we will see
 
I was told the motor was good so it might be the switch? the VTS motor seams to work intermittently so i might just get it to level and leave it. wat do you guys think?


thanks Josh
 
Well i found the problem with the VTS I was tooling around with the motor and pulled the connectors apart to see if the motor was any good and it was I could hear it working. But my trim wasn't moving i believe i read on hear that there was a worm gear that pulled on the bar that stick trough the haul on if you grease it it might help. when i got it all a part it turned out to be that this black piece of plastic that goes through the haul was froze up. I have no idea how this could have happend because it slides through another piece of plastic, to my knowledge plastic doesnt corrode. I beleive I am pretty lucky because all it did was crossthread the last thread on the worm gear. I took a utility knife and fixed the treads works like a dream know.:cheers:
 
Might have found another reason my ski is a sinker. When I was messing around with the VTS motor I was looking at the drive shaft where it goes through the haul. It looks like the VTS boot just bigger. Anyway the side where it goes through the haul is solid i believe there is fiberglass under this side. But the other side that is on the shaft seams like there is a lot of slop. I didnt take the hose clap off but it seams like there should be a bearing under there with some sort of seal? is this correct.... seams to me it should be pretty solid on the shaft with out any slop.

some in put would be great so far this site has been good to me seams like u guys really know your stuff and have been a great help

Josh
 
Look anything like this? The slop may be coming from a part missing at the most inboard side (above the top hose clamp in photo). There should be a carbon ring there holding the boot under tension. If it is broken or missing, there is your problem.
 
it looks exactly like that, great picture btw, yes under the top hose clamp in the picture there seams to be alot of play with the material under there. the hose clamp is on there tight the play is on the drive shaft. easyiest way to explain it is if you can picture a washer the outer diameter is where the hose clamp is... thats tight. the inner diameter seams to big for the shaft so thats where the slop is.

it seams like this is a problem ill take the hose clamp off today and see. I got a shop manual with the ski but I cant get it until monday. Id like to start trouble shooting the electrical problems im having. the ski keeps blowing the main fuse. I was told by the guy I bought it from that it was the stator... talked to a few marine guys and they said its more likely the "ignition trigger" it believe he meant the ignition coils, is there a difference?

thanks
Josh
 
There will be play in the boot at the carbon ring when you are out of the water. In the water, the boot is actually full of water and presses the carbon ring against the shaft lip.


If you find a ton of play with the carbon ring against the shaft lip IN THE WATER, that's a problem. Leakage while the engine is off is a bad thing. Leakage while the engine is on is also bad.
 
Ok sweet deal I was thinking there shouldn't be any play were the carbon ring is. on that just came across it when I was messing around with the VTS. I guess when i put it in the water i will see if its going to be a problem. How do you like your HX JPX. theres one up here for sale thats running and flaoting... more than i can say for my XP. its a 95 or 96 with a trailer for 1500. Sound like a deal? I would like to buy one for my girlfriend. There are a few out here that im looking at the other is 97 spx with a three place trailer for 2200?


thanks again tomorrow I get my shop manual and i can start trouble shooting the electrical side of things. great picture too

Josh
 
That boot acts as a spring pushing the carbon ring against the flange on the driveshaft. You can grab it and pull it back and water will rush in (don't do this with engine running...).

If the boot has any tears, you will leak. If the boot is old, it may not be "springy" enough to push the carbon ring against the flange, and you may leak there also.

The ski you are describing sound EXACTLY like the one I was given. Same problems when I got it. VTS was full of water due to ripped boot. Leaking at the carbon ring, and only needed these replaced, and the coil, and ran like a dream afterwards. Replaced wear ring woke it up even more:cheers:
 
well thats sounds great I am more than happy to throw ~$200 at it to have it run. the boot is definitely springy it looks good, the VTS was all dried out and cracked where it wasn't torn so thats a must fix but im thinking the carbon ring is good along with the boot. Hope to have it in the water end of next week.:cheers:

Josh
 
How do you like your HX JPX. theres one up here for sale thats running and flaoting... more than i can say for my XP. its a 95 or 96 with a trailer for 1500. Sound like a deal? I would like to buy one for my girlfriend. There are a few out here that im looking at the other is 97 spx with a three place trailer for 2200?

I loved my HX for the first 6 years of ownership. But as I get older and have kids now, I find myself losing the love for the HX. I REALLY felt out of love last year when I started having lots of problems with the fuel system. After using this forum to help get it running right, I did change my mind to NOT sell it after all this summer. ;)

Why the HX rocks:
1. incredibly agile with amazing holeshots - really, really feel like you are riding a motorcycle with knee dropping, hanging off the handle bar turns.
2. one of the few sitdowns that can to tricks similar to standups (submarining, vertical tailstands, flat water jumps and dives)
3. Suspension seat - need I say more?
4. Light boat with just only what you need to ride (less gadgets to break)
5. All out unique riding experience - this boat has very little in common with it's contemporaries both in design and handling.

What will surprise you about the HX
1. You can ride NOT LEVEL, basically able to tip the boat sideways and still go straight
2. Narrow beam - the HX is the narrowest of all the Seadoos
3. Does not slide easily. If you manage to slide it, you are probably going north of 45mph and it will hook and seriously throw you off the ski.

Why the HX is a big pain in the ass:
1. Difficult for beginners to ride - tippy and unstable, wants to tip over at stop or slow speeds.
2. Difficult to remount - virtually impossible for a beginner to get on in deep water by themselves. Takes lots of strength and coordination to master mounting an HX.
3. No instrumentation - no gauges for fuel, navigation, oil level, clock.
4. No storage - only the purple bin for the fire extinguisher, and it is mounted UNDER the very heavy front lid.
5. 7 gallon fuel tank - relatively short range when compared to 13-15 gallon tanks found on virtually every other Seadoo.
 
ok cool sounds good except for the tipsey part. I know 2 seaters can dump easily but usually if you are riding by yourself they are fairly easy to get on. the haul being very narrow isnt helping that situation. Like I said earlier its for my girlfriend she isn't paying for it I am... so she will be happy with anything. But id hate to see her out in the middle of the lake and not be able to get back on the ski. I would like to stay with a two seater and want something that is close to the power of my 97 xp. There are a few spx's around here that are in good shape so I might end up with one of those for her. (hers is prolly going to be slightly faster than my xp just because of wieght.)

Id like to take her to the thousand islands ny. its very nice up there and I have found some beaches there that are nice and private. that and the view of all the islands are pretty cool.

thanks for the info. I was actually considering it for the suspension seat but i think she will survive with out it.
 
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