95 GSX Exhaust Bolts Falling Out

[pthompson7]

I have a 95 GSX, last week we took it out and the bolts that secure the exhaust together right at the top, where the two join together were all loose and the exhaust was comming out under the seat. I tightened them back up and thought, well it does vibrate alot. We took it out again this weekend and two bolts fell completely out and I noticed that some of the bolts that secure the engine to the vibration buffers are also loose. While my daughter was riding she said it felt like it was sinking, and sure enough there was quite a bit of water in the engine compartment. Any ideas on where to start looking for my problems. I can't understand why these bolts are all of a sudden falling out.

Thanks for whatever you can contribute.

 

[Jay138]

I'd suggest looking in the shop manual to get the torque specs, and put them back in with some loctite. Good luck

 

[JPX]

The two side bolts have the rubber dampers to limit vibration on the pipe. If the rubber is smooshed or split, then the bolts don't really do their job correctly.

Then the 3 bolts and 1 nut(stud) begin to beat themselves out of the holes.

If it gets far enough along, then the pipes seperate and the cooling water in the pipe either pours into the engine or the hull. Both are bad things. New exhaust gasket would be in order - and I used copper silicone gasket maker (like used on car engine cylinder heads) to show it I mean business.

There are a bunch of other things to consider. If the engine is vibrating in a bad way, you should check to see if you have broken motor mounts, a bent driveshaft, consistent spark at the plugs and fuel delivery to the carbs.

An engine that is kind of lopping along really bangs around inside the hull......if it is bad enough, then the farthest and heaviest item from the crank has the highest moment of force, the pipe.

Check that the hole threads or the bolt threads aren't damaged. Then as noted in the last post, Loctite them down when you torque them.

 

[pthompson7]

I'll have a look at it tomorrow. I did notice that one of the mount bolts was loose, and that when the bolts were loose or off, that the entire lower exhaust had quite a bit of wiggle room, plus I did find another bolt about an inch and a quarter long hex head in the bottom of the craft. So I also need to find out where that goes.

Also Since I have owned it, I have never had to change the impeller or any seals. I keep it in the garage under cover year round. But the weather must be tough on it. Is there anything that I need to be looking at as the root cause of the problem to the vibration, or will time cause this?

Thanks for the replies by the way.

 

[JPX]

It's kind of a weak point for Seadoos of these years. My bolts backed out one time and stranded me with a flooded hull. Ever since then, I check the bolts' tightness before each outing and after I'm done flushing it.

Start with simply reassembling. But keep an eye on it.

 

[pthompson7]

After looking at my paperwork, I noticed that it is a 97 GSX, and that wouldnt matter if it were just the bolts. But, I was looking around and tightning up the bolts that I did have, and found a bolt that was extra, but it went somewhere. It went on the (drivers side) rear mount under the exhaust manifold. So I relpaced that along with the other mounting bolt that bolts the exhaust manifold half way up. (it was missing too) Then as I was tightning the bolts that connect the manifold to the engine portion, I noticed that the corner where you place a nut instead of a bolt was cracked on the manifold. I didn't totally remove it, but I assume that I will have to replace the manifold. Right? Any ideas on the cost of a new manifold? Any suggestions on wht those bolts came out??? I found the results, now I need to find the cause. :ack:

 

[derek]

you don't need a new one. they rarely go bad. dirt cheap all over eBay.

 

[pthompson7]

I wanted to clairify after looking at the manual, but the part that is cracked is the Head pipe assembly. In case it matters.