RESTO 99 seadoo gsx rfi semi restro

[jammin777]

replaced the fuel pump and strainers. the hardest part was removing the internal strainer and took some ingenuity getting it to snap off the bottom of the module housing. other than that it was fairly easy. emptied the tank using a drill pump a few weeks ago and is surprisingly dry on the inside. tomorrow I'll vacuum all the tan powder crud out or whatever it is and reinstall the pump.
had to remove the mpem and slide the tank forward and made for easy pump module removal.
question, can the gas gauge float soak up gas to give false readings? if so, i thought of replacing it while it's out as a precautionary.
any one know where i can find one?

 

[kicker]

These floats dont seem to have the same problems as the ones inside the fuel baffles on the carbed skis. If it still floats I would not worry about it. A new float assembly is about $120 from the dealer, I have not come across the float itself only as a complete unit that attaches to the module.

 

[jammin777]

thanks kicker, you're right i did some searching and saw that it comes as a whole sending unit. i just installed the baffle should be good to go. now on to the oil tank, replacing grommets, oil hoses with tygon, filter and check valve.

 

[jammin777]

Bottom of hull

got the ski off the stand and on it's side on the floor and did a little sanding but still have a ways to go.
I found a source that supplies the gel goat for seadoo and has the gsx rfi yellow premixed so hopefully it will be a close match. so far i plan on just gel coating the keel area probably 7" wide using duratec additive which allows cure just like paint without the use of wax and spray it on with a paint gun. the first few coats will be 25-75 for the hyde coats and the final will be 50-50 along with 2% mepk and to blend with the rest then sand all areas that need it most to remove most of the scratches and then buff. wish me luck!
any one with tips? feel free to post them.

 

[jammin777]

ses engine

well my project has been basically at a stand still as i'm waiting for some decent weather so that i can apply some gelcoat repair on the keel, being bored, i thought i would pull the engine out of the shipping bin and do what i can. not a whole lot as i need to order a few parts, rave o-ring/bellow kits and a mag cover o-ring. i also need to find a bolt for the mag to flywheel cup as one was missing when i pulled the engine. the po must have lost it and left it out.
if any one has one for an rfi just like the one in the picture pm me with price shipped 83642

one thing i did do prior to shipping the engine for rebuild was mask the engine identification plate letting them know not to paint the plate. success! can hardly wait to get going full bore and get her done! more to come!

 

[PGHMAN]

Jammin I have a spare mag bolt that you need. PM your address and I send out tomorrow. No charge....if you're ever in Raleigh you can buy me a cold one

 

[TheMachin0]

nice your wont regret making the hull nice and slippery again

 

[jammin777]

Jammin I have a spare mag bolt that you need. PM your address and I send out tomorrow. No charge....if you're ever in Raleigh you can buy me a cold one

thank you very much! pm sent.

 

[jammin777]

finally had warm enough weather to gel coat the bottom of my hull. as i mentioned earlier, i found the source that supplies gelcoat for seadoo. spayed it on using duratec super high gloss to enable better spray and curing. in fact 5 hours later i'm sanding! i was able to build it up in key areas and sanding it is a lot like sanding bondo. there will be a few dimples (low spots) and wont be perfect but much better than when i started. i will post some series pics when i get some sanding done and buffed to a shine. i hope its turns out! lol! i have a lot of work to do but finally i'm on the move!
oh alright, i post a few of them right after spraying. remember, i'm not done yet! lol!

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

Looks good

 

[griz400]

very nice, weather will be warmin up and you will be ready .... all you need is a good cooler now .....

 

[jammin777]

very nice, weather will be warmin up and you will be ready .... all you need is a good cooler now .....

yes i cant wait! it been 10 years sense I've been out on a ski! sold my 97 gsx in 04 to pay for closing cost on a new house, come to find out at closing there would be no closing cost! dang it!!! lol! (i about cried when my beloved gsx drove off with the new owner! bought it brand new and still in mint shape when it sold with only 53 hrs on her) then bought a boat, it was for the family. not much fun for me but it was about the family lol!
the whole time while boating I'd be drooling over all the seadoo's out on the lake ha ha. kids grown up, sold the boat, now it's my turn. lol! no need for a cooler, i just plop a couple gatorades in the storage compartment and off i go.

 

[griz400]

in florida here, we wouldnt think of going out without softsided cooler, loaded with ice and jello shots and coke zero and water, also a softsided cooler bag, with ice packs and sandwiches, etc, we even take 2 collapsible beach chairs lay em in foot wells.... lol.. its like a 2 mile ride in intercoastal water way to where we go ... either caladesi islland, 3 rooker bar -- thats a 5 mile ride, fort desoto park, or egemont key ... google those spots -- these are usually our "base camps" ..lol no fun to hang out around boat ramps .. we travel to these spots, and ride from there ....
surprising what you can take on a gtx with 2 people ... and still planes out real nice ...

 

[kicker]

yes i cant wait! it been 10 years sense I've been out on a ski! sold my 97 gsx in 04 to pay for closing cost on a new house, come to find out at closing there would be no closing cost! dang it!!! lol! (i about cried when my beloved gsx drove off with the new owner! bought it brand new and still in mint shape when it sold with only 53 hrs on her)

There are times when you just have to do what you think is right even though it sucks, oh well you got a nice ski going now.

I don't think you'll regret going from a carb to RFI, I love my RFI, just hit the start button and go, no choke, no possible flooding, and I think it sounds nicer. For anything else we always got GRIZ to help troubleshoot if needs be. :thumbsup:

 

[jammin777]

sounds like a great time! the gtx has a ton of storage for sure. i'm keeping an eye out for a 97 up gtx or gti for my wife, that is if i can find a decent deal! people here out west think ski's are gold. already have reservations for some nice camping spots on the lake (wooded) this summer! good times ahead. tomorrow i will finish sand and buff the hull then put it back on the cart and buff the rest, just bought a alignment tool. install the engine, rebuild the pump (sending the prop to impros, going to replace the rectifier with a 4tec one (osd) for assurance. should be on the water breaking her in sometime in may.

 

[jammin777]

There are times when you just have to do what you think is right even though it sucks, oh well you got a nice ski going now.

I don't think you'll regret going from a carb to RFI, I love my RFI, just hit the start button and go, no choke, no possible flooding, and I think it sounds nicer. For anything else we always got GRIZ to help troubleshoot if needs be. :thumbsup:

yep, you got that right and now i'm making a comeback! lol! i'm glad that i ended up with an rfi myself, no carbs to screw with!
I wonder if some people have issues with rfi skis for the same reason i was scared to own my first fuel injected auto? which proves very reliable btw. i know how to set up a carb and tune an older car. (mainly an under car tech) getting the hang of fuel ejection, so hopefully that proves right on the rfi ski. GRIZ the go to man. good guy.

 

[jammin777]

finally the bottom of the hull is done! not perfect but much better than before. also not quite the perfect color match and the camera seems to pick up more imperfections than the eye. nevertheless, no one live under there anyways lol! got the ski back on the cart so more buffing this weekend on the deck. question, how durable is the colors on the decals? i don't intend on power buffing them but maybe a little very light grit polish compound by hand and wax. what do you think?

 

[PGHMAN]

Jammin - you state that you're planning to replace the rectifier with unit from OSD. Have you considered the one Grizz purchased for his RFI? http://www.newjetskiparts.com/product_info.php?cPath=524_531_749&products_id=70969. The OSD unit is $129 opposed to the one Grizz uses which is $69. Maybe Grizz can chime in and let us know if his rectifier has held up. Just wondering since I am planning to replace mine as well.

 

[griz400]

i have both rectifiers, still using the one from jetkiparts -- the 69.00 one, but, if you have and rfi, always take a spare, i have the beefed up 4 tech one as well, i believe that the actually beefed them all up, versus the original stock design

 

[jammin777]

the jetski parts one is a good price but i was going to go with the the 4 tec one because it is beefed up and didnt want any issues knowing the stock ones are weak and are famous for failing. is the jetski parts one beefed up as well?

 

[PGHMAN]

Found this one as well on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/SeaDoo-Volt..._Watercraft_Parts&hash=item3a83da29e7&vxp=mtr
See if Grizz comments about the one from jetskiparts.

 

[jammin777]

buffed hull

spent the day buffing the hull deck and came out nice and glossy with a very slight almond color from age and sun but barely. not enough to go through the sanding process and would have been very time consuming with all the decals sill in place so to me it just wasn't worth it. any one have any tricks of getting the vinyl seat pliable again with out recovering it. the vinyl is stiff and hard but no cracks. ive read that baby oil and left in the warm sun after a good scrubbing works.
your thoughts?

 

[jammin777]

registration numbers installed.

 

[PGHMAN]

Numbers/letters look good. Where did you get them?

 

[jammin777]

thanks, i got them on Ebay last fall. cost around 18.00 shipped