Buying a 97 GTX with less than 50 hrs...Newbie...

[Kawika]

GOT HER!!! NEW PIC Buying a 97 GTX with less than 50 hrs...Newbie...

Hey there guys...

I'm new to the forum. In the process of buying a used ski from a close friend of the family for dirt cheap. They are selling it to me for $500 with the trailer life jackets etc.... It's garage kept and has less than 50 hours total. It's definitely an exceptional deal and i realize it! The only thing is that it's been sitting in their garage for a while. I'm sure that it needs carb reconditioning/cleaning. The current owner says that they took it out last weekend and said that it does only about 35-40 mph right now.

So here's my question....about the MPH, i'm wondering that since it's been sitting for so long, is that probably why it's not getting up to full speed? As a result of gas sitting for a while since they rarely ever used it?

Also, i'll have my buddy run a compression test, but I honestly doubt that compression is bad considering the hours right?

Anyway, I called a seadoo mechanic that does work on the side from a dealer and he mentioned that with the carb reconditioning/cleaning and new lines that it would run me about $500 to get it running up to optimum again. Does this sound pretty accurate to you guys in your opinion?

Any comments/input would be greatly appreciated.



Got Her Today!!!

 

[b15philly]

When you say sitting for a while, who long is a while? You issue is probably old gas, and as you mentioned your carbs need to be rebuilt along with replacing the gray fuel lines if they have not been replaced, a good cleaning of the R.A.V.E valves is probably needed as well. $500 seems a little steep to me to get it running right, if you are mechanically inclined you can do all of the above your self with the help of this forum. Good luck and congrats on what seems to be a great deal:cheers:

 

[Kawika]

When you say sitting for a while, who long is a while? You issue is probably old gas, and as you mentioned your carbs need to be rebuilt along with replacing the gray fuel lines if they have not been replaced, a good cleaning of the R.A.V.E valves is probably needed as well. $500 seems a little steep to me to get it running right, if you are mechanically inclined you can do all of the above your self with the help of this forum. Good luck and congrats on what seems to be a great deal:cheers:

Thanks! I really appreciate your feedack. I agree with you on the tune up...that's definitely why I wanted some feeback regarding that. I'm decently mechanically inclined, so I'm sure that I'll delve into it once I get the ski. I've just never worked on a ski, so I'm just a but nervous b/c I guess it's hard for me to relate to the "Rave Valves" since I haven't even seen them yet. I can guarantee that I'll be back on here with some questions once I get to it. This place seems like a great resource that's full of helpful enthusiasts as well. Thanks again for your information.

 

[Kawika]

Quick question regarding the ski smoking a little while running....can this be a result from the ski sitting for so long as well? Even though new gas is being run through it? Thanks again guys

 

[timmyboy76]

since sitting for so long, i say, the oil has seeped a it, thru the seals, and a little puddling up in the case, causing the smoke at idle...no worries.

Get the ski, pull the carbs off, take ur time, and break them apart, clean ithem, then re-install, next, move to RAVES, undo the allen bolts, and the rave under the pipe, after removing the allen bolts, get 10mm wrench, and turn the knob, to undo the bellow from the valve. Carefully, lift everything out, so you can re-use the gaskets, and at the hr of usage, think your gaskets, are still new. Hit the valves with atleast some carb cleaner and a razor blade/wire brush, then re-install those....b4 install'n the airbox back onto carbs, now would be good time to replace the fuel line...1/4in from any auto store....good luck, and all this just saved you $490.00...10 buks for fuel line.:cheers:

 

[Kawika]

since sitting for so long, i say, the oil has seeped a it, thru the seals, and a little puddling up in the case, causing the smoke at idle...no worries.

Get the ski, pull the carbs off, take ur time, and break them apart, clean ithem, then re-install, next, move to RAVES, undo the allen bolts, and the rave under the pipe, after removing the allen bolts, get 10mm wrench, and turn the knob, to undo the bellow from the valve. Carefully, lift everything out, so you can re-use the gaskets, and at the hr of usage, think your gaskets, are still new. Hit the valves with atleast some carb cleaner and a razor blade/wire brush, then re-install those....b4 install'n the airbox back onto carbs, now would be good time to replace the fuel line...1/4in from any auto store....good luck, and all this just saved you $490.00...10 buks for fuel line.:cheers:

Awesome...i appreciate it. I think I probably need to invest in a service manual that way I can identify what you are talking about "RAVES" valves. I'm sure I can probably search on the forum and find some pics or "how to's" here. It's hard to believe that the Seadoo Service guys want $800 to do this and a mechanic doing it on the side, was going to charge me $500 for it!!! That's Reeeeedicoulous!

 

[timmyboy76]

Raves located, are the black caps, on the motor....what's REDICULIOUS, is the R1....luck-eeee

 

[Kawika]

Raves located, are the black caps, on the motor....what's REDICULIOUS, is the R1....luck-eeee

Ha! Yeah man my R1 is my land ski. Gotta have the best of both worlds man :cheers:

 

[seadoosnipe]

Gtx....

Hey there guys...

I'm new to the forum. In the process of buying a used ski from a close friend of the family for dirt cheap. They are selling it to me for $500 with the trailer life jackets etc.... It's garage kept and has less than 50 hours total. It's definitely an exceptional deal and i realize it! The only thing is that it's been sitting in their garage for a while. I'm sure that it needs carb reconditioning/cleaning. The current owner says that they took it out last weekend and said that it does only about 35-40 mph right now.

So here's my question....about the MPH, i'm wondering that since it's been sitting for so long, is that probably why it's not getting up to full speed? As a result of gas sitting for a while since they rarely ever used it?

Also, i'll have my buddy run a compression test, but I honestly doubt that compression is bad considering the hours right?

Anyway, I called a seadoo mechanic that does work on the side from a dealer and he mentioned that with the carb reconditioning/cleaning and new lines that it would run me about $500 to get it running up to optimum again. Does this sound pretty accurate to you guys in your opinion?

Any comments/input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys

I just bought this same ski back in June, mint condition. Was sitting in a farmers garage. It looks like it came off the showroom floor. You could eat off the fiberglass bottom. It also still had the grey fuel lines on it. That was the first thing that had to go.

Mine had been sitting for two years. Over that period of time, the oil in the rotary chamber was able to seep through the seals and get into the crankcase. I blew the excess oil out and started it up. It smoked. One day of riding, the seals are set again, no more smoking.

The first month I got it, I topped out in my info at 60 mph. I've since changed my impeller to the Solas Concord. Really didn't pick up any speed though.

Go through the info center. In it, you'll find the skis peak speed. It's listed like "PK Speed". Once you set the peak speed, it's there till you over come it. You can also scroll through and find the hours.

I love mine. I'm sure I got some pix's of it in here somewhere. I'd have to look for them. I picked mine up for 2k, so you got a deal...........:cheers:

 

[Kawika]

I just bought this same ski back in June, mint condition. Was sitting in a farmers garage. It looks like it came off the showroom floor. You could eat off the fiberglass bottom. It also still had the grey fuel lines on it. That was the first thing that had to go.

Mine had been sitting for two years. Over that period of time, the oil in the rotary chamber was able to seep through the seals and get into the crankcase. I blew the excess oil out and started it up. It smoked. One day of riding, the seals are set again, no more smoking.

The first month I got it, I topped out in my info at 60 mph. I've since changed my impeller to the Solas Concord. Really didn't pick up any speed though.

Go through the info center. In it, you'll find the skis peak speed. It's listed like "PK Speed". Once you set the peak speed, it's there till you over come it. You can also scroll through and find the hours.

I love mine. I'm sure I got some pix's of it in here somewhere. I'd have to look for them. I picked mine up for 2k, so you got a deal...........:cheers:

That's awesome! Thanks for your reply and information. I'll definitely have to do that. I'm picking it up on Sunday, so i'm totally excited about it.

Hey, 2K for a new condition GTX that you bought is a great deal as well. I'm just coming accross a rare deal that I only hear about when others are talking about the kind of deal they came accross. I'm usually the guy saying to myself "Damn...wish i could have come accross that deal!" Luck finally bounced my way.....Shoot, I'm gonna go out and buy a lottery ticket now LOL.

Anyway, you seem to be a pretty knowledgeable guy here in the forum! I'm sure i'll be picking your brain here and there!

You know what blows my mind??? I'm seeing here that this ski will do about 58mph or so. And a lot of the newer ones do about the same and more of course. But for an older ski, and for it only being 787cc, it seems this sucker can hang with a lot of the newer ones out there. Is that an accurate observation?

 

[nikko_m]

does the 97 model gtx has a 787 engine?or a 717?

 

[seadoosnipe]

787cc....

does the 97 model gtx has a 787 engine?or a 717?

It's equipped with the 787cc. What gets me on the speed, it's inside the 3 seater hull ski. Which is bigger than most. It's heavier but yet, nimble as an XP, well, maybe not quite that nimble.

The 787cc and 951cc engines are my choice. Mostly because the 4-TEC requires much more to add to my shop to work on it. I don't need anything else to work on the 2-strokes.

And for about 60 mph, I dont' think spending the extra 5k for a faster ski is necessary. Now, if I were 20 years old again, it would be all I lived and breathed............:cheers:

 

[nikko_m]

ok..thanks for the clarification.

 

[Kawika]

It's equipped with the 787cc. What gets me on the speed, it's inside the 3 seater hull ski. Which is bigger than most. It's heavier but yet, nimble as an XP, well, maybe not quite that nimble.

The 787cc and 951cc engines are my choice. Mostly because the 4-TEC requires much more to add to my shop to work on it. I don't need anything else to work on the 2-strokes.

And for about 60 mph, I dont' think spending the extra 5k for a faster ski is necessary. Now, if I were 20 years old again, it would be all I lived and breathed............:cheers:

No doubt! I completely agree with you...I still am scratching my head about the GTX and it's capabilities. And if I had the money as well, i'd buy the fastest ski also and twin turbo jet engine it and throw flowmasters, posi-traction, a front mount intercooler and a couple of blow off valves as well, not to mention a diving board off the back, and hell....maybe even a fast and furious wing.

Anyway, I get the ski this Sunday so I'll be posting some pics as well as my Kool Aid Smile:driving:

 

[Kawika]

GOT HER!!!!

 

[seadoosnipe]

Identical .....

Nice!...!....!

She looks exactly like mine! It's a nice ride, comfortable.

I just started and cleaned mine up today. Weather holds out, I'm going to take a ride tomorrow. I'm off.........:cheers:

I just dug a pix up of mine. Excuse the quality of the pix, it was taken with my cell phone, the day I fell in love with it. It was the pix I used to sell to my wife. She was the toughest one I had to convince that we "needed" it....:rofl:

 

[timmyboy76]

way to go, slick....only prob i see, is the biddy wheels. Wouldnt want to be doing 55mph with those...:cheers:

Hey Snipe..is that a "crescent" moon, in ur backdrop of the ski....:rofl:

 

[seadoosnipe]

Outhouse?........

way to go, slick....only prob i see, is the biddy wheels. Wouldnt want to be doing 55mph with those...:cheers:

Hey Snipe..is that a "crescent" moon, in ur backdrop of the ski....:rofl:

You talkin bout the outhouse in the back ground? .... You know, here in the south, we still use the outhouse because only a select few houses can afford indoor plumbing. That's the rich people. I still have to draw water from a well and now and again, dig a new hole for the house..........:rofl:

Nah, that was the guys "pump house". He had a nice place, secluded in the country. It was a bit west of Vancleave, Mississippi.

Itty bitty wheels?.... They pull o.k. as long as you keep them greased up. Dipping into the water regularly means cleaning the grease often. I don't normally do a lot of trailer maintenance since I live on the water. The furthest I have to tow the Doo is about a mile to the launch. I'm looking at a pole with a boom on it right now. It's aluminum and used for lifting up to 2000 lbs. I want to adapt it to cement in the ground at my bulkhead so I can launch the ski from the house. ......:cheers:

 

[timmyboy76]

You talkin bout the outhouse in the back ground? .... You know, here in the south, we still use the outhouse because only a select few houses can afford indoor plumbing. That's the rich people. I still have to draw water from a well and now and again, dig a new hole for the house..........:rofl:

LMFAO......good one, Louis....even got the wifey roll'n, with that one.

 

[seadoosnipe]

<smile>....

That's good to know, someone laughing....

I did take another look at the pix and you know, it does look like an old time out house.

I remember not long ago, a fish camp up on the Chattahoochee, still used the old outhouses. Man, it stunk .......They would go in and lime up the pits every morning and evening to keep the smell and flies down.

Glad time has moved on and we're out of the stone age. We have toilets now! I just wish they'd invent something to clean with. I'm tired of using leaves!:rofl:

 

[timmyboy76]

anywhere i roll, i gots me a "industrial" roll of butt-wipe, and a pack of a$$-gaskets....:redface:

 

[Kawika]

Nice!...!....!

She looks exactly like mine! It's a nice ride, comfortable.

I just started and cleaned mine up today. Weather holds out, I'm going to take a ride tomorrow. I'm off.........:cheers:

I just dug a pix up of mine. Excuse the quality of the pix, it was taken with my cell phone, the day I fell in love with it. It was the pix I used to sell to my wife. She was the toughest one I had to convince that we "needed" it....:rofl:

Awesome Pics Snipe! I can't wait to ride mine either. Weather is getting chillier here in N Florida though so i'm running out of time

Tried starting her up and I got the infamous "BUZZZZ" sound. From what I've read it sounds like it may be a weak battery. I doubt that it's the starter with this amount of hours right? What do you think? I'm gonna run the battery over to an auto parts store to check on the status of the battery.

Also, the owner mentioned that the electronic gas gauge doens't seem to work. Do you know what I would need to check to see if it does? The tank is almost empty, so it's hard to tell at this point if it doesn't work or not.