Buying a 99 SPX

[tingraham]

Good afternoon all!

I have finally came across the ski I’ve wanted for years! She’s not perfect, but just a little bit of time on the buffer on the underside, it should be cherry!

Sounds like it’s going to need a starter (classic starter symptoms with not turning over with plugs in). And needs the tempo lines replaced. Will need a VTS as well, he was able to get it working with some external relays but no gauge and no stop limits.

That being said, I’m picking it up for $900 this weekend, which from what I can tell, is pretty dang good deal for a 99 SPX!

 

[seadooxp1996]

Just got my 99 rolling today!!! Good luck with it. Make sure it's not a bad battery before u start replacing things. I needed a new rectifier on mine that was causing alot of issues. Check your compression, I get around 150. Vts has fuses, doubt that's the problem but 25 cents is cheaper than 250. Any questions holla.

 

[tingraham]

Just got my 99 rolling today!!! Good luck with it. Make sure it's not a bad battery before u start replacing things. I needed a new rectifier on mine that was causing alot of issues. Check your compression, I get around 150. Vts has fuses, doubt that's the problem but 25 cents is cheaper than 250. Any questions holla.

Nice!!! I have a 96 XP so I’m use to the hull, just want the good looks of that 99! I’ll for sure check other things before pulling the starter but I got a extra rebuild kit handy for it so I’m expecting I’ll have to throw it in. Looks like the motor hasn’t ever been cracked open before so hopefully compression numbers come back decent. Current owner is going to test it tonight if he can get it to turn over fast enough. For the price though, I’m somewhat willing to take the hit if I need to slap a top end rebuild in it.

 

[seadooxp1996]

Lol, I got a 96 xp as well. Hate say it but I like the way the 96 handlebars set up better. Better for wave jumping.

 

[seadooxp1996]

I bought the spx with a blown motor for 600. By the time I was done with new engine, starter, vts, rectifier, beeper, trailer, wear ring, fuel shut off, yadda yadda yadda I was into it for 2300 total. Did all that and maiden voyage was smoke coming out under seat. Scared the crap out of me. Turned out to b ground wire near starter was shorting.

 

[benjilafouine]

Are you getting a trailer with it???

 

[tingraham]

Are you getting a trailer with it???

No trailer, already have one or 2, well technically 3...

 

[benjilafouine]

Ah. So you are not getting that double trailer. If non functioning I find that a little expensive.

 

[tingraham]

Ah. So you are not getting that double trailer. If non functioning I find that a little expensive.

For a 99 SPX? Their rarity I feel drives the price up more so. If it was a 96 xp or a 97-98 spx I would agree.

 

[JeremyD615]

They are good looking skis! With all of those issues, you’re going to be in it for a decent amount of money when you’re through, but it will be a fun project for sure!

 

[tingraham]

They are good looking skis! With all of those issues, you’re going to be in it for a decent amount of money when you’re through, but it will be a fun project for sure!

Most the stuff I already have on hand so I should be able to get it ready to go without too much fuss and cost.

 

[JeremyD615]

Most the stuff I already have on hand so I should be able to get it ready to go without too much fuss and cost.

Lol. I’ve been in that boat before! It always seems like you have everything you could possibly need until you start digging in and figure out that the one part that’s broken is the one you don’t have! Good luck with it, it’ll be a great ride when it’s done...

 

[benjilafouine]

Can be a great ski but it’s not working as it is.

 

[Matt Braley]

For a 99 SPX? Their rarity I feel drives the price up more so. If it was a 96 xp or a 97-98 spx I would agree.

Nope. It's just a "jetski to 99 out of a hundred shoppers. We are like "awe the black hull and the hump seat" they are like "does it work?"

 

[benjilafouine]

Lets put it another way: I have a pristine 2003 car of "wide distribution" (Ford Focus SE Sport Standard with a zetec engine). How much more would you give me today for a 2003 car in super condition? The "normal" 2003 car would be worth less than a thousand bucks and close to the junkyard. Lets say it is in perfect order, how much more would you give? $500 bucks? A thousand bucks? Probably even not, because of the risk.

Lets face it, 2 strokes and especially non working ones have a resell value of close to $0. I know, I have a pristine GTI LE 2003 but I know I could never sell it more than $2,000.00 CDN dollars even if I "invested" (hmmm spent...) $8,000.00 on it including new engine, carb, rotary valve, fuel pump. My conclusion: I better keep it an use it and wear it until the end.

Gee, I bought a new 4-tec because I was afraid to ride my lake during days (May and September) while nobody else is on the lake and get stuck in the middle with my old 2 stroke at 8 PM. And believe me, I love that old 2 stroke. I just can't trust it anymore unless there are plenty of people on the lake.

So what is a 99 model worth to me, working or not? Not even a thousand bucks. Unless it is a museum piece of history.

 

[tingraham]

Lets put it another way: I have a pristine 2003 car of "wide distribution" (Ford Focus SE Sport Standard with a zetec engine). How much more would you give me today for a 2003 car in super condition? The "normal" 2003 car would be worth less than a thousand bucks and close to the junkyard. Lets say it is in perfect order, how much more would you give? $500 bucks? A thousand bucks? Probably even not, because of the risk.

Lets face it, 2 strokes and especially non working ones have a resell value of close to $0. I know, I have a pristine GTI LE 2003 but I know I could never sell it more than $2,000.00 CDN dollars even if I "invested" (hmmm spent...) $8,000.00 on it including new engine, carb, rotary valve, fuel pump. My conclusion: I better keep it an use it and wear it until the end.

Gee, I bought a new 4-tec because I was afraid to ride my lake during days (May and September) while nobody else is on the lake and get stuck in the middle with my old 2 stroke at 8 PM. And believe me, I love that old 2 stroke. I just can't trust it anymore unless there are plenty of people on the lake.

So what is a 99 model worth to me, working or not? Not even a thousand bucks. Unless it is a museum piece of history.

Yeah I completely get where you are coming from. The problem comes in if someone else sees the same value in it as I do and is looking at it as well. I want it enough that it’s worth a few extra bucks to me especially when I have parts sitting on the shelf to fix most things that might be wrong with it. These old 2 strokes certainly require you to have pretty good knowledge of them if you own one at this point. Fortunately it works out well because I enjoy working on my skis almost as much as I enjoy riding them (I know, weird). So I guess in the end, it’s worth the price to me, maybe not to others that don’t like to work on their ski as much as they ride it lol.

I’ll be sure to update the thread on how I make out.

 

[benjilafouine]

Yes keep us informed. After all, a few hundred bucks is not the end of the world. But do not expect a ride on the lake tomorrow or next week. If this is what you are looking for it most likely won’t happen!

 

[benjilafouine]

And who am I to say that these old skis are junk when I like my GTI 2003 as much as my GTI 2018...

But my 2003 is definitely my last 2 stroke after my chainsaws and weed eater...

 

[tingraham]

Picked it up on Saturday. Threw a battery in it and fired it right up! Ran it for a minute and then dug into it. Pulled carbs and cleaned them out. Had some gunk in them from the tempo lines. Was having some weirdness on the pop off so I pulled the seat and found that they weren’t mikuni so ordered a new viton set. Set pop off at about 40 as the manual says 36-40. Replaced all the tempo lines and drained the tank. Also decided to take a stab at the F1 fuse fix and had great success! Also, changed pump fluid and inspected impeller and wear ring which look pretty decent. Pulled starter because it sounded a little strange while cranking and found that the starter teeth and the flywheel teeth weren’t in great condition. Put a spare starter in it and it sounds completely fine now, but will probably have to put a flywheel on it sometime.

Took it out for the maiden voyage today and it went pretty well! It is a little sluggish out of the hole but up top it pulls like a banshee. So I’m hoping I just have to get the low speed dialed in better. The manual says 1.5 turns out, anyone know if that is actually correct? I had it set to 1.25 turns and it seemed to idle high and then drop down after a minute of idling. I went back to 1.5 and it seemed to get better. Also I noticed at one point I was holding it wide ripping across some waves fast and felt it cut out twice, couldn’t tell if it was fuel cut or ignition. Also waiting to get a TTO tach for it.

Lastly, ran a compression check once I got home and they both came back at 150, so the motor is healthy! Bottom end is also nice and quiet.

 

[benjilafouine]

You got lucky!!! As for the low speed screw, I also gave it a 1/8 th turn and it was more prime when I got my new carb. Guess it was running a little lean.

 

[seadooxp1996]

Happy to hear it runs!! A little tinkering and you'll have it tip top. If u ever rebuild carb always use mikuni OEM. I learned a lesson on that one. I have my low speed at 1.5 and no issues.

 

[tingraham]

Happy to hear it runs!! A little tinkering and you'll have it tip top. If u ever rebuild carb always use mikuni OEM. I learned a lesson on that one. I have my low speed at 1.5 and no issues.

Good to know 1.5 works for you. I ordered a carb kit from OSD to replace some of the other things as well as got some new pop off springs. What I don’t understand is the manual says 95 gram springs for it but going by the chart a 95 gram spring with a 1.5 needle and seat result at a 43 psi pop off which is 3 above the high end. So I ordered 2 new 95 gram and 2 80s. Going to try setting it at the low end of what they recommend at 36 PSI. Have you had yours apart to test pop off? If so what did you set it at? And yes, always use mikuni parts.

 

[seadooxp1996]

Dont get to obsessed with pop off pressure. Just make sure you use the proper color spring. I fiddled with pop off pressure on the xp and it was a waste of time. Obviously you want to b in the recommended psi numbers but as long as you use the right spring that's in the kit and you use new lever you will get your numbers.

 

[seadooxp1996]

Just so u know u get all the springs in the mikuni kit

 

[tingraham]

Dont get to obsessed with pop off pressure. Just make sure you use the proper color spring. I fiddled with pop off pressure on the xp and it was a waste of time. Obviously you want to b in the recommended psi numbers but as long as you use the right spring that's in the kit and you use new lever you will get your numbers.

Well I’m thinking maybe its my levers that are junk so I got new ones too. I tried a dull silver one (I think) I had around and pop off was like over 60 psi so I put back what was in it and that brought it down to 40 but they were shiny silver so I’m guessing they are aftermarket garbage springs. I’m just thinking that my slowness on the hole shot is somehow related to pop off so I’ll swap the junk all out and hopefully the new stuff comes back with proper pop off pressure. And I ordered an OSD custom kit they put together so it doesn’t come with all the different springs, just the ones you order with the kit.