Does Seadoo Suck????

[Grizz]

I'm not looking to get flamed here, I currently own a 98 Seadoo GS and quite enjoy it. Problem is, where I live, it is virtually impossible to find someone to work on it!! I basically have 2 options that I am aware of, one is in town and the other is a 2 hour drive. I was told today by the local dealer that I should dump my Seadoo ASAP and go with another brand as it is only going to get harder in the future. He said they are next to impossible to fix, troubleshoot and obtain parts. What does everyone else think???

Currently, my issue is I need to winterize my machine as Canada gets brutally cold (-30 to -50) in the winter and it is approaching fast. I'm sure I can fog the cylinders and figure out how to drain the engine/manifold but I am a little concerned about checking the jet pump, changing it's fluid, checking the wear rings etc.

I know if I become a premium member I will have access to more information and I plan on doing so shortly but there is now way I am going to learn the skills I need in the next few days. In short, I am wondering if I should just dump it and start with a new machine???

 

[Nate Surveyor]

I agree!

Ok, just dump it on me!!



Seriously, PWC are a bastard mix of chainsaw/boat/motorcycle/snowmobile engines, that have their own set of rules. They all have their issues. There is a reason that Sea Doo is as POPULAR as they are. Polaris is no longer in the PWC business.

Nate

 

[seadoosnipe]

Winterize?......

Grizz, I agree, it's cold in Canada!........but your humidity levels are low. That's a plus.

It's easy to winterize the 717 motor. On the back side of the head, you have 2 hoses connected to the engine. You'll need to disconnect the one on the right and pinch the one closed on the left. You'll need to pinch the water return hose of the magneto. You should see it on the lower front end of the engine.

Now, take a short piece of hose, attach it to the head connection on the right side of the engine (or you can use the hose that's on the right side of the engine, if it can be easily separated from the "T" {some engines don't have that "T"}). Fill the engine with a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze (suitable for aluminum engines, which most now days is) till you see it in the water return line of the magneto.

Now, with as much of that antifreeze in the engine as it will hold, remove your temp hose or re-connect the hose on the right of the engines head. Now, remove your hose pincher's. Most of the anti-freeze will drain out. You are now winterized. Do not start the engine, you'll blow out your antifreeze.

The point of draining the anti-freeze? All 2 stroke Rotax engines are a "total loss cooling system". Which means, there is no water pump in the engine and when you pull the ski/boat from the water, it drains all the water from the craft. The only water left in the ski is residual. You'll have a small amount left in your exhaust system and a little inside the engine. After you remove the hose pincher's and it drains out, what's left in the engine will be diluted with the anti-freeze, protecting your engine.

Your jet pump, it can wait till spring. It's a bit more detailed and will survive the winter months. You can use the search engine in the tool bar and find several posts that detail that procedure, step by step.

As for "dumping" your Seadoo, I agree with Nate!.......you can drop it on me anytime. I feel your pain though. I live on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the nearest Dealer is an hour away. The only reason there are Yamaha and Honda PWC repair shops available, is because they also sell motorcycles. Seadoo only sells boats and PWC's (Skidoo's for snowmobiles) which means, you'll only find them as you would any other boat distributer. Also, Rotax and Bombardier has been the longest running distributer of PWC's and has the most research in providing the best engines for their product, than any other manufacturer. :cheers:

 

[Grizz]

Thanks for the reply guys!! Seadoosnipe, do you not have to fog the engine somehow as well??

 

[seadoosnipe]

Fogging.......

I don't winterize, so I guess I should have mentioned it. Yes, in your climate, I'd fog the engine before you do the anti-freeze. You should see a little black, rubber button on the air box. Just remove it and spary your fogging spary in there a few times to coat the bearings and cylinders with the preservative.

The fogging creates a barrier from the moisture so that as your engine goes through the extreme climate changes, the interior surfaces of the engine are protected.

You should also spray all the external components with WD-40, or other lubricant (the fogging spray will work) to help protect them as well. Don't forget about your pump! Spray the outside area or any of the moving parts. I'm on the fence about spraying any petroleum products inside the impeller area because of the effect they have on rubber. The wearing ring is a hard rubber surface. I don't know if it will cause it to swell or not, but I don't see a reason to spary it.

Derek just made a post about doing the pump before winter. His point is that if you have water in the stator bearing housing, it may freeze, causing damage. If you suspect you may have a faulty seal in your pump housing, then it may be a good idea to check it before freezing temps.

It's not much to do, just remove the outer 4 bolts and linkages and pop the nozzle off the hull. Then, you'll see the cone of the pump. There is a allen head screw on the top. Remove that screw to see if you have oil in it. Dip something in it to be sure. You are suppose to change that oil once a season with 75-90 wt. polyolester oil. It's a synthetic oil.:cheers:

 

[Grizz]

Seadoosnipe, thanks for all your advice so far it's been a huge help!! I may actually try to winterize myself this year as the local dealer wants 400.00 to do mine. :cheers:

I was wondering if you would be willing to help me out with another favor? In my quest to know more about my machine, I've been searching the internet for any information on Rotax engines however this seems to be an impossible task. While on "Snipes Korner", you had mentioned you found a few sites about the Rotax engines...would you mind either sending me the links or letting me know what key words you used in your search. Simply searching "Rotax Engines" does not seem to yield and helpful information.

 

[sporsterjoel]

seaching just rotax engines wont help because rotax is a company the merged with brp in the 70's i think and they make ALOT of diffrent kinds of engines. try seaching the model that your engine is. And where in canada are you in? seadoo boats are made in canada so i find it hard to bilieve you cant get parts. im in canada and have 30 dealer's within a 20min-3hr drive away

 

[Grizz]

seaching just rotax engines wont help because rotax is a company the merged with brp in the 70's i think and they make ALOT of diffrent kinds of engines. try seaching the model that your engine is. And where in canada are you in? seadoo boats are made in canada so i find it hard to bilieve you cant get parts. im in canada and have 30 dealer's within a 20min-3hr drive away

I never thought about searching the 717 Rotax, I'll try that.

As for it being hard to find a dealer where I live, the reason why you have an unlimited amount to choose from is due to the fact you do not live on the prairies!!! Ontario has significantly more lakes making it far more profitable for someone to get into the business.

Where I live, there are three dealers. One is in Nanton, which is a 50 min drive to another town south of Calgary however they are dropping Seadoo at the end of this year. One is in Calgary but has just started dealing with Seadoo as Blackfoot dropped them last year. The last dealer is 2 hours north in Red Deer.

 

[sporsterjoel]

ya your right about ontario having a bigger boat market, if you need parts ill check out ebay or the parts link at the top and have them shipped to you. http://www.rotax.com/en/