First Seadoo - always loved this model

[Seadoobuddy]

quote from you - "Tonight went pretty smooth I guess. I was able to source some 1/8" clear fuel hose locally, strangely enough, and got the oil lines swapped out. I also swapped in both factory replacement fuel and oil filters,"

Sorry, it was later at night (10:51 pm my time.....LOL)when i typed that. Clear oil lines are fine. Are the fuel lines black or gray....should be black never gray ones anymore.

How are you aligning the shaft from the motor to the jetpump? do you have an alignment tool or just eyeing it???

 

[s14unimog]

quote from you - "Tonight went pretty smooth I guess. I was able to source some 1/8" clear fuel hose locally, strangely enough, and got the oil lines swapped out. I also swapped in both factory replacement fuel and oil filters." Sorry, it was later at night (10:51 pm my time.....LOL)when i typed that. Clear oil lines are fine. Are the fuel lines black or gray....should be black never gray ones anymore. How are you aligning the shaft from the motor to the jetpump? do you have an alignment tool or just eyeing it???

No worries, I just wanted to make sure I was understanding you right. Thanks for the heads up at any case. I still have the OE gray ones; are they no longer allowed? I aligned the engine with a short straight edge across the love joy joint. I ended up installing the 1.3mm shim under the front mount.

Found someone locally that can do my seat cover. Looks like I'll be dropping that off later today. I'm counting on USPS to get my parts here today. Surely I can have the motor back together tonight. One thing though, I did check some of the electrical last night. I didn't try to start it but I hear no beep when I plug in my lanyard; however, my trim and gauges seem to work well. Hopefully its just the beeper. I'll pull the handle bar cover off tonight and check into it.

 

[El Toro 33809]

Looks real sharp! The seat should look awesome too. I recovered ours on the 2004 GTI of ours and it looks good. The Black Tip ones are great.

In regards to the fuel line, the original grey lines deteriorate with the ethanol in the fuel these days. It can clog the carbs and in turn damage the engine. Replace them before you run your machine.

 

[Magg0078]

How did you remove the graphics on the craft?

 

[REGENER8]

How did you remove the graphics on the craft?

Great thread, Thanks for updating us. Also how did you buff and get it looking brand new ? What do you use to do that ?

 

[s14unimog]

Looks real sharp! The seat should look awesome too. I recovered ours on the 2004 GTI of ours and it looks good. The Black Tip ones are great. In regards to the fuel line, the original grey lines deteriorate with the ethanol in the fuel these days. It can clog the carbs and in turn damage the engine. Replace them before you run your machine.

Thanks man! Ya, I ordered some stainless staples off McMaster last night and I think a buddy of mine has a decent pneumatic stapler I can use. If not, I know a shop down the road that said they would do it for $30. Thanks for the heads up. I'll be sure to get those lines all swapped out before she see's fuel.

How did you remove the graphics on the craft?

For the larger ones, since they were so deteriorated and wouldn't stay together, I used a pressure washer. It makes a mess in the driveway with all the pieces to clean up but worked well. The hull ID numbers and "Bombardier" stickers on the hood came off pretty well with a heat gun and some patients. For the sticker residue, I used this stuff. Worked like a champ and doesn't damage the gel-coat. Be careful though, it WILL damage plastic. I got ahead of myself and used it to remove the residue left on the top compartment cover and ended up melting run marks in it. I fixed that by blocking it out with 400 grit and progressively moving up to 2500. Now that I've got it all smoothed out, I'm going to polish it tonight.

Great thread, Thanks for updating us. Also how did you buff and get it looking brand new ? What do you use to do that ?

Thanks man, no problem. I figure people are bound to want to see an XP come together, not to mention, detailing what you're doing really gets the discussions going. That's what forums are about; right?

As for the buffing, I used Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound for the first rough cut and then followed with a Mequire's Cleaner Wax. It's A LOT easier to polish gel-coat than a automotive paint; so much more forgiving because its so hard. I figure I've got about 6 hours in that. For the larger area's I used a power buffer with a foam pad and rubbing compound then again with a terry mat and the cleaner wax. The small areas have to be done by hand of course.

In regards to progress, I'm on to the last details now I suppose. With the new band clamp in hand (thanks Minnetonka4me) I finished installing the exhaust system and, the now clean, oil reservoir. I suppose, I'll knock out replacing all of those fuel lines tonight and hopefully get that seat cover knocked out and back on the ski. That's going to make it pop! Since I live about an hour from the closest lake, and there are no sea-doo dealerships in town, I ordered some XP-S oil online this morning. So that should be here before the weekend.

 

[RutlandRacing]

Well, with the v-band clamp preventing me from working on the engine, I've switched my attention back to the body/modifications. I recently got in both the Black Tip mats and the Mline seat cover I mentioned. After another couple of hours buffing, and finally finishing with a wax, here is how she looks.

I punched out most of the rivets from the original mats and went around with some gray RTV sealant to cover the holes. I don't suppose I have to do this, as the new mats will cover the holes and the original rivets surely were not water tight, but I figure it can only help.

Finally I pushed the mats down.

I'm planning to find someone around town who's more qualified to install the seat cover next; it looks too nice for me to mess up. I also hooked up with Minnetonka4me on here about some parts and we settled on what I feel is a great deal for another front bumper (looks like a dog chewed on mine), some small gauge surrounds (since mine are cracking apart), and of course that damn v-band clamp. That stuff should be here on Monday; fingers crossed that it starts up.

how much were the mats? i was looking at hyrdo turf for my SPIs but dang that looks good :O

 

[s14unimog]

how much were the mats? i was looking at hyrdo turf for my SPIs but dang that looks good :O

$89.94 shipped. The guys name on Ebay is wwwatercraft and I've actually spoken with him on the phone. He's a really nice guy and didn't mind any of the questions; even gave me some advice for some of the stuff I was doing.

 

[s14unimog]

Well last night was a good night for sorting some details. I finally solved the missing beeper issue. After taking the handle bar cover off, I found that another damn dirt-dobber had made its nest up in the speaker hole. He effectively covered every single opening and the larva was just a snoozing up in the speaker. After a good cleaning and a couple smacks from the back of my screw driver, it's back beeping! So, outside starting it, I think I'm all systems are go.

 

[RutlandRacing]

Make a video of you starting it for the first time, always a great momment

 

[s14unimog]

Most definitely...

On a side note, I finally found a decent upholstery shop in town (right around the corner conveniently) so the seat cover is in qualified hands. He said he might have it by the weekend; here's hoping.

 

[REGENER8]

So will you put any graphics or you going to keep it shiny "Yellow"

 

[s14unimog]

So will you put any graphics or you going to keep it shiny "Yellow"

I'm not sure yet. Priority is getting it to the lake by the weekend and all mechanical work. I will get some HID numbers before we go but won't worry about the aesthetic graphics for a minute. I also want to give it a full look with the seat on. It may provide enough flash to go without it. I'll post pictures tonight.

On a side note, I have a few questions about my first start attempts. Now I plan to prime the oil pump once I top off the reservoir with the XP-S that's coming in the mail today but its my understanding that I cannot use the XP-S to do pre-mix... Do I need a pre-mix specific oil to run for this first break-in tank?

Also, I noticed in the manual it says to hold the oil pump wide open to get oil flowing down the lines. Can I prime those small oil lines with the starter and the same practice? Is it okay to just attempt starting it with a good pre-mix in the tank? should I put anything in the cylinders for this first start attempt? I worry I could be working at it for a minute and damage something from no oil while starting it... Any experience here would be helpful.



Btw... teaser pic!

 

[s14unimog]

Okay, so I spoke with a Seadoo mechanic about the whole oil situation. He said that the XP-S can be used in the injector and/or in pre-mix and recommended so for the first tank. He also said that the oil will not pump through the lines just by the starter. He said it takes it running to do so but obviously insisted I hold the pump wide open during those first few minutes to get it flowing. He also mentioned that you never run water before its running. I was not aware of this. He said that you can hydrolock the motor running the water first.

 

[s14unimog]

Oh man, what a day. Done and done!!! Get one of these!!!

 

[rob91bob]

Wow that looks great, I want one now! The only graphics I would add would be a few black SEA DOO logos. Maybe some Haul ID #s

 

[dothadoo]

Good job. I enjoyed reading the progress you made. I love the seat cover too. I always liked that model XP as well. Can't wait to see it with new graphics and numbers. I would be interested to know what the GPS top speed is after the bore. That should be tons of fun for you. Do you ride on Lake Lanier?

 

[Ronsse610]

This Project is legit for someone who isn't a mechanic, real nice job!

 

[s14unimog]

The hull ID numbers were a fiasco. I had contracted a sign shop to cut me some in a custom font but they drug their feet and missed my weekend deadline; lol. Then I thought I could hit up a place on the way to the lake. Well, we couldn't find a single place, that wasn't way out of the way, so I said screw it. If DNR stops me, I'll explain the situation, plea for some leniency and show him my registration. Fortunately we didn't see the "man" all day. The ski ran great other than having to bleed those oil injection lines again. The front cylinder kept getting air in the lines. By about the third try, it seemed to stay full and even though I'm on a first tank of premix, I want to get that figured out before I'm done. Other than that, it ran like a champ. The night before I swapped out all of the fuel lines (even that damn cross over on the carbs) with new fuel hose; I even used single ear stainless pinch clamps like the factory. I'm trying to see how I feel about the no graphics. On one hand I think it looks a little bare but on the other I kinda like it. For now, it stays clean.

Ill be riding on a few of the lakes around here, but yeah, yesterday was at Lanier. That picture was taken under BrownsBridge. About 5mins before that I came down the front side of a huge wave and submarined her pretty good; lost my glasses and had to find my hat. Great times!

Once I get the motor broken in, I'll grab up my GPS and see what she's good for. I'm probably 3-4hrs in on the break-in. Oh btw, not having neutral or reverse sure makes docking interesting...

 

[RutlandRacing]

Omggg nice dude. I picked up the products you mentioned you used. Going to do some buffing on my SPIs bring that shine back :cheers:

 

[s14unimog]

Omggg nice dude. I picked up the products you mentioned you used. Going to do some buffing on my SPIs bring that shine back :cheers:

Do it man! Bring it back!

Another 3 hours and the first tank is done...

 

[rwdawg2]

Man. Awesome build thread. Hopefully I'll have mine back up and running this weekend. You can post some more pictures of me, you, and your buddy killing Lake Lanier.

 

[s14unimog]

Man. Awesome build thread. Hopefully I'll have mine back up and running this weekend. You can post some more pictures of me, you, and your buddy killing Lake Lanier.

No doubt man, get that puppy back ready to run by the weekend. We'll hit it! I'll bring the Go-Pro...

 

[Escape]

I like what you have done to the ski, excellent build man!

He also mentioned that you never run water before its running. I was not aware of this. He said that you can hydrolock the motor running the water first.

What is the likely hood of hydro-locking it on a 97 XP? Like if you lent the ski to your kid and he told you this after the fact?

 

[s14unimog]

I like what you have done to the ski, excellent build man! What is the likely hood of hydro-locking it on a 97 XP? Like if you lent the ski to your kid and he told you this after the fact?

Thanks! That's a good question and I don't have enough experience to answer it fully. I would just try to stay away from doing it. Ya know though, they say you're not even supposed to tow them without pinching off one of the water lines in the rear compartment to avoid the same situation. Hope he didn't do that to ya.