RodInEscondido
Well-Known Member
Ok, you asked me to post ... you may be sorry.
old fart, looking at retirement projects (as if motorcycles, boats, trucks and airplanes are not enough), cruising Craigslist saw 98 GTS "project" for cheap, but claimed to be complete. Not having a PWC before, I figured I really needed another project. No title/registration, but not registered in CA made it a little easier to get new title although time-consuming. I did not want to invest $/time then find it was stolen and need to give it away. Engine does not turn over, spending a lot of time SLOWLY attempting to loosen bolts and squirting fluid all over things. It looks like "Magilla the mechanic" had an early hand at working on it. No trailer, but it fit nicely in the back of "The Beast" (88 F350 for towing around the 77 Searay Sundancer ... another story).
Back on CL I found "everything-but-the hull" from a 98 GS for cheap ... looked like the same 717 engine to me (learning slowly). Slowly trying to disassemble this one too ... will not turn over. I may just put the engine in a tub, fill it up with cleaning solvent and let it sit out in the sun for a few days to see what loosens up.
Back on CL I found a 89 SP with single trailer for really cheap; it looked pretty good and the engine turned over freely. There is some oil in the bilge to clean up and find the source of the leak. Again, I did not want to invest $/time if I could not get title. This one was registered in CA last in 95, but real hassles at DMV ... took over 6 months to get it straightened out so just got started looking at general cleanup, fuel/oil lines/filters, etc. My story: I needed the trailer, but had to take the ski with it.
By now my woman is starting to look at me strangely and even making some comments. Any hints on dealing with redheads is appreciated ... she just does not understand.
Back on CL (a pattern is starting to emerge) I found a really dirt-cheap 580 Rotax that really needed a home next to the 717 in my garage.
Back on CL I found a 91 SP complete for free. Not CA so should be able to get title rather easily (whatever that means in CA). Engine does not turn over.
Back on CL I found a 90 SP with roll-around cart and beach launch rig for really cheap, just had to have it; figured i should be able to get 2 of the 89/90/91 runing. PO said the engine was rebuilt in 03 and had 15-20 hours on it when he saw water seeping out of the engine around the spark plugs. My guess is that it may have just been the o-rings, but he got another head and all the gaskets and broke off 2 of the head mount bolts. Was last registered in CA/95 so need to fight title stuff again before doing significant work. this one looks like the easiest to get going, engine turns over smoothly.
Redhead is starting to cross her arms and tap her toes as she gives me the evil eye while I stand innocently in the middle of the 4 SeaDoos with a cold drink deciding where to start. Maybe I should stay off CraigsList for a little while. Women just do not understand.
I have been perusing the site for a little while and find a lot of good information and helpful, knowledgeable people.
I have been around boats, motorcycles, airplanes, and other wierd mechanical devices so am no stranger to greasy hands. I grew up on an island in Alaska in the logging camps, fishing communities and machine shops. I cannot figure out why I have not been into PWC before now.
I think my initial interest in SeaDoo is because of the use of the Rotax power plant and the fact that the Rotax is very commonly in use in homebuilt airplanes. There are things that can be cross-bread both ways.
I have some specific questions that i will attempt to get posted in the proper places.
thanks for putting up with me
Rod In Escondido, CA
old fart, looking at retirement projects (as if motorcycles, boats, trucks and airplanes are not enough), cruising Craigslist saw 98 GTS "project" for cheap, but claimed to be complete. Not having a PWC before, I figured I really needed another project. No title/registration, but not registered in CA made it a little easier to get new title although time-consuming. I did not want to invest $/time then find it was stolen and need to give it away. Engine does not turn over, spending a lot of time SLOWLY attempting to loosen bolts and squirting fluid all over things. It looks like "Magilla the mechanic" had an early hand at working on it. No trailer, but it fit nicely in the back of "The Beast" (88 F350 for towing around the 77 Searay Sundancer ... another story).
Back on CL I found "everything-but-the hull" from a 98 GS for cheap ... looked like the same 717 engine to me (learning slowly). Slowly trying to disassemble this one too ... will not turn over. I may just put the engine in a tub, fill it up with cleaning solvent and let it sit out in the sun for a few days to see what loosens up.
Back on CL I found a 89 SP with single trailer for really cheap; it looked pretty good and the engine turned over freely. There is some oil in the bilge to clean up and find the source of the leak. Again, I did not want to invest $/time if I could not get title. This one was registered in CA last in 95, but real hassles at DMV ... took over 6 months to get it straightened out so just got started looking at general cleanup, fuel/oil lines/filters, etc. My story: I needed the trailer, but had to take the ski with it.
By now my woman is starting to look at me strangely and even making some comments. Any hints on dealing with redheads is appreciated ... she just does not understand.
Back on CL (a pattern is starting to emerge) I found a really dirt-cheap 580 Rotax that really needed a home next to the 717 in my garage.
Back on CL I found a 91 SP complete for free. Not CA so should be able to get title rather easily (whatever that means in CA). Engine does not turn over.
Back on CL I found a 90 SP with roll-around cart and beach launch rig for really cheap, just had to have it; figured i should be able to get 2 of the 89/90/91 runing. PO said the engine was rebuilt in 03 and had 15-20 hours on it when he saw water seeping out of the engine around the spark plugs. My guess is that it may have just been the o-rings, but he got another head and all the gaskets and broke off 2 of the head mount bolts. Was last registered in CA/95 so need to fight title stuff again before doing significant work. this one looks like the easiest to get going, engine turns over smoothly.
Redhead is starting to cross her arms and tap her toes as she gives me the evil eye while I stand innocently in the middle of the 4 SeaDoos with a cold drink deciding where to start. Maybe I should stay off CraigsList for a little while. Women just do not understand.
I have been perusing the site for a little while and find a lot of good information and helpful, knowledgeable people.
I have been around boats, motorcycles, airplanes, and other wierd mechanical devices so am no stranger to greasy hands. I grew up on an island in Alaska in the logging camps, fishing communities and machine shops. I cannot figure out why I have not been into PWC before now.
I think my initial interest in SeaDoo is because of the use of the Rotax power plant and the fact that the Rotax is very commonly in use in homebuilt airplanes. There are things that can be cross-bread both ways.
I have some specific questions that i will attempt to get posted in the proper places.
thanks for putting up with me
Rod In Escondido, CA
