Got a New baby. 1997 SPX

[Waterluvr]

I'm a buyer on these. I want some for my keeper skis so please let me know if you ever get that done.

Oh and sorry guys but my ole Range Rover is way cooler than a Jeep.

WOW! The Rover is pretty cool but what model ski is that? ~That's a nice looking machine

 

[Bonmotwang]

Man, this baby is FAST. Seriously, it almost shot out herself and left me in the air and free drop like the cat in Tom and Jerry!

Hey, a riddle here. Why I haven't posted any pictures when I was in the water? :lol:

 

[Waterluvr]

You haven't posted any pictures because your phone is at the bottom of the lake right about the same spot where you screamed like a little girl when you dumped the throttle for the first time?

~Told ya it was fast

 

[Matt Braley]

That is my 02 XPL with a carbon fiber seat

 

[AdamXP800]

Did you change the lines and clean carbs or just get out and rip it?

 

[Bonmotwang]

You haven't posted any pictures because your phone is at the bottom of the lake right about the same spot where you screamed like a little girl when you dumped the throttle for the first time?

~Told ya it was fast

You got it! It is not sitting at the bottom of the lake but sitting in front of my heat gun now :-D

The thing flipped when my son was trying to get on the front seat when I came back from the short water test. He did well and got back to the dock. And I got on the ski from the back.
The iPhone5 was in my pocket. Now a perfect reason to get a 6 or 6+.

This thing is something else!

 

[Bonmotwang]

Did you change the lines and clean carbs or just get out and rip it?

No, I didn't do anything. the engine sounded great and I put 40:1 premix to take oil lines out of equation for now.
Yes, I will do the carb and grey fuel line in winter for sure.

The only concern I have right now is the jet pump because I just burned up one a few weeks ago on my boat. Not sure about the pump oil and bearing.
I did hear some noise underneath the seat, seems like from the drive shaft. Scary right? But if there anyway to check if the pump is good without open it?

But man again, sorry I am repeating myself, when this thing is on the plan, I really feel it is floating in the air. Human nature tells me to slow down before something happens!

 

[Waterluvr]

I put two pumps of grease in the pto before I ran it the first time, try putting one more in there and see of the boot moves and tensions the shaft a little it didn't budge when I did it and I wasn't in a hurry to overfill it and blow the boot.

I figured something happened to the phone when you didn't text back earlier, so what's the verdict is that itch finally getting scratched? I'll bet the smile was extra large when you opened it up for the first time. :thumbsup:

 

[Bonmotwang]

One more thing to report: the ski started up with choke pulled at the very first time. Then I went out for about 3 minutes. Came back to pick up my son, then we flipped. Ski didn't totally flip, handle didn't even touch the water. But after I climbed up the ski, it won't start, I basically "cranked" back to the dock for that 15 feet distance :-D
I was going to call water lover for help, then I realized the phone was in my pocket :-D. Well I am on my own. I opened the seat everything looked fine. Not too much I could do other than kept cranking. Lucky it started. So we went out again, my son loved it. Then I came back to the dock to switch on my younger one. I switched about 4 times. All good. Every time switching, the engine stayed off at least 5 minutes for the ski to dock and switching between boys. All started right up.
Does the flip do anything funny?

 

[Waterluvr]

You'll find some nasty leftovers in the carb filters from those Tempo lines and the gasoline around here is heavy on ethanol and that makes the diaphragms stiff as a board after about five seasons. I was surprised it ran that well after sitting for all those years but it's nothing those kits I showed you won't fix and you already know how to do all that from the boat project.

How did the carbon seal and boot work everything pretty dry in there?

 

[Bonmotwang]

You'll find some nasty leftovers in the carb filters from those Tempo lines and the gasoline around here is heavy on ethanol and that makes the diaphragms stiff as a board after about five seasons. I was surprised it ran that well after sitting for all those years but it's nothing those kits I showed you won't fix and you already know how to do all that from the boat project.

How did the carbon seal and boot work everything pretty dry in there?

Yes. The seal is very smooth and water in that area is not more than 1/4".

 

[Bonmotwang]

Is the VTS automatic or my son bumped it :-D
I set it in the middle at beginning. During the trip don't know when it went to the top!!!

 

[Waterluvr]

Yes. The seal is very smooth and water in that area is not more than 1/4".

Sweet, cross the drive line rebuild kit off the maybe list. Man I am so glad you got that ski, what do your boys think of it now they have gone for a ride?

 

[Bonmotwang]

You'll find some nasty leftovers in the carb filters from those Tempo lines and the gasoline around here is heavy on ethanol and that makes the diaphragms stiff as a board after about five seasons. I was surprised it ran that well after sitting for all those years but it's nothing those kits I showed you won't fix and you already know how to do all that from

Ok. This is the list:
787 carb rebuild kit
787 rave seal gasket qty of 4
Black fuel lines
Little oil lines

Anything else?

 

[Bonmotwang]

Sweet, cross the drive line rebuild kit off the maybe list. Man I am so glad you got that ski, what do your boys think of it now they have gone for a ride?

They said: Dad we like the ski better than the boat.
I said: hey guys, this not so good for the family.
They said: what's wrong, the family is here, we are all happy.

Anyway I will bring boat out tomorrow.

 

[Bonmotwang]

Hey water lover, can you do me a favour to take a picture about the winch roller?
I could figure out the best way how the hull contacts the roller. There is not too much room there for the hook and the roller.

 

[Waterluvr]

Yes. The seal is very smooth and water in that area is not more than 1/4".

Is the VTS automatic or my son bumped it :-D
I set it in the middle at beginning. During the trip don't know when it went to the top!!!

Ok. This is the list:
787 carb rebuild kit
787 rave seal gasket qty of 4
Black fuel lines
Little oil lines

Anything else?

VTS is not automatic, only goes where the button is pushed. I leave mine just down from the center and don't fool with it ever.

Open the black plastic cover on your VTS and see if everything is nice and dry in there since you got it out on the water, the shaft boot and clamps are pretty old and that may need some help you can add that to the list if it leaked since the drive line seal kit isn't needed.

Be sure and order the 1.5mm needle and seats with the kits, get a couple extra neoprene seals they have a great price on them for when you need to pull the pump for any reason. Also, get a couple of the o-ring seals for that fuel filter those are prone to swelling up when you remove the bowl and screen to clean it.

Pull the pump cone and have a look before you place the order just in case. They ship free to you and the prices are way less than what you have to pay up there.

Oh, might as well get an inline oil filter and change that to it's the little things you can add on a larger order that save a lot of $$ not buying individually and paying shipping.

 

[Waterluvr]

Hey water lover, can you do me a favour to take a picture about the winch roller?
I could figure out the best way how the hull contacts the roller. There is not too much room there for the hook and the roller.

We have the same hull, I use the low profile front arm that gets the roller under the eye with the ratcheting retrieve handle instead of the more traditional crank. That's what you were wanting to see?

 

[Bonmotwang]

VTS is not automatic, only goes where the button is pushed. I leave mine just down from the center and don't fool with it ever.

Open the black plastic cover on your VTS and see if everything is nice and dry in there since you got it out on the water, the shaft boot and clamps are pretty old and that may need some help you can add that to the list if it leaked since the drive line seal kit isn't needed.

Be sure and order the 1.5mm needle and seats with the kits, get a couple extra neoprene seals they have a great price on them for when you need to pull the pump for any reason. Also, get a couple of the o-ring seals for that fuel filter those are prone to swelling up when you remove the bowl and screen to clean it.

Pull the pump cone and have a look before you place the order just in case. They ship free to you and the prices are way less than what you have to pay up there.

Oh, might as well get an inline oil filter and change that to it's the little things you can add on a larger order that save a lot of $$ not buying individually and paying shipping.

Thanks Bob. I will redo the list. I guess I should give the ski a break, and do the homework now. I looked in to the pump, it looked brand new. I don't want to wreck another one

 

[Bonmotwang]

We have the same hull, I use the low profile front arm that gets the roller under the eye with the ratcheting retrieve handle instead of the more traditional crank. That's what you were wanting to see?
View attachment 27941

Yes. Thanks.
I see. The roller is under the eye. I need to think about a way to lower it, because it is only adjustable back and forth.

What is the best way for the back straps? The only thing back for hooks is the water ski hook.

 

[Waterluvr]

I have an eye for hooks just to the inside of my rear lights and I use two straps from each corner to that center tow hook works great.

 

[Bonmotwang]

I have an eye for hooks just to the inside of my rear lights and I use two straps from each corner to that center tow hook works great.

I have the similar thing on the trailer. I will do the same. Need to order two straps. Is it enough just With the back straps and the front winch hook?

 

[Waterluvr]

I have the similar thing on the trailer. I will do the same. Need to order two straps. Is it enough just With the back straps and the front winch hook?

Yes, I leave just a little slack at the bow and tighten the rear straps first then give the bow tensioner a final click or three to snug it all down it doesn't move at all when it goes down the road.

 

[Bonmotwang]

Yes, I leave just a little slack at the bow and tighten the rear straps first then give the bow tensioner a final click or three to snug it all down it doesn't move at all when it goes down the road.

So your back straps are pulling it back.
I need to move the ski forward a lot to have the "pull back" direction. I will take some picture tomorrow.

 

[bier9021]

I use the under the roller method. Besides the ski being slightly tilted, rear is this way.