How should I ride my 96 XP if i want it to last a long time?

[dequity]

I've owned a few of these skiis and I LOVE THEM! My last one was way too modded out. Had to change the domes just to run reg fuel. I have one that is 100% stock. Just got it. The thing seems to run great. I want to keep it this way.

When cruising do i want to run 3/4 throttle? It feels like it's always wanting to go wide open. But i know better than to keep these things pinned.

A few other questions:

My tachometer does not work. All the other lights come on but no tach. Any ideas on what this could be?

Oil? I run the high grade stuff in the grey bottle. Do I honestly need to buy seadoo oil? Does it make a big difference?

Trim: My trim works, but the guage is not centered. IE: When trimmed all the way up it shows middle guage, when trimmed all the way down it is pointing straight down. Can I calibrate this?

Fuel: I run 93 octain. Is that all or should I run lower?

Spark lugs- What gives me the longest motor life? This ski has plenty of performance how it is.

Just looking for some words of wisdom. I've owned a BUNCh of skiis. But I like my 96 xp better than any of them. And second place is pretty far off. This includes a supercharged 250. I just like the 96 xp and want it to last.

 

[dequity]

Theres a man walking round taking names.:hat:

 

[JESSECONSOPOLUS]

i must say, i lake tested a 96 xp yesterday. i was very impressed with it. it reminded me of my stand up, only with a seat. they are so light and nimble, was a very fun ride. ngk br8es on the plugs, only sea doo oil or quicksilver equiv. (i recommend the sea doo oil), you dont need to run 91 octane unless you have lots of compression built up, 87 will be ok. the trim gauge sounds like it is missing a pin that holds the position. maybe someone can give you some input on that and the tach. if maintained properly, ride it like you stole it!

 

[dequity]

Thanks. I miss my sxi 750 (s). I've owned a few stand ups and they are very fun. But I can't tow them behind my boat. I usually head out on my 37' boat with my 22' in tow and a ski. I look like a small circus heading out of the marina for the weekend.:hurray:

The XP is the most fun pwc out there. Specifically the 96 model.

 

[daverade]

yup... sea doo oil... use all manufacture recomended products with the ski... i wanted to run some high grade oils, that my mechanic uses in my bikes (mx) sea doo dealer said ''NO" and it was even more expensive so... the other big key i have found is maintenance....maintenance.......maintenance... keep up on it, it's what kills boats. Wide open is always good.... it's trying to tell you something...."go faster"

 

[dequity]

yup... sea doo oil... use all manufacture recomended products with the ski... i wanted to run some high grade oils, that my mechanic uses in my bikes (mx) sea doo dealer said ''NO" and it was even more expensive so... the other big key i have found is maintenance....maintenance.......maintenance... keep up on it, it's what kills boats. Wide open is always good.... it's trying to tell you something...."go faster"

What type of maintenance is there on a 96 xp? I lubed the cables and cleaned the carbs and changed the spark plugs.

 

[daverade]

keep up on all that but also wanna clean your r.a.v.e. valves a few times a season, and as i have found out, change your pump oil about twice a year! other than than reg. maint. making sure things are tight and in good shape....and your battery is charged up. you may wanna give her a good polish and a nice wax... i live in AZ and am gonna polish this weekend, and i gotta do wax a few times a year my boats get oxidation out here easily!!! what method did you use for the cable lubing??? i need to do mine too but have not been able to do them affectively!

 

[dequity]

keep up on all that but also wanna clean your r.a.v.e. valves a few times a season, and as i have found out, change your pump oil about twice a year! other than than reg. maint. making sure things are tight and in good shape....and your battery is charged up. you may wanna give her a good polish and a nice wax... i live in AZ and am gonna polish this weekend, and i gotta do wax a few times a year my boats get oxidation out here easily!!! what method did you use for the cable lubing??? i need to do mine too but have not been able to do them affectively!

I use penetrating oil. Use the attached nozzle and keep fluid entering the cable by working the cable. I usually use about half a can for my steering cable. Then I coat the exposed metal with marine grade grease.


How does one clean the rave valves? And I'm not sure what you mean by pump oil.

 

[daverade]

so just use the lil straw basically and spray away? i wasn't sure either i made an as* of myself but oh well...live and learn, read my post "jet pump help" i believe seadoosnipe broke it down really simple.... raves... the two black domes with red caps remove them easily there is a spring in there that will almost gauranteed fly straight under the motor some how, then undo the 2 bolts with an allen wrench easily slide them out, you should be able to spare the gaskets i saved all 4 of mine.... spray them down with brakleen or carb and choke cleaner hit em with a wire wheel, then i dip my finger in the 2 stroke oil and give them a light light coat of oil (for the start up) re-install top side up and move to the next one... do them one at a time so if something is not working right for you you'll have the other one to look at, i dove into this last week it is very messy but very simple and can keep your ride running good!

 

[JESSECONSOPOLUS]

pull 2 allen bolts per side and slide em out. clean the carbon off of them, etc. the forums here have great instructions, i think snipe posted em up. you can do a search for rave valves. the jet pump has oil in it. not exactly a sealed unit. sometimes water gets in there and mixes with the oil. good idea to inspect the wear ring while you are in there. also replace the o rings on the bailer, and any others that need it. will save you in the long run. really an easy process, not sure bout twice a yr, kinda overkill. we usually inspect the pump at annual maint. :cheers:



lol dave beat me to it......

 

[dequity]

pull 2 allen bolts per side and slide em out. clean the carbon off of them, etc. the forums here have great instructions, i think snipe posted em up. you can do a search for rave valves. the jet pump has oil in it. not exactly a sealed unit. sometimes water gets in there and mixes with the oil. good idea to inspect the wear ring while you are in there. also replace the o rings on the bailer, and any others that need it. will save you in the long run. really an easy process, not sure bout twice a yr, kinda overkill. we usually inspect the pump at annual maint. :cheers:



lol dave beat me to it......

How does one get to the and check said jet pump oil? Guess I need to use the search button. And what are the O-rings on the bailer?

BTW: Advice- When out on boats if a group on a houseboat offers you some home made black berry wine. Try it, but don't drink a gallon of the stuff. My freaking head is killing me today. TThank god i had the option of simply wqalking back to my boat and going to sleep there without having to drive home.

 

[daverade]

i had one called "ravin with rave valves" dunno if it will or wont help!! but check it out there are about 5 million posts on em... annually is what i thought, the sea doo tech said twice was better. i dont ride every day though, so once will do for most of us!!! can you get these o-rings at the hardware store or do you have to order them?

 

[JESSECONSOPOLUS]

Thanks. I miss my sxi 750 (s). I've owned a few stand ups and they are very fun. But I can't tow them behind my boat. I usually head out on my 37' boat with my 22' in tow and a ski. I look like a small circus heading out of the marina for the weekend.:hurray:

The XP is the most fun pwc out there. Specifically the 96 model.

lol.... we huck the stand up on the swim platform and call it our scarab!!! hahahah. fun when ur on a beach or pulling up to a marina. ppl look at you kinda crazy. one time we actually put it in the back seat of my buddies boat. good times good times.....


4 or 5 bolts, pull all the hoses and mark em where they go. get a piece of cardboard and slide it under it all so the drainage will go where you want. pretty easy job. the bailers are the stems or straws coming out of the unit. the black ring around the impellar is the wear ring. that is what you need to inspect for any surface damage. that will cause the boat to cavitate at takeoff. here is a pic.

 

[bigsal39]

in my opinion put it through its passes. i keep my 94 xp clean and running good, but i dont baby it, that is one of the best things you can do is not baby an engine. no one might agree with me but taken from experience( i know im only 17, but have been riding, and fixing since 12) the best thing i found for any sea doo is open it up and let it run. my friend had a 96 xp he trailered it and ran it very conservative. i keep my 94 xp in the docks, and when i take it out i open it up. his is having tons of problems from not being run enough, mine is just incredible. so just get out there and run it hard(unless its overheating). i dont baby mine(i keep it looking and running nice) but i make sure my engine gets the work it needs to run good. i know some people will disagree with me here. but the short and sweet point is engines are made to run.

 

[dequity]

lol.... we huck the stand up on the swim platform and call it our scarab!!! hahahah. fun when ur on a beach or pulling up to a marina. ppl look at you kinda crazy. one time we actually put it in the back seat of my buddies boat. good times good times.....
]

I've been hucking my sxi750 and my yamaha up on the swim platform for years. (Like 7) And i'm just tired of screwing with it. I even put a roller on the end of my swim platform. No matter what, it's a real PITA. I've used come alongs, elec winches, and i even tried to design an arm with a cradle...

This is why I bought this XP. The thing is FUN and I can tow it and throw it on a floating dock when i get back to the marina. Guess I'm getting old. But it sure beats the alternative.

 

[daverade]

agree with the kid a little... maybe not all the time but, it is good to run them wot sometimes, helps blow all the ish out and keeps em from gumming up!

 

[daverade]

dequity... have you been paying somebody to do this service for you?

 

[bigsal39]

i even service mine myself, but was taught by guy that does it at the local brp shop.

 

[daverade]

cool...i was told to put a lil silicone around the cone before reinstall, do i wanna put it on the o ring, or on the very end of the open side of the cone?

 

[dequity]

dequity... have you been paying somebody to do this service for you?

I just bought this ski last week.

 

[daverade]

ooohhh i see!