Whats your favorite 2 stroke motor and why?

[seadoosnipe]

I've often wondered what people thought about their Rotax motor. Is it the design of the motor or is it the performance.

I'm wondering if I put a poll in this thread, would there be a majority of hits for the 787cc or the 951cc? I know many own the 717 and there are still a few with the 657. Not so many still run the 587 but there are a few.

My favorite motor is not a secret. I love the 787 motor. I think it was the best designed of the 2 stroke engines. From the power valves to the fixed timing, it's got to be the most widely used motor in the 2 stroke PWC's.

The 951 is a nice motor but it's a little different. It has the reed valves and the messed up exhaust system that requires you to tear off your carbs, just to get at one bolt.

Tell me what you think, which is your fav motor and why?:cheers:

 

[mudpie]

i vote 787
and for that nut on 951, buy the wrench from seadoo
makes life a piece o cake
mud

 

[seadoosnipe]

i vote 787
and for that nut on 951, buy the wrench from seadoo
makes life a piece o cake
mud

You can actually buy that exhaust wrench from SBT. Last time I was there, it cost $16.95 bucks. I had to recommend it to a guy who was having a problem getting to it. But, the long way around, dropping the carbs, will work. Just a PITA to get to.:cheers:

 

[b15philly]

I like the 787 as well, I see 787 beat 951's all day, not to say they 951 is a bad motor but it does have its issues as does every motor. I just favor the 787 epically for its ease to work on:cheers:

 

[calieigh]

Hi,
I have 787, I just love this motor.

 

[seadoo GTS 1993]

if i were to buy a newer jetski then mine, i would go with the 787, as snipe said, i believe it is a great motor! I still role with the 587! Not a speed demon, but rock solid reliable! My ole' gts had to of have 500 hours on it! Ran like a champ! Ya, it was hard to start, but that was my fault for lacking on maintance.. i really like my spi with the 587 in it, great hole shot, and very reliable

 

[voodoo]

I have a great running 657 that goes from CLE east to the falls in about 2 1/2 hrs, faster real early on smoothest water, but if I fall asleep I bump my head when I fall in the water so the boat is my answer and it comes with 787 needing rework so too early to tell but I hope it will hit 50-55 without adding hydrogen enrichment.

 

[seadoosnipe]

787's popularity!....

720 by far

I hate 787 motors, how can anyone like them?

720's are lighter, just as fast with less mods if you going to argue with me about this email Group-K

720's dont chomp on your hands when your tooling on them :boxing_smiley:

720's motor are billet proof, 787's had to be taken apart after 60 hrs to add or change the oil in the counter balancer, how stupid is that :boxing_smiley:

Did I tell you guys I hate 787's? :rant:

Well, you'll have to be one of the outcasts that does not like the 787cc motor. It seems, the the poll shows that over 70% of the members like this motor.

For me, your "Rant" has struck a nerve. Why? It's my fav motor.

I'm going to use the word "ignorance" though many people mis-interpret this as dumb or stupid. Look the word up, it only means "un-informed".

You said the 787cc has about the same power as the 717, NOT... The 717 is rated at 85 ponies and the 787, a blistering 110 hp.

I have removed these engines, rebuilt them, maintained them and never, and I'll say it again, never skin my knuckles up working on this motor. I actually have the one from my 1997 Challenger sitting on my workbench, being rebuilt as we speak.

As for the balance shaft, this is where you are really showing ignorance. The balance shaft is practically self maintained. THe engine I'm working on now, had no plug in it for servicing. When the 787 first came out, they were not added. Now, they have a plug for you to maintain it.

What the biggest problem is, you are only suppose to have one ounce of oil lin it for lubricating the cog gears. There is a small hole that taps oil from the PTO cylinder to maintain that oil. Therefore, it should never really need to be filled again, until iti's needing rebuilt.

I got one 787 (1997 XP) sitting in my shop now. It hasn't run since 2005. It was just sittin out in the barn yard. I got it rolling over, primed the cylinder with fuel and it fired right up. I can't say that for the 717. I've spent more time trying to get spark to that motor and the timing on it is junk.

The 787 timing is fixed, the 717 has to be timed.........which is another pain to work with. AS for weight? Sorry, they both way the same with the exception of the few extra pounds for the balance shaft.

Oh, did I say I loved my 787cc engines!!!!!!!

Just for the record, your opinions are always welcome here but to come in and bash something, I don't take to kindly too. Say what you will and tell all of us how much you like the 717. But, please refrain from using a bad attitude to express your dislike of one of the other Rotax engines.

Also, please keep from comparing our site and its users advice with some other site. Do not attempt to solicit that our members go to your site to purchase your parts.

You mention you have 1000 parts in your inventory. Then list them in buy/sale and trade. Not in your avatar...........:cheers:

 

[96seadooxpBC]

hahaha good answer snipe, i see what voodoo is saying, i love the 717!!! but thats where ill stop, id much prefer a 787 as your entirely right, 85 ponies, sounds pretty small to that 110! i must say for 85 horse power it sure does haul though, so i guess im happy

atleast make me feel half alright about having an xp 720 and not a xp 800


:cheers:

 

[96seadooxpBC]

oh and a question snipe, how would this timing be adjusted on my 717? you said it was not fixed as the 787? will i need to adjust it every season?

sorry for sneaking that in there, just wondering.

 

[b15philly]

:cheers: Thank you snipe for saying what I wanted to say but in much nicer terms:agree:

 

[voodoo]

timing

oh and a question snipe, how would this timing be adjusted on my 717? you said it was not fixed as the 787? will i need to adjust it every season?

sorry for sneaking that in there, just wondering.

I think snipe meant it is harder t set the timing as in a overhaul because you have such a small cramped space to make any adjustments behind the flywheel, once it is set properly it should stay in sync unless a large rock or log suddenly forced the motor to quit, my guess it the key would shear and you would have to remove the flywheel to clean up the damage and reset the timing then.

 

[seadoosnipe]

717?...

oh and a question snipe, how would this timing be adjusted on my 717? you said it was not fixed as the 787? will i need to adjust it every season?

sorry for sneaking that in there, just wondering.

Don't get me wrong, the 717 is a nice engine. It is just a bit more to work with during overhaul.

Timing? In the 787, you just align the balance shaft and set your rotary to the specifics for open and close. The magneto and pick up coil are bolted (and timed as long as you do not remove the magneto cup). In the 717, that lightning coil is bolted like the 787 but has slotted grooves so it can be moved to be timed. Therefore, you need to use a timing light and make a mark on the PTO hub when you've brought your piston up to the top (which marks TDC). So, in my opinion, there is more work involved in setting the timing. And just a bit off will cause bad running conditions... That's my main reason for not having the 717, too much involved in setting the timing....:cheers:

I have had the Yamaha 650's and 500 motor. I think the 657 and 587 both have the same concept. With one carb and basically, a simple motor,they too are easy to work on. If they had designed the 717 with a set screw on the outer side of the mag casing where you could tweak the timing, sort of the way we did on the older point and condensor engines, then it wouldn't be so bad.

There is no true advantage in weight differences between the two motors.



SHEDOO? I know there were a few remarks from other members on their likes and dislikes of the engines, that's why the thread starter made it with a poll. Some of you may have remembered the reply that SHEDOO made. It was very arrogant and to a degree, said anyone who preferred the 787 over the 717 was, for a lack of better words, "ill informed". The person had also plugged the name of a website for you to visit to prove his point.

That is not what a forum is about. We make our own decisions and opinions here, in our forum. Bringing in outside advice about our skis, is not necessary.

IF you do not like the 787cc, that is your right. If you want to say why you don't like it, that too is your right. But please, don't bash the members who do like the 787cc............:cheers:

 

[96seadooxpBC]

Ah i got you, thanks for the reply, kinda hi jacked the thread here but oh well.

That is kind of a stupid design, dont know why they would of made it like that.

:cheers:

Thanks snipe and voodoo

 

[custompartsguy]

The 951 is a nice motor but it's a little different. It has the reed valves and the messed up exhaust system that requires you to tear off your carbs, just to get at one bolt.

Tell me what you think, which is your fav motor and why?:cheers:

I have to disagree, I love the 951 engines, That bottom nut is a pain but there are a few ways around it, 1 design your own wrench, 2 use the seadoo wrench tool for it which should be used anyways for proper torque or 3 you can use a normal 5/8 wrench and be fine and very easy to do, you undue the exhaust clamp between the two pipes and seperate them then remove the mount bolt on the side of it and the hose from below it, next remove the 3 bolts from the header pipe, then you can actually pivot the entire tube upwards and loosen that nut very easy.......However if you are talking about the stupid bolt on the exhaust manifold on the forward end where the carbs have to be removed once the exhaust tube is off I was able to on my last on remove with a normal alen wrench with a short end on it. However it was a crazy design look how massive the motor is, I really do not see what else they could have done,......:rofl:

As to 787 vs 951 I prefer the 951 and I have also seen the 951 take the 787's......hmmmm

 

[onebadcav00]

i have a 587, 717 and a 787. i ride the 587 the most. weird i know

 

[rotaxrule1]

Used to have a 96 GTI that had the 717. It was a powerhouse in its day, well at least compared to our 95 GTX with the 657! Plus I thought it sounded really cool. At low speeds just before planing on the water, it had a neat 2 stroke growl that I liked. (anyone else notice that?) We also had a 97 or 98 GSI that our relatives owned that sounded the same. Anyway, I would have to put my ultimate vote on the 787 motor. They are powerful and my current seadoos have 90+ hours on them with no major issues, they run great. 717 second best in my opinion. Dont know much about the 951, rode an XP (I think) that had it and it was a little faster than my GSX, didnt seem much faster.

 

[jyotilinkbuilder]

i vote 787. it is very comfort to another 2 stroke motor .
it's mentinece very less. so i am firstly choose this motor.:willy_nilly:
:agree:

 

[Dr Honda]

My favorite 2-stroke is the 19.8cc engine made by Mitsubishi. :drool5: (It was meant to be a "WeedEater" engine)


It's very small, and light weight, and makes great power for it's size. :biggrinjester:


I've stuck them in a bunch of things. (both were supposed to have a small glow engine in them)

Frenzzy 100

Maxx Gasser

 

[noswal_j]

717's

my vote is for the 717 ............as a matter of fact, I like them so much, I bought a boat with 2 of them:driving: So does that mean I get 2 votes...?

 

[ThreeD]

787 hands down

 

[SurfBeat]

I've had two 587's since 1993 (GTX's) I used them both 5-6 days a month from May til October and neither gave me a problem until I loaned one to a family member and he blew the engine.

I never knew what happened, so, I just replaced the had gasket and last summer the engine seized.

I pulled the engine last month and took the crank to a shop and was informed that the web was cracked, so, I needed a replacement.

I am about to drop it back in the hull this weekend and endeavor to learn how to time it.

I am really looking forward to that little project.

Based upon the foregoing, I give the 587 high marks, but remember, I'm an old dude, so, speed is no big deal to me.

 

[Mr Africa]

787 RFI all the way

Hi All

Well for me i like the 787. I have it with the fuel injection and no worries.
It is nice to read when you guys have problems with your carbs and fuel pipes and I just carry on with no worries and the fact that it has variable oil mix helps.

I am just dreading when the rectifer goes or the mpem, Then I kak and you guys just carry on.

I have riden the 4 tec 155 hp and I felt that it was a bit lazy on take off and when turning hard and getting on the throttle.

I did enjoy the kawasaki 260hp up until i had to refuel it. Man that things is heavy on fuel. Where i use about 50 litres my mate is using about 110 litres for the day in his which works out about R940-00 ($ 140) for the day.

I love my GTX RFI.

 

[Rampage]

787 in my book (crap I just realized how old this thread is LOL)

 

[brandon32689]

I say 787 as well mine are easy to work on and I love the power I get.