2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

[Relentless]

Hello, I am new to Jet Ski's. I have spent plenty of time with boats and outboards but now I know what I have been missing.

With that being said I have a known problem with a 2000 GTX ( 951 Silver Motor ) that I bought recently. The ski has sat for about a year. The ski is real clean. The compression on the front jug is 115 and 140 on the back. This is after a tsp of PWC oil inside each cylinder. When I first saw the ski and took the compression it had not moved in about a year. The initial compression was 110 front and 130 on the back.

In order to investigate, I took out the rave valve and the valve had a good amount of build up on the tips. When I looked down into the cylinder I saw the top of the piston. It looked pretty well pitted around the edges directly on the top and inward about an inch. When I cycled the engine to see the side of the piston it looked a little rough, basically it looked like it had some build up of something not sure what. On the other hand the back cylinder was clean on the top and smooth on the sides.

I understand from the owner that the ski got swamped and they had to pull the plugs out and cycle the engine to get some water out. I assume that is when this happened. He stated that he ran for two seasons after that until last year. I also took the fuel bowl off and found plenty of sticky red stuff on on the bowl and on the filter. So I do not know if it is delamination of the lines, old gas and or both. I assume this is also in the carburator filters, so I would at least want to clean those off, in not rebuild them since it seems I have to take them out anyway to get to one of the filters.

My question is what am I dealing with here? Can I just do some maintenance to it and ride it until it dies? With maintenance I mean, I would like to flush the fuel lines, replace filter, clean filter in carburator, clean RAVE valves, new plugs, new oil and pump out the gas tank.


Any thought or inputs would be appreciated. Thanks

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

No, You are not going to get off that lucky. You need to replace the long block.

Here is a common senerio,
When the motor got wet and he cycled it to rid the water from inside the motor, he must not have followed up by riding the boat right away or fogging the motor to prevent rust on the crankshaft bearings. The pitting you are seeing on the top of the piston is from a bearing that came apart and was sucked up into the combustion chamber and it got smashed between the piston and the squish band on the head chamber, rendering your motor toast. This usually happens sometime well after the initial swamping of the motor.

The other possible theory I have is, a carb filter was clogged up to the point that it leaned out and siezed the clyinder, evidenced by the fact it had low compression. Then, whoever, kept riding it until the top edge of the piston, and maybe a ring broke, causing the damage you are seeing.

But my first guess is probably around 90% accurate in most cases like the one you outlined.

[Relentless]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Bill:

Thanks. What am I looking at to repair $$$? What would need to be done during that repair? Would it not be better to just do the whole motor, replace the crank and bearing all at once to make sure no other failure happens?

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

The cheapest alternative is to pick up the phone and call SBT and buy a remanufactured motor, exchanged with a no fault one year warranty $1099.00 plus shipping, and DIY. Unless you own a boring bar and a crankshaft press, you cannot beat their price and warranty.

A typical jetski shop like mine gets about $1800.00 ( labor and tax incl.) to replace the motor.

[Relentless]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Bill again thanks. So I would gess between shipping and DIY I might be maybe saving $500. When I take it to a shop will what will they rebuild my existing or get a remanufactured? Should I expect a warranty from a dealer?

[Relentless]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Bill:

Will the dealer just do the engine or also fix and clean and or rebuild the RAVE valves, rebuild the carbs and put new plugs for that price? What would be included inthe $1800?

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

I don't know what "the dealer" will do, only what I do. I make darn sure that all of the systems are go before I release it, or it will be back here for another engine real soon.

New rave valves come with all SBT 951 motors.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

If you do not feel comfortable installing thie SBT motor by yourself, I suggest that you call SBT and order the motor. When you get it, take it to any competent Sea Doo repair shop, independant and/or dealership shop, and ask them how much to switch motors for you. You have two weeks to return the old motor to SBT. Might not hurt to call around before you order the motor to get a price to install it. You can find out exactly what they will do as far as the cleaning the carbs ect.

[Danny Roszell]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Be aware that if the motor requires warranty work during the one year period you will most likely have to pay for the labor to remove and reinstall the motor again. The dealership and/or shops do not warranty the motor or their labor if the motor fails.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

At my shop, we warrant the installation to be done correctly. If not, and it causes a warranty problem later, we re-do the job for no charge. If the customer causes the failure, or if something breaks inside the motor, then the labor is on the customer, as that would not be any fault of ours.

[1fastski.com]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

if you go with an SBT motor { and there great } besure to find a shop that respects SBT and your service , i know a few shops that if not putting in there OWN parts or motors that just dont care if its dont right or not .

when i install a SBT shortblock i give a 1 time reinstall no matter what if the motor fails . shipping and parts not included . you should have your carbs checked and cleaned , pump checked .

[Relentless]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Should I also check the RAVE on the water box? How much should a carburator job run?

[SHOOTER]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

Rebuild kits run $80 to $90. Add an hour labor and thats what it will probably cost you. By the way, I am with Bill and Christopher on this one, if your gonna put a new motor in, go through the carbs. Also check your fuel lines. Going through the carbs is an easy job, just make sure you put that needle and seat on the carb correctly.
I wouldn't run the ski anymore, it just takes a quick second to pop that rod and it then goes through the cases, once it does that, your cases are shot and aren't worth squat in the trade in.
SHOOTER

[1fastski.com]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

i do carbs for 50 a carb + parts needed

you need to check everything on your ski to make sure its working ok .

[Relentless]

Re: 2000 GTX 30 hrs Low compression

So to me doing the RAVE valves and doing fuel lines is a 1 on a scale of one to 10. What about doing the carbs? I would be worried about getting them too lean. How difficult is removing the engine separating all the parts and sending it out? Does SBT accept complete engines? In other words would they take mine with the raves and carbs and either rebuild it themselves or send me one so that I can just drop it in? Don't get me wrong, I have done carburators on outboards and on cars ( 1990's), I also just got done doing my transmission on my truck with my friends help. I just look down in the box of the ski and it looks to be a little more. Correct me if I am wrong?