1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

[CHADDROVER]

i picked up this steal of a ski two months ago from a police auction i paid 1000 bucks for this ski,the only thing i had to do was replace the dess lanyard and put together some of the wires in the front electicia box,seems the thieves tried to by pass the dess security system and didnt get to far so they ditched it and now i have!,when i programed it at my dealer it came up with 200.5 hrs!,my question is how long does a 787 engine last before rebuild,,ithink it has a head job because then bolts look like they been removed and looks like a new base gasket installed,again i dont know the history of the ski but it seems to work fine i havent water tested it yet(WINTER) i think i got a steal of a deal!!!i heard this is a good year ski,anybodies comment would be much help.:D

[1997xp]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

Good price on the ski, but 200 hours......I would be looking to be at least doing a top end before long, unless like you said it appears one has been done. I would also throw a carb rebuilt kit on. Other than that real good price(IMO)

[1fastski.com]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

no one can say when a engine is going to go poof . some go at 20 hrs some run over 500 hrs , what you need to do is a compression test make sure both cyls are even and over 120 psi if so and the engine runs smooth and does not knock it should last as long as you take care of it .

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

120 psi when oem is 155-160 on a 1997 787 motor? I would consider 120 psi worn out and in need of a top end rebuild if I knew my compression guage was accurate and it only blew 120 psi......

[WATERCRAFTSERVICES]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

Bought a 97 gtx 2 yrs ago for the kids with 88 hrs on the clock. Now has 212 and going strong. Take care of them and they will take care of you. Although the 787 is not known to be the best motor for longivity they should give 250-300 hrs with no major problems if well maintained.The main thing with these and many other seadoos is to be sure the fuel system is kept up. The hoses they use tend to deterioate inside and cause major fuel delivery problems eventually causing the motor to crater due to a lean condition. Most of the time from clogged internal carb filters.

[1fastski.com]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

120 psi if so and the engine runs smooth and does not knock it should last as long as you take care of it .is what i said . ive seen plenty that run fine and have 120 to 125 psi , if the compression is even and the ski runs good with no problems its not wornout .

BTW i dont see many 155 to 160 psi 800s around here most Doos are 150 psi 951s range from 120 to 150 . very rare here to see over 150 psi on any pwc

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

The 1997 787, for some reason, has about 5 psi more pumping compression than the 1995-1996 models, which measure 150-155 psi. I have checked dozens of each model when they were in new condition using a calibrated compression guage. All measurements at 700 ft altitude.

I have yet to find a 787 that blows 120, with stock head and base gasket, that I would consider "normal and in good condition".

If a guy called me and said he was buying a used watercraft with the 787 engine in it and it had 120 psi on a calibrated guage, I would tell him to keep looking. No Sea Doo motor that I know of can still be in good condition and have lost 30 psi of compression, unless it was built that way by some mechanic somewhere other than the factory.

One thing about the 787 ( and all of the Rotax rotary valve type engines ) that is a bit different than other makes of pwc engines, is the use of a "L" shaped dykes top compression ring. When a 787 with oem pistons in it loses around 5 psi of pumping compression, you can almost bet there will some some major damage to the pistons. In fact, I have seen plenty of completely siezed and terrible looking pistons come out of rotax motors that still blew 150 psi, because the top ring did not get stuck in the ring groove.
Even a very good compression reading does not always mean the pistons are in good condition, especially if they have dykes rings in the top groove. It is amazing how well those type rings can seal even with major damage to the rest of the piston.

When you read an even compression of 120 psi in both clyinders, the first thing to check is your guage and the Schrader valve in the guage hose. Compare it to another known calibrated guage, and on another similiar motor, if possible. Chances are, the real compression number is much higher than 120 psi. The tip off is that both read the same psi, which would normally indicate that the engine is indeed in good condition.

Lower priced compression guages are rarely accurate, and even if they are accurate, they will not stay accurate for very long. If you use one daily, you start to notice when they become inaccurate or need the valve changed or they need to be serviced and re-calibrated. Even the best compression guages need service regularily.

[1fastski.com]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

well hes not buying he already bought it . also says the topend looks to have been done at some point . and all i use is snap on tools :-) so if his motor runs good and has 120 or more psi he is fine . i stress the point IF it runs good . i do like to see 150 psi in any doo but ive seen plenty run fine with lower .

[CHADDROVER]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

thanks for all the info guys ,i pulled a compression test and it read about 150psi,i only had the push on type ,but i figure its fine ski,i think i will go ahead and replace the fuel line as preventive measure,what type of connectors should i use to fasten those lines or is zip ties ok...thanks.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: 1997 seadoo gtx ,how many hrs???

More important than just changing those fuel lines would be cleaning the filters inside the carbs. If you have bad fuel lines, you will definately have clogged filters.

Tye-wraps work well on softer hoses like the oems use, but for normal neoprene fuel line, use screw type mini clamps so they do not leak fuel or suck air and lean out your motor.

150 psi is good, especially with a push-on guage.