Good news bad news

[steevis88bayliner]

I recently bought a 96 gti sea-doo. I did my homework and did all the thing suggested to get it ready for fun after sitting for 4 years. I have had it out 3 times now and no real issues other then the gauges not working which I hear is a common problem on these. However the last time out I ran it out of gas, but no biggie I was out with a friend who was trying his boat so the tow was easy. When I opened the engine compartment to pinch off the water intake for the tow I noticed the airbox was just hangin there and the air filter was slightly dislodged. When I got home I investigated more to find that I was missing 2 bolts for the airbox. I started diggin and found one tetering on going in the crankcase and I cannot find the other. I suspect it is in the crankcase somewhere. I pulled the plugs and turned it over by hand. All sounds and feels good but I still cannot find the bolt. Any ideas?? Where could it be hiding?? I will take any suggestions at this point and I suppose the last resort would be to pull the motor and split the case to find it. I tried a magnet but the bolts are not very magnetic. Any help or ideas would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Good news bad news

Sounds like the PO did some work on the Doo and couldn't (or forgot) to put all the bolts back in and tight. You can try checking under the engine, but that doesn't mean that it's not wedged down between two parts. More than likely, if it was in the case, it would have locked up already. I doubt that you ran out of gas just as the bolt fell into the case, saving the engine.

Stuff an old large towel on the bottom of the seadoo hull and drag it under the engine. Thay may help grab or move anything that has fallen in there. The screw may not have ever made it back to the airbox by the PO.

 

[steevis88bayliner]

Re: Good news bad news

I have checked the entire hull besides taking the stryrofoam out to see if it bounced inbetween the hull and the styrofoam. I found a nice pic on ebay of the crankcase and the only place I can see it may be is in the middle on either side there is a shelf with a fitting I assume for overflow oil to exit the case. But like I said Im a rookie at this so I dont know for sure. I am very wary of putting it back together and assume to PO forgot one bolt and have it lock up 2 miles up the river. I was thinking of taking my compressor hose and blow air in there with a small piece of copper tubing and see if I can jar it loose. Is this a bad idea? I dont think it will hurt anything but I could be wrong. I also thought of taking that fitting out in the middle of the crank and blowing air in there to see if it is sitting there.

 

[steevis88bayliner]

Re: Good news bad news

Its a real long shot but what are the chances that the bolt went through the motor and out the exhaust? Is it even possible for a m-6x1.5 inch bolt to make it through the motor? I see no signs of damage to the top of the pistons looking in with a flashlight. And I cannot find it anywhere in the crankcase but have not pulled the motor to split the case. I have gone fishing in there with a piece of solid insulated copper wire for about 2 hours and cannot feel anything in there. I have looked with a mirror and flashlight and cannot see any sign of the bolt or damage to any part in there. The only damage I have found so far is a small dent to the leading edge of the rotating vavle cover and a thread mark to the left side intake. And I belive it was from the bolt I have already retrieved out. I feel very uneasy about putting it back together and running it without finding that bolt. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated I dont wanna be rebuilding a motor cause of a stupid bolt I cannot find. Thanks!!