My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

[racinrc14]

Now that my boat is running.....

I'm looking at a pair of waverunners. I know nothing about waverunners, except that they use mostly 2-stroke powerplants. I have rebuilt my fair share of motorcycle 2-strokes (Banshee's and 250r's) so the mechanical business doesn't bother me. How much maintenance is there to a pwc? Also, can you run them out of water, with muffs like a boat?

The pair I'm looking at are early '90's Yamaha 650's. Anyone have any input on these? Would they make a good entry level machine?

 

[redone4x4]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

if they are not oil injected, they are being phased out of most lakes. Some lakes ban all 2 strokes period, starting in 2013 or so i think. just somethin to check up on first before picking up a pair of them.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

yuck,, way under powered,, if free ok otherwise look for a 701 or bigger as the hp is more usable and the hulls are a way better design

 

[H20Rat]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

if they are not oil injected, they are being phased out of most lakes. Some lakes ban all 2 strokes period, starting in 2013 or so i think. just somethin to check up on first before picking up a pair of them.

depends on where you live. (lake mead is) Other states have no intention of doing anything to two strokes. In my corner of the country there are a couple lakes that outright ban jetskis of any engine type, but no mention of 2 vs 4 stroke anywhere to be heard. (The further you get from california the less likely you are to have 2 stroke hate)

 

[artificialreef]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

hello friend, above all else check the compression.
I bought my 92 wave 111 for 250$.It had about 132lbs and 130lbs. I think they came from the
factory with 135lbs. I guess i would buy one with it as low a 125 but
wouldnt into the teens. (I saw one prize advertising one on craigslist bragging that the compression was 100lbs) I now have 1000$ into it. Not because the compression was bad, just the little cr#p that falls apart when exposed to water for 17years. choke cable (75$) carb rebuild (50$)
oil pump (100$) motor mounts (160$) starter relay (50$)battery(70$)plug wires(80$)reverse cable (100$)replaced all the
hoses (50$)fuel filter (7$)
gaskets to put everything back that I took off to replace that stuff (50$) I think I got lucky and
dont have any problems with the drive train yet. As in impeller/shafts and pump. I have seen those parts to get
expensive so be sure to take it for a ride if you are buying as
a running ski. As far as power goes. Jeff is correct it wont break any
land speed records. But I am 47 years old and use this in the indian river lagoon (aka the intracoastal in FL) and i
cant wot it with any kind of a chop. Flat water it feels like its doing all of 50mph(which is enough for my old #ss).
This was once the darling of the rental fleets. Stable and not breakneck speeds.
It is rated to do 45mph. If you can find one like I just
assembled I think it would be a safe starter model for you and your wife/family to get on the water cheap. Maybe you should ask for maintenance records. Some even have new motors in them because there cheap and easy to swap. I probably wouldnt let mine go for less than 1500$ though i am not selling it. I think you can buy them all day long in mediocre condition for 250$ to 1200$. Look at the small parts. Cables and stuff. Talk him down.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

Now that my boat is running.....

I'm looking at a pair of waverunners. I know nothing about waverunners, except that they use mostly 2-stroke powerplants. I have rebuilt my fair share of motorcycle 2-strokes (Banshee's and 250r's) so the mechanical business doesn't bother me. How much maintenance is there to a pwc? Also, can you run them out of water, with muffs like a boat?

The pair I'm looking at are early '90's Yamaha 650's. Anyone have any input on these? Would they make a good entry level machine?

Not much maintenance to one, just check oil regularly and drain everything each fall...as for running it out of water, I wouldn't for long, maybe 10 seconds max, only to make sure it will start and stuff (like before leaving to go to the lake). They have to be pretty new to have a water hook-up. My 2004 Sea Doo had a hook-up on the back where you just screw the garden hose in at. I still didn't like to run it long though (a few minutes at the most.)
As for whether the ones you are looking at are good for entry level....yes they are, but I would definitely try and get together another $500-$1000 and get one several years newer. Less chance of something going out on you, and personally I think the newer ones look better and have a better hull design as earlier mentioned. Good Luck!

 

[racinrc14]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

Thanks everybody!

I'm kinda thinking about just spending a little more (overall) and getting a slightly newer and bigger one. On another site I found a '99 Sea Doo GTX Limited with a bad motor for $1250 that I should be able to talk down. Any thoughts on this one? As mentioned earlier, rebuilding the motor is within my mechanical ability, but what about the ski? Are they pretty decent?

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

better find out what engine it had in it if it was a d i 787 or 951 it could get expensive to replace it,, you would be better off with a good one to start with. if the block is trashed you can't rebuild it nor can you use it for a core usually.

 

[racinrc14]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

It has the 951. Owner says needs replacement because of low compression. He claims that it was running fine and he noticed a gradual decline in performance over several outings until it became difficult to start. Sounded to me like a pair of new pistons and rings should bring it back to life. He had the fuel system reconditioned (new lines, new fuel selector,rebuilt carbs, etc) a couple seasons ago and has reciepts for it. I haven't looked at it yet, but I'll take a flashlight along when I go look at it to try to have a look at the impeller and housing. Anything else I should look at? Since it isn't running, and I'll be buying it as is (if we agree on a price), are there any telltale signs I should watch out for?

 

[ScottyJ98]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

I would stay away from the Sea Poo's at all costs. A Yamaha Waverunner III isn't a bad pwc. My dad has one at the lake for everyone to play around with. I actually enjoy that one more then I did my 2002 FX 140.

 

[Torino117]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

Nothing can beat the thrill of a 2-stroke waverunner. They're stupid fast out of the hole most of the time, and in the late 90's they started getting crazy fast. I rode a friend's 97 Wave venture 1100, let me just say I was practically crying because my eyes were watering up so much due to the speed..

My father and I have a Waverunner III 700cc, back piston lost compression a month or so ago, we're planning on fixing it and converting to pre-mix even though we have a newer VX, just because it was such a blast to ride and spin out with. Just don't go into the intercoastal on a rough day, the flat bottom doesn't make for a smooth ride.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

you have obviously never punched the throttle on a 250hp. supercharged intercooled ski then, if you think a 2 stroke has a hole shot that's fast.. lol.

 

[mmccoy555]

Re: My first PWC's (Yamaha?)

It has the 951. Owner says needs replacement because of low compression. He claims that it was running fine and he noticed a gradual decline in performance over several outings until it became difficult to start. Sounded to me like a pair of new pistons and rings should bring it back to life. He had the fuel system reconditioned (new lines, new fuel selector,rebuilt carbs, etc) a couple seasons ago and has reciepts for it. I haven't looked at it yet, but I'll take a flashlight along when I go look at it to try to have a look at the impeller and housing. Anything else I should look at? Since it isn't running, and I'll be buying it as is (if we agree on a price), are there any telltale signs I should watch out for?

I would check out the oil lines from the oil pump to the intake. They were known to get brittle and break. You don't want to rebuild the engine just to find out it's not gettin oil and fry it again. Oil in the bilge is a good sign of that. Those engines were not the most reliable. I've rebuilt many of those 951s. I would also replace the oil pump just to be safe. Or you can run mixed gas in it. I personally wouldn't bother with the machine.

The hull on the other hand is one of the best designs. Nice ride in ruff and calm water.