SeaDoo repair

[BaldLoonie]

I'm told that I need a new engine (crankshaft self-destructed) and new pump (sucked in rocks) for my 2000 RX. Quote was $2800. I know it isn't possible to quote without seeing but anybody have any guesses as to if this might be reasonable for such work? Thanks

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: SeaDoo repair

a 951 engine with exchange is 1100 plus shipping and a few gaskets so figure 1250, pumps can be fixed/rebuilt/ or, replaced with a used pump from 300 to 500 so figure 1750 plus labor I am wondering what you did to the pump damage wise, and most 951 engines blow the cases apart when they hatch,, im wondering if that's the case here, do you know how to do the r/r on these parts?

 

[BaldLoonie]

Re: SeaDoo repair

Thanks for replying. Sounds like with labor & all that my quote wasn't too bad. <br /><br />I sucked up a good handfull of rocks in the river, made a horrible racket and shot them out. Didn't know I caused any damage, it ran fine. <br /><br />Engine tightened up, could barely turn over, don't know more details. The marina that looked at it where I was vacationing suspected lubrication problem. Said he'd seen 3 of that model so far this summer. I always use the best Seadoo oil. <br /><br />I can't do much more to the machine that gas & oil it so me doing any repairs is impossible. Sounds like I'm not being ripped off. Seemed steep to me but this is a respected family marina that I bought it used from and is going to repair it.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: SeaDoo repair

hold on, did the engine lock up after you messed up the pump? could be the pump and the engine is ok, it is direct drive if the pump is locked the engine will not turn over it dosent sound like a siezed crank from what you are saying, it could just be a stuck piston, or nothing wrong with the engine at all, pull the pump and see what the engine does. I would spray some penetrating oil down the plug holes and turn the engine by hand with plugs out use the pto at the rear of the engine just remove the plastic cover, see if it is locked, if it blew the crank usually those really blow destroying the cases etc but I have seen some get a little water in the cyl and stick a bit, I use some auto trans fluid to loosen the piston up and that usually will free it if its just sticking , removing the pump is not all that difficult and if its just the pump it could mean a big difference in cost to get it running again. TIME TO LEARN.

 

[BaldLoonie]

Re: SeaDoo repair

Rocks in the pump was well before engine failure. I chatted more with the marina just now. He said rod bearing failure. He said it didn't blow the case open though agreed often it does. No sign of rust but possibly lack of lubrication. This is what the mechanic that looked it when it died suspected too. <br /><br />They are putting in rebuilt engine from Seadoo, thought I'd be better off that route than rebuilding themselves plus better warranty.<br /><br />I gotta trust someone and they have a good rep from others that have used them. Sure hate spending that kind of bucks for a toy but it sure is fun. Looks like their prices is about what you predicted.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: SeaDoo repair

ok just checking, the crank end play can be checked pretty easily, but it sounds like you are satisfied with the needed work and price,etc.

 

[BaldLoonie]

Re: SeaDoo repair

I guess maybe I should have hauled it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion but I wouldn't think they'd say I need a new engine when I don't. Especially when I could get a 2nd opinion pretty easily. I was more concerned that the quote was reasonable and it sounds like your estimate is pretty close.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: SeaDoo repair

As long as you are satisfied thats what counts, I posted a bit on pwc central about getting a second opinion, true story, I was building some custom fork extensions for a fork lift to allow my used jet ski parts guy to lift skies from the rear to put them in racks, while I was at his warehouse he showed me a ski that he purchased from a local repair shop for 80 dollars, he said the shop obtained it from a customer who did not wish to replace the engine as the engine was frozen up. This was not an expensive ski , the parts guy asked me to look at the engine and tell him what I thought, I turned the pto and said the engine is not frozen its the pump that is frozen,I told him to remove the pump and see for himself, so he did, the engine was fine, I am sure the shop believed the engine was frozen and told the customer who probably just gave them the ski rather than spend the money for a rebuilt engine, however a used pump would have only cost around 250 and is pretty simple to install. The parts guy sold the engine and made out pretty well,The guy who owned the jet ski and took it to get it fixed was the looser on that deal, it took me 30 seconds to see that the pump had gone bad and the engine was fine.it was a 94 or 95 xp with the old style aluminum pump, the pump housing had corroded and expanded around the impeller locking it in place, I took the pump apart and the drive shaft impeller shaft and impeller were all in good shape all it needed was a pump housing as the housing was totally trash, worst I have ever seen, actually deformed so bad the pump liner took the shape of the impeller , if the mechanic who looked at the ski had taken any time to actually check it out he couldn't miss what was wrong.and I know he really thought it was the engine or he never would have sold it to my friend for 80 dollars, so a second opinion would have been a good thing for the poor slob that gave his ski away.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: SeaDoo repair

And I still would want more info on the engine locking up and if its just a top end or an entire rebuild, cranks don't usually lock up they come apart, did they check connecting rod end play ,plus they can look in part of the case if they remove the reed valves and get an idea of what it looks like, could you have possibly siezed a pump and not the engine, or broke a rave valve, I would want a lot more info since its a lot of money to spend and sometimes its a simple thing what did the plugs look like was there silver on the tip, are the piston domes pitted or washed clean, looking in the plug holes will tell you that, if you had no oil the rings will sieze befort the crank berrings will, they are roller berrings,like I said before, most 951 engines explode if they throw a crank, and you may have ingested some water in the engine and stuck a ring, it's hard to say without looking at it and doing some standard checking proceedures,I wouldn't concentrate on a second opinion on the price but I would on the problem, be sure it needs what they say it does.