2008 wamiltons sj rebuild

[RiverRat]

Picked up this ski a few months ago and have been rebuilding little things ever since.

New steering cable
New midshaft housing
New midshaft
New couplers
New pump bearings
New midshaft bearings
Xmetal waterbox
New clamps everywhere
New water lines
New fuel lines and filters
New exhaust gaskets due to leaking
85mm bored reduction nozzle
Xmetal hood catches, modified rrp bracket
Cold fusion hood hooks
Hood straps
Jetmaniac lightened flywheel
WDK steering system
New Toby made d-cut ride plate
2 new motor mounts

 

[RiverRat]

Big thanks to Jetmaniac! Huge help In Getting this project back on the water. They have every part I needed big or small. Must have ordered parts twice a week for a month bc little issues kept creeping up.

 

[RiverRat]

Salt water seemed to the culprit in a lot of the repairs. Swelled the mag pump which is still out being repaired. The rrp fat bar steering had to be replaced bc the top clamp had a broken ear. No one sold just the clamp?! All hose clamps has some for of rust and some just broke as I was taking them off. Salt water sucks!

Found that the midshaft side coupler was pitted on the inside. So pitted that I poked a screwdriver right through the center. Another order for Jetmaniac.

 

[RiverRat]

Motor specs:

SS827 cc xscream PV cylinder. Pump gas
49 mm full spec carbs
Boyesen rad valves and intake
B-pipe and head pipe bored to 48mm
MSD enhancer
Lightened 61x flywheel

Pump:

Oem
C75 swirl 14/19 (I think, reworked)
85mm bored reduction nozzle
Stock cone

 

[RiverRat]

New decals and hitching a ride on the speed boat

 

[RiverRat]

Already time to Defoam. While riding the other day the tray began to swell up like a ballon. Possibly busted water line in the hull. Then the boat started listing hard to one side. Drilled a hole in the tray and pumped in compressed air. Cracks on both footholds and air coming out of a water line.

I guess salt water corroded the water lines as well. Over time and with high pressure water going through the tube it must have sprung a leak.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Never ending.

 

[RiverRat]

Never ending.

Was hoping to avoid wrenching on this ski but it has proven to have tons of salt related issues. Nothing time and $$ won't fix.

 

[RiverRat]

All three b-pipe bolts stripped out of the manifold. The bolts that were originally in there were a little too short. Maybe 5-7 threads had a grip. Ordered new longer bolts from Jetmaniac and installed 20mm stainless time serts. Fixed!

 

[RiverRat]

Had to modify the rrp bracket to accept the xscream hood hooks. Added 2 more fastening points to the bracket and removed the flimsy oem metal hood hooks. I did this mod after the hood hooks bent on a 3/4 roll off a wave. Also bent the hood side hooks as well so replaced those with cold fusion hooks. Added hood straps as a safety net.

 

[wanderer1]

Those Wammer hulls are really nice. How do ya like it (except for the repairs ya had to do) with that power plant overall?

 

[RiverRat]

Best boat I have owned achually. Not a backflip only hull. Handles the chop and high speed runs. Rotates well in the air and very tight. Motor, driveline, pole and steering smooth and spot on. I like the 2008+ hull better than the previous generation. Just gives you a little more bite on the water. You really notice it when shredding waves or landing aerials.

From my experience sj don't like to be too light without handeling like crap. I have been on some really like skis and it just does not suit how I like to ride.i feel like I fight with the boat more than anything. -20 or 30 lbs is ideal IMO

 

[RiverRat]

Defoam project begins!

 

[RiverRat]

Found the leaks!

 

[Big Kahuna]

WOW

 

[RiverRat]

New brass through hull fittings and exhaust outlet (stainless disposal flange). New exhaust tube will be jethot marine coated aluminum tubing.

 

[MikeyB]

I feel your pain, keep at it and get back on the water.

 

[Informal]

It's not the saltwater that sucks.. Just the previous owner
Good luck getting her done, seems like your on the right track.

 

[RiverRat]

It's not the saltwater that sucks.. Just the previous owner
Good luck getting her done, seems like your on the right track.

He is a good guy. Looked the boat over and did not find anything out of place at the time. Even test rode the ski and it ran ok, needed some tuning but no red flags. Still a good ski

 

[wanderer1]

Unfortunate that this couldn't have waited till end of season as it seemed you were really enjoying the ride. Gitr done and back out there man. Have fun