SXR 800 SXR Wake Up Port Job Powerhouse

So I struggled with my SXR last fall which had a factory Dry pipe on it. It could never get it tuned right, and the O-Rings would always blow out. This winter I decided to bring my ski to Zack at Powerhouse Performance in Plymouth, WI. He suggested a wet pipe, full cylinder/case port job and bump up in compression. I brought my motor to him and had him do everything listed. My ski is so much better right off the bat. It has tons more low end and screams on top. I have a skat-trak 13-18 cut back prop and first time out I could get 7,550rpm consistantly! The ski is way better than its ever been. The low end is so much fun for play-riding and will be great out on Lake Michigan. My brother's ski also has a wet pipe, but stock motor, and my ski has tons more power with the porting and compression. Just food for thought if anyone is looking to get more out of the 800 motor.
 

subhard

TITS OR GTFO
Location
anchorage ak
Hmm. Good info. I'm putting a wet pipe on my SXR right now but wasnt planning on bumping compression quite yet. I have a brand new Ada head with 32 domes but I didn't really feel like installing it quite yet. Anyone else feel like bumping compression is the way to go? I want this ski to be as reliable as possible.
 

djkorn1

kidkornfilms
Site Supporter
Location
Cleveland Ohio
....not if you want it reliable (especially if your doing wide open throttle runs)....I would go flywheel instead of porting or compression. The stock flywheels are EXTREMELY heavy. This gives it a ton more low end snap!

Not saying that his porting and compression didn't give him great power, I'm sure it did, but I've seen a lot of blown up, detinated SXRs with higher compression...I actually keep mine VERY low.
 
Last edited:

Matt_E

steals hub caps from cars
Site Supporter
Location
at peace
Are you saying that generally speaking, porting will decrease reliability and ability to do WOT runs? :clown:
 
I am running 185psi in each cylinder. I was at 160 before. The combination of the porting and the compression is perfect. I am not worried about the reliability at all. I saw the port work before we re-assembled and everything looked sweet. I run a mix of race gas and 93 and it's totally reliable.
 
Porting does not hurt reliability . That is a myth . Makes motor more efficient if its done right . Compression wont hurt reliability either as long as the right fuel is used .
 

Matt_E

steals hub caps from cars
Site Supporter
Location
at peace
I am running 185psi in each cylinder. I was at 160 before. The combination of the porting and the compression is perfect. I am not worried about the reliability at all. I saw the port work before we re-assembled and everything looked sweet. I run a mix of race gas and 93 and it's totally reliable.


Give it at least a full season before you talk reliability.
 
All I know is it is already more reliable than it was last year. Everytime I went out last year I would be screwing with it. So far, I put it in the water, ride, smile and go home. Well worth the investment in my opinion.
 

Tommygunz

Team PHP
Location
Wisconsin
Give it at least a full season before you talk reliability.

I ran a Powerhouse ported 62t Yamaha in my Superjet for 2 years before the wrist pin let go. I ride 4-6 days a week and was running 225 lbs compression and 50/50 race/91 octane. I think that says something about ported motors lasting .........

Just my 2 cents
 

Shonuff

I've got the glow
Site Supporter
Location
Memphis
Agree on the flywheel.

It's interesting you mentioned the o-ring blowouts. I was talking with Graepaep the other day and he mentioned the exact same thing with his dry pipe.
 

djkorn1

kidkornfilms
Site Supporter
Location
Cleveland Ohio
A friend of mine cracked his Dry pipe twice and blew out o rings left and right. Ruined quite a few good days of riding...He went 'wet' and hasn't had an issue sinse...I've heard that FP fixed that issue...not sure though.

I still feel a flywheel gives more reliable low end than bumping up the compression. WOT runs could cause detonation...I blew up two motors running high compression (only 182) with 93 octane. Now I keep it at 165, but my aluminum flywheel more than makes up for it.
 
Hmm. Good info. I'm putting a wet pipe on my SXR right now but wasnt planning on bumping compression quite yet. I have a brand new Ada head with 32 domes but I didn't really feel like installing it quite yet. Anyone else feel like bumping compression is the way to go? I want this ski to be as reliable as possible.
Ada has the wrong domes listed for the SXR motors. The 32 will put you less than stock.
 
Location
Idaho
When I installed my ADA, I put in 28cc domes to get me from 150 to 180. I have been running my SXR with wetpipe and 180 compression on 93 for 4 years now.
 
My brother and I had a toatal of 3 dry pipes (04, 07, and a 2010) All had o-ring issues, and 2 of the three cracked. We both have wet pipes now. I am not worried about the higher comppression, but I still think a full port job even with stock compression would be a night and day difference. The flywheel is a good mod too.
 
Top Bottom