Super Jet Crank submerged for 2 years....yikes

[hbski]

So, I bought a basket case SN a couple of years ago. It came with a 650, which I hadn't done anything with. Pulled it apart yesterday finally to find that it was full of water almost to the top of the case. It had to be full for two years, cause I had the thing bagged the whole time.

However, once I got the cylinders off the crank turns very well and there does not seem to be much rust at all. The lower rod bearings, for instance, have ZERO rust on them. there is evidence of a little rust on the open end bearing and on the edges of the pins that are pressed through the webs, but other than that no other major rust and everything seems to turn very well. currently it's soaking in fogging oil.

So, the question is, are there some hard checks I can do to see if I should run this thing? If it passes all the service manual checks for bearing play and such? any things in particular to look out for?

I have everything but pistons and gaskets to turn it into a stock 61x and really wouldn't be out an incredible amount if It did grenade I guess, but just seems like I might be asking for trouble if I ran it.

Thanks,
hbski

 

[Big Kahuna]

They were basically "Pickled". Underwater with no oxygen = no rust!!!!!!!!
I worked on an X2 years ago that the motor was full of water, guys kids sunk the ski, then he parked it for a year or two. I pumped out the grey sludge, sprayed alot of WD40 it there, pumped out more funk....... added fresh gas, that joker cranked right up and ran like a top.

 

[Magnum Mike]

I wouldn't chance a new top end on a crank that shadey. Spend the $199 on a sbt crank from jetmaniac.

 

[aramis]

There is a huge difference between rust and corrosion, and both can kill your bearings. You likely have some type of corrosion and/or galvanic reactions in addition to rust.

iron can ONLY rust in the presence of oxygen and a water-based solution (pH<9). There is dissolved oxygen in water...lake water is typically 20ppm iirc.

You found evidence of rust...and when that rust breaks loose due to soaking in oil, your bearings will be left with pits.

It's your choice, but yes...you are asking for trouble if you run it as-is.

 

[score602]

if it gernades you might crack the case, and then it be total garbage but that might take years...or hours


for pennies you can even find some used pistons on ebay throw it together and run it till it blows

 

[hbski]

They were basically "Pickled". Underwater with no oxygen = no rust!!!!!!!!
I worked on an X2 years ago that the motor was full of water, guys kids sunk the ski, then he parked it for a year or two. I pumped out the grey sludge, sprayed alot of WD40 it there, pumped out more funk....... added fresh gas, that joker cranked right up and ran like a top.

Yeah, lack of oxygen was my diagnosis too.

 

[hbski]

if it gernades you might crack the case, and then it be total garbage but that might take years...or hours


for pennies you can even find some used pistons on ebay throw it together and run it till it blows

Actually, I have some out of one of my other engines.....may just put this all together stock and see how she does......prob. worth the $100 worth of gaskets just to see how long the leftovers bolted together will run!

 

[BombThreat]

If it was something I actually cared about and wanted to know for sure it was going to a reliable ski I would rebuild it. But on the other hand Ive got a polaris slx 780 that was sitting for years behind a shop. Picked it up for basically nothing, did a comp test and had some rusty water come through the plug holes... Really didnt give two s if it blew or not I ran the piss out of it... Ive had that thing WOT for 5 minutes straight and shes still chugging after two seasons... Even GPS'd at 54MPH.

You really never know what they are gonna do.

 

[icecoled007]

I have everything but pistons and gaskets to turn it into a stock 61x

What does this mean? You have a 61x/61x motor? Just missing crank? Buy a new crank, no way I would run that in a new motor.

Just put the 6m6 motor back together and run it until it blows, or your tired of it. Then drop in the new 61x motor....