Did I Give Up Too Soon On Total Loss?

[seatsR4toilets]

Well, after who knows how many years of NOT running total loss, I finally purchased a system and put in on my fresh motor build on my newest Blaster (see avatar).
I spend at least 1/2 hour the night before Daytona sealing everything off, greasing everything, checking connections, etc etc.
First day out on the ski, it runs great. Excellent. No issues.
Then on Saturday, I land the thing upside-down on a breaking wave, which carries the ski, upside-down, about 40 yards away from me. So, I start swimming to it, and it's at least a couple minutes before someone notices the ski floating away and me swimming for it. The bilge is on, but it's not pumping because the ski is upside-down. I flip it right side up, and by this time at LEAST 5 minutes has gone by. I lean on the back deck of the ski and just watch the pump pump. Again, it takes a SOLID probably 5 minutes until it finishes. I fire it right up on the first try, loop it back into the surf, and ride back to the beach where my truck and friends are. I pull it up on the beach cart and take it to the truck to fill it with fuel and rest for a bit. When I open the hood, it's relatively dry already. No standing water.

About 1/2 an hour goes by and a friend asks to ride it. He's out maybe a couple minutes, and the thing quits. Long story short, we find the MSD brainbox has water and sand in it. And the brainbox is fried.

In my state of anger, I take the thing home, strip a motor I have of it's complete STOCK electrics, flywheel, etc etc, and bolt it on. And now, the ski runs perfect again and I have no electrical issues.

Today, I saw for the first time one of the new TBM 62T charging flywheels, and they are ONLY 6 ounces heavier than the MSD non charging total loss flywheel. The downside is that they are over $500.
I've already sold the total loss set up to Waterfreak.

I've got a fair amount of money tied up in my motor.
So, my question is: Did I give up too soon on the TL system? Should I buy a brand new one?
Or, should I compromise and get the $500 TBM flywheel, stick my MSD enhancer in it, and call it a day?
I'm looking for some input.

 

[seatsR4toilets]

I'm running about an 830cc 6mm stroker with 210psi compression.

 

[GIL]

Life without total loss is life not worth living.

Gil Williams
2010

 

[GIL]

Now to explain myself,

How was your ski w/t-l?
How was your ski w/o t-l?

My Lamey is lame w/o t-l period paragraph and w/t-l makes me very happy. I will NOT ride my ski unless it has working t-l on it.

 

[seatsR4toilets]

I don't know. I guess it revvs up a little slower.
I mean, it doesn't seem a ton different. That's why I brought up the idea of just the Enhancer and the TBM lightweight charging flywheel. I'd probably have $700 in that when all's said and done, as opposed to I think $1500 for a new MSD TL system.

 

[GIL]

I don't know. I guess it revvs up a little slower.
I mean, it doesn't seem a ton different. That's why I brought up the idea of just the Enhancer and the TBM lightweight charging flywheel. I'd probably have $700 in that when all's said and done, as opposed to I think $1500 for a new MSD TL system.

1500.00??? Only if you buy from MSD.

www.exhaustgas.com
www.summitracing.com

1050.00 for a complete kit

 

[Waternut]

I'm running about an 830cc 6mm stroker with 210psi compression.

All that engine and money you're running a stock lead brick as a flywheel? The charging flywheels may only be 6oz. more than a total loss flywheel but all the weight is on the perimeter where it hurts the most. Kawi style couplers may only be a couple ounces lighter than stock but because they're so much smaller in diameter, people can feel a difference. If it still isn't perfectly clear, then think about doing barrel rolls. You and the ski weigh the same no matter how you're oriented but someone with a good tuck will complete the roll while the dude standing straight up will get maybe 1/4 of the way.

Life without total loss is life not worth living.

Gil Williams
2010

Well put... Total loss may not be necessary in the surf but it's a MUST HAVE in flatwater. Pipe, prop, and total loss will make a bad ass ski.

 

[Waternut]

I don't know. I guess it revvs up a little slower.
I mean, it doesn't seem a ton different.

No offense meant at all but you did something wrong. When I installed total loss I was so blown away by the power that I was hooked instantly. It's a serious drug....one good prick and you're addicted.

 

[seatsR4toilets]

All that engine and money you're running a stock lead brick as a flywheel? The charging flywheels may only be 6oz. more than a total loss flywheel but all the weight is on the perimeter where it hurts the most. Kawi style couplers may only be a couple ounces lighter than stock but because they're so much smaller in diameter, people can feel a difference. If it still isn't perfectly clear, then think about doing barrel rolls. You and the ski weigh the same no matter how you're oriented but someone with a good tuck will complete the roll while the dude standing straight up will get maybe 1/4 of the way.



Well put... Total loss may not be necessary in the surf but it's a MUST HAVE in flatwater. Pipe, prop, and total loss will make a bad ass ski.

Yeah, I've got the couplers, I just haven't put them on yet.
I'm just at that point where throwing another $1050 at the ski for a new TL system is making my stomach turn. uke:
If this was a stand up, it'd be a different story; I know I'd probably get my money back out of the ski (or close).
But Blasters are different. In the last year there have been two that came up for sale that I'll bet had close to $10K in them, and they both struggled to get $5K, and everything was brand-freaking-new on the one.
I don't wanna own this thing forever, but I don't wanna lose $6-$7K on it either.
So, just the thought of another $1100 in the thing isn't pleasant.

 

[seatsR4toilets]

No offense meant at all but you did something wrong. When I installed total loss I was so blown away by the power that I was hooked instantly. It's a serious drug....one good prick and you're addicted.

Sorry, I meant the stock flywheel revvs up slower.
But this new motor I never rode before at all, so it was all new to me, so I didn't have a way to compare TL to no TL on it.
Know what I'm saying?

 

[WaveDemon]

why not run the new programmable ignition that fits in your e-box?

 

[seatsR4toilets]

I'm not familiar with that.
Explain.

 

[Pablo]

If you're running that bigazz motor and can't tell much of a diff with TL and w/o TL then something is amiss.

X2 for waternut...if you do little else to your ski, by far the biggest bang for your buck is a TL system. that for sure doesn't buy reliability though. a TL's performance is directly related to proper setup, especially if you're in salt. All your connections will get tested immediately in salt. My first TL setup, I'm sure, wasn't perfect but it ran fine all season long in fresh water.

 

[Watty]

I'm not familiar with that.
Explain.

queenford.8m.com

EPIC is a programmable charging ignition, and the Flame is a total loss. Both fit in your stock e-box and both are programmable.

The only real difference is that one charges using your stock electrics, and the other is a complete kit that doesn't charge.

 

[seatsR4toilets]

What's it cost?

 

[seatsR4toilets]

If you're running that bigazz motor and can't tell much of a diff with TL and w/o TL then something is amiss.

X2 for waternut...if you do little else to your ski, by far the biggest bang for your buck is a TL system. that for sure doesn't buy reliability though. a TL's performance is directly related to proper setup, especially if you're in salt. All your connections will get tested immediately in salt. My first TL setup, I'm sure, wasn't perfect but it ran fine all season long in fresh water.

See, I wonder if that TL system got wet or wasn't right from the very start.
It had really good roll-on power before it quit. Very smooth power. Not really brappy.
Now, with the stock system on it, if you grab a handfull of throttle it practically want's to backflip on it's own. She'll stand straight up and down with some serious braap.

 

[Shifty]

I love TL. However, as has been said before it's all about setup. I bought a dial indicator, made a degree wheel and set up each pickup to the degree. It has always performed awesomly.

 

[Idok]

the beauty in that ATP unit is that its prewired for direct plug n' play


the 'problem' with TL systems is they have to be "setup" but if the EPIC utilizes a true plug/play system it shoud be no more vulnerable to salt than an enhancer is

 

[Matt_E]

the beauty in that ATP unit is that its prewired for direct plug n' play

Not quite. You still need to connect the pickup to an OEM stator harness.

Seats, the gains in the TL aren't in the weight of the flywheel (though it helps).
It's the programmable curve that allows advance down low and pulling it back higher up.

If you're worried about saltwater, take a look at the ATP TL, as others have suggested.

 

[scottie mac]

Seats,

You can now have John at jetskis solutions wire up your MSD TL in a lexan enclosure. If you are wanting to ocean ride and make the system as reliable as possible, this is the ticket.

He doesn't have any pics on his site, but he sent me some of one he set up for a customer. If I was going TL on my surf ski, I would definitely look into this.

Scottie