SXR Engine rebuild options

[Cannibal]

Looking for options/opinions here. I toasted my crank yesterday. It might have started out as a cold seizure and that took out the rod bearing, or maybe the rod bearing just started coming apart, not really sure, but it's toast none the less.

I'm already at 83mm, so that means either re-sleeve (kinda spendy just to get down to 82mm again), buy a good used cyl (that will probably need a bore), or go up to 84mm. I'm leaning to the 84mm size because, well, bigger is better (right?), plus it has more over-bores available, having 84.5, 85, and 85.4 from Group K.

I'll need a crank, so probably a Hot Rods? Are they better than stock (I assume so, but no personal experience)? Stock is $415ish, Hot Rods is $495, as long as I'm spending my money in the right places. Or would it be better to send off my crank and have it rebuilt? Any certain service better than the other?

I already have a JSU (Kommander) head, and I talked to Steve tonight and he has 84mm domes available. That simplifies things a bit.

I talked to Art at Blackjack Performance today and I'm going to shoot him and email and have him price this out for me. I want a freestyle port job (I just don't care about top speed, I want bottom end grunt).

*EDIT* also, no need to point me toward the "Billet Porn" thread. My wallet (and wife) won't allow. Don't I wish though!

 

[n20si]

Wow that sucks steve. Just be thankful it happed at the end of the season and not in august like my rebuild.

 

[Cannibal]

Lol, ya for sure. Not going to be cheap, that's for sure. I might seriously consider ending my season at Halloween. It was REALLY cold out there. Temp gauge said 37*, water wasn't much different.

 

[Cannibal]

Well, I email Art at Blackjack this afternoon and had a response in about an hour! I really wasn't expecting anything until next week. He recommended we have the crank rebuilt using Japanese rods, new center webs, trued and welded, and the price is about the same as new, but I'm sure it's much stronger and probably same or higher quality.

He priced out the build using Wisecos, I don't know if I really want to go that way. Guess I'll do some more research. I know the quality is there, I just don't know if I NEED them, and with our weather up here swinging as much as it does and the need for the warm up time.

He also recommends I have him modify my Blackjack'd SXR carbs and install the thin tube on them. This allows him to open them up even more for better flow. They already flow better than stock, but not as good as his latest mods on these. I also have my stock carbs, so I'll see what he thinks on where the money would be best spent. I might just sell the Blackjacks and use that to mod the stockers.

Price was pretty much what I expected based on Group K's advertised prices. Going off of what other say about the Group K big bore, I think Art can build a better performer without sacrificing longevity or anything for that matter.

Pretty sure this is the way I'm going. I just have to convince the wife. She's really happy about the whole thing . I told her that the crank just plain let go and stuff happens, but in reality, I'm pretty sure it started to cold seize and took out the crank.

 

[Matt_E]

Hey Steve, about the Wisecos: I run mine in water from 35 degrees to 70 degrees.
My warmup time is idling away from the ramp - that's about it.

 

[Cannibal]

Good to know. I guess if they aren't that sensitive to conditions I don't really have any reason not to go with them. I know from now on I will pay more attention to my pisser temps. I have hot hands, but out there on Sunday, they never even felt warm. I really knew better, but I was wet and thought just a little riding would be okay. Spend mistake. I'm pretty sure it's the original crank and this ski has been ridden HARD, so I'm not really surprised. It was a matter of when and not if the crank ever let go.

 

[Matt_E]

Talk to Art about the water temperature deal. He set me up with quick disconnect cooling restrictors that let me change the restriction with different size inserts very quickly.
I run three different sizes depending on water temps.

 

[dirtnut99]

Ya I'd like to know on the restricters too. It was damn cold. I burned that whole tank with the riding then towing you back.. Lol

I went with pro-x pistons in the 750 because I knew wiesco pistons were picky with warm up. I don't want to think about warming up the motor. Fire up and go...


Sent from my iPhone4 using Tapatalk

 

[Matt_E]

With a proper cooling setup (restrictors), they are not picky. Unless you consider idling for half a minute picky :biggrin:

 

[Fro Diesel]

I have been using a screw type adjuster. I think jet ski solutions sells them. It is nice to have almost infinite adjustability. I put it just before the pisser that dumps from the head on a dual cooling setup w bpipe.

Sent from Fro Diesel using Tapatalk.

 

[Cannibal]

I suppose when you have it dialed in, its not too hard to swap out a little restricter to dial in your pisser temps. I will definitely be looking at that after I'm all done.

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[Matt_E]

It's a 30 sec job

 

[Silver Surf]

Crank works is the way to go when it comes to getting a crank rebuilt. I have heard too many bad things about hotrods cranks. I also have a SXR cylinder that needs a bore if you are interested. I'm upgrading to DASA PV

 

[Cannibal]

Crank works is the way to go when it comes to getting a crank rebuilt. I have heard too many bad things about hotrods cranks. I also have a SXR cylinder that needs a bore if you are interested. I'm upgrading to DASA PV

I don't know what Art has planned for the crank, it may very well be Crankworks that he has do them. I don't think he does them himself, but he might. I will ask out of curiosity. I trust his decision as he wouldn't use anything sub-par.

I will inspect my cylinder closely and make sure all is well. I think considering that any cyl would need a bore, by going with a standard bore, I'd really only save boring the cases if I were sending the whole package to Art.

However, I'm still not sure I have my wife's blessing to spend this kind of money yet. I surely could rebuild on a budget by sending off my crank, having your cyl bored locally, and building the engine myself....but I would love a ported big bore....come on, haha.

My wife is already asking about "that engine out of your X2" and if that would work, and ya, I can make it work, but do I want to go down to a 750? Not really.

 

[Matt_E]

If he still sends the crank out, he uses Crankworks.
I think he does some or all of it inhouse now, though. I might be wrong.

Btw, go blow the X-2 engine before that idea gains any further ground.

 

[Cannibal]

If he still sends the crank out, he uses Crankworks.
I think he does some or all of it inhouse now, though. I might be wrong.

Btw, go blow the X-2 engine before that idea gains any further ground.

Lol...for sure....oops, I dropped it and broke the cases....haha

I wouldn't blame him for not sending out the cranks any longer. Way easier to stand behind something when you do the work yourself.

 

[djkorn1]

I actually run SBT cranks for half the price...trued and welded...haven't had a problem yet. I ran one for 3 seasons and then I had to do a top end 2 years ago, because they were so cheap, i got another. So far, so good.

Not sure where your going to find a used SXR cyllinder. They are tough to find.

 

[Shonuff]

One word - 1100.

Let's do this.

 

[Cannibal]

I actually run SBT cranks for half the price...trued and welded...haven't had a problem yet. I ran one for 3 seasons and then I had to do a top end 2 years ago, because they were so cheap, i got another. So far, so good.

Not sure where your going to find a used SXR cyllinder. They are tough to find.

I'll look into that if I rebuild my self on a budget. I really just want to give Art my credit card number and let him do his magic (within reason)

Ya, not much for SXR cyls out there, and the one that are out there are spendy. Way cheaper just to sleeve mine than buy a used cyl that needs boring.

One word - 1100.

Let's do this.

I've sorta thought of it for a split second, but I really like my setup. Even with more power, I shiver at the thought of more weight. Mine already has good power with my Advent T3 D23, Factory wet pipe, JSU head, V-Force IIIs, and SXR 40mm Blackjacks. Let Art big bore it and port it and I think I'll be really happy.

Plus the fact that I hate racing and buoy running. Speed just isn't my thing. I just want to play around.

 

[djkorn1]

I've sorta thought of it for a split second, but I really like my setup. Even with more power, I shiver at the thought of more weight. Mine already has good power with my Advent T3 D23, Factory wet pipe, JSU head, V-Force IIIs, and SXR 40mm Blackjacks. Let Art big bore it and port it and I think I'll be really happy. Plus the fact that I hate racing and buoy running. Speed just isn't my thing. I just want to play around.

You NEED a flywheel....less weight and ton more low end. Kawi flywheels are giant heavy pigs. It almost does as much as the pipe.


I am guessing it would do more than porting.