Surfriding FX1 for my son

wydopen

onthepipe
Well..instead of finishing up the turf this morning I’m trying to diagnose no spark issue. Eliminated the start stop..hoping I don’t have to pull motor..pain with the stock pipe and sj tank..
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wydopen

onthepipe
Ready for water test. Came out decent for rushing everything but glass work. Butchered the side on the turf job so had to copy it on the second side. If I’d actually waiting for paint to cure before flipping it over and working on it would have been pretty good. Will get the job done though B6B717C4-3FD2-4B96-ADAD-86080A0AB00E.jpeg4C1BF58A-A4F2-4D11-924F-F972A9888C20.jpeg
 

wydopen

onthepipe
Handles good. Way more cavitation then I’d hoped..don’t remember what they are like for a baseline though.. Has solas 17/23 cutback 2mm and it really spins up after a slide or low speed turn..going to try siliconing pump seal and see if that helps. If not it’s getting a Kawi pump. Hopefully I can get the turf off in one piece.
 

E350

Site Supporter
Location
Sacramento Delta
Looks great!

I really am looking forward to your handling modifications.

And to your kid's description of how it handles differently than the 550sx.

What was the solution to the crank/no spark condition?
 

wydopen

onthepipe
Looks great!

I really am looking forward to your handling modifications.

And to your kid's description of how it handles differently than the 550sx.

What was the solution to the crank/no spark condition?
Forgot to plug in one of the stator wires haha

He said it felt more stable but turned better but we only tested it for a bit..I’m afraid maybe I didn’t get pump pushed up tight enough against shoe when I set the pump inserts. Looked fine but cavitated more than it should have. I sealed it going to try again tomorrow and see. I enjoyed riding it aside from the cavitation. Think the wide rails made it easy to ride. Should be good for him
 

E350

Site Supporter
Location
Sacramento Delta
Are the FX-1's rails stock, but just wider than the 550sx?

Or did you increase the lateral width of the stock FX-1's rails?

Or did you increase the vertical depth of the stock FX-1's rails?

My FX-1 is totally stock, but I would consider adding tubbies based on what you and other FX-1 owners think is the best tubbie shape.
 

wydopen

onthepipe
Are the FX-1's rails stock, but just wider than the 550sx?

Or did you increase the lateral width of the stock FX-1's rails?

Or did you increase the vertical depth of the stock FX-1's rails?

My FX-1 is totally stock, but I would consider adding tubbies based on what you and other FX-1 owners think is the best tubbie shape.
The guy I bought it from made the rails both wider and deeper. Think it was a mold of a fx based hull tom21 made..he cut the vertical part of the old rails off and glassed new ones over what was left..I’ll take some better pics of the side you can get a better idea.
 
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wydopen

onthepipe
the boy getting the feel for it this morning..siliconing the pump seal helped the cavitation some so obviously I didn’t get pump tight enough when I set inserts..kind of a bummer. More concerning is that the tray took on about a half gallon of water in half a tank of riding. Bulkhead is sealed good hoping it’s not a broken waterline under the tray. Have a third unused one will disconnect siphon bilge and alternate cooling line to see if that’s it. Otherwise it’s the pump inserts but shouldn’t leak like that..

 

wydopen

onthepipe
Slot the pump tabs, this way you can push the pump tighter.
Gonna try that. Unfortunately fx1 has tapered bushings in front tabs that fit into countersunk holes in pump tunnel instead of locating pins like a superjet..Was hard to get everything drilled right. Will grind the bushings smaller so they have some play..
 

wydopen

onthepipe
I pulled the pump again. Now I’m not so sure what the problem is.. Silicone was evenly distributed on seal and shoe for most part. Shouldn’t Be letting anything get by..someone I trust said prop is too low but it seemed like more than that..
 

hornedogg79

dodgin' bass boats
Is your midshaft and and shaft tube sealed good? Could be the source of the tray leak and the cavitation? If the pump isn't sealing you could add a bit to your pump shoe instead of grinding anything. Stick a seadoo pump seal on the shoe or something similar. Very cool project by the way. Perfect ski for your son. Or anybody really. :)
 

wydopen

onthepipe
Is your midshaft and and shaft tube sealed good? Could be the source of the tray leak and the cavitation? If the pump isn't sealing you could add a bit to your pump shoe instead of grinding anything. Stick a seadoo pump seal on the shoe or something similar. Very cool project by the way. Perfect ski for your son. Or anybody really. :)
I sealed it with 1211 should be ok..

I blew air into one of the drain plugs and the inserts were leaking a little. Sealed them up so we will see if that fixes it. Didn’t seem like that much water should get through..

I redid the pump yesterday..it seems like it’s a few millimeters too far away from shoe..seal touches everywhere but looks like it could be tighter. It’s siliconed up good..will test it Saturday and see. I have play in the bolt holes now to slide it more forward..Think if I just open up the tapered holes for the front pump tab bushings I should be able to slide it more forward..if it works ok I’ll just run it till I have to take pump out for some reason
 

wydopen

onthepipe
That’s a good idea though. Maybe I’ll glue a thin rubber seal on shoe to fill the gap..was hard to get everything right..had to build up back of pump tunnel and grind down the front then try to get the taper for the front bushings right. Was so worried about driveline alignment I wasn’t as worried about how far forward. I put a flashlight in it and couldn’t see any light between shoe and seal but guess it wasn’t tight enough.
 

wydopen

onthepipe
Sealing the pump seal and pump inserts better fixed the cavitation and most of the water intrusion into the tray. About half a cup after 3/4 tank of riding..going to try to seal driveshaft tube from intake tunnel and see if that does anything..

Ski is super fun. I think I could ride similarly to mine if it had the same amount of power/thrust. It’s definitely looser in the apex of a turn but it slides controllably. Was able to get some good waves on it. Unfortunately I spider cracked the paint in pole bracket area manhandling it to hit a steep one..Was just where the stock plastic pole bracket cover was filled.. He was riding it really well..turning off the whitewater, on the open face and even did a little reentry..waves were small and steep and super shallow not the easiest to ride but he was looking really good on it. Definitely happy with it. I would actually like one with stock pump and pipe for small days..It forces you to ride differently when you can’t rely on being able to gas it and unweight/jump the ski out of the water at any time..have to ride smoother..the wide rails make it feel really stable but I can still lay it over..it’s super stable for him he can stand on it when he’s not moving but he was still putting it on a rail..he sanded all the paint off one tubbie from turning in 2” of water..

So final parts list for anyone interested is

62t/62t with stock 61x pipe, timing advanced and 760head gasket


Stock length pre 08 sj pole/steering cable and bracket moved the ball in and ground the sides of nozzle. Turns until it hits side of pump tunnel
Will probably get a lowered pole bracket for it

Wamiltons -1 turnplate on umi steering and 4deg umi bars

Cold fusion hood hook
Cold fusion throttle

RSKI hood straps. Buckle style but rated for 350lbs each

Cut down stock chinpad

Top air intakes on hood filled

Superjet tank with internal fill

Solas 17-23 cutback 2mm and modified stator section

Stock ride plate

R&D toploader intake grate

701 industries air box insert that raises intake so water can’t get in

OCD solutions tidy bilge kit and ocd toggle switch hidden behind 26mm padding on dash
Not a bilge pump fan and especially don’t like having to have it next to tank but I didn’t do a one way so it is as reliable as possible. Hate not being able to get all the water out of it though when I wash it. Engine compartment Stays dry as a bone when riding.

Stock hoodliner with Seadoo breather tubes with raised inlets so would have to have allot of water in hood to get into ski..

Jetmaniac limiting rope

Black waffle hydroturf
26mm padding on bottom of tray and dash..18mm on sides and 9mm on top of gunwales. Super plush and nice. Smooth turf on rails

Watcon hoodseal. Works great prob as good as oem..unfortunately the front of the hood is bowed so I had to turf the inside lip of hoodseal in front. Seals perfect.

ADA bow eyes/bilge outlets

Want to thank @tomski for the fast shipping and midshaft build. His jetting recommendation was spot on..starts right up no primer needed. I almost put one on too..

@DangerBoy for the billet goodies and for the alignment jig..made it way easier..

@special fx for giving up a hard to find intake grate and hooking us up with a hoodliner and the chinpad

@JetManiac for all the good products In stock

@AAlamo for bringing the hull out from Texas
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wydopen

onthepipe
Should also add the only kid specific things I did to it was pad tray narrower which I actually think is perfect And we are just running just one of the softest Mikuni throttle return springs and the throttle close to the bars.
 
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