I have been reading about the ada girdled heads. I currently have a pro tec head on a 61x cylinder with stage 3 porting at 175psi and have read about issues with cracking at the bases and what not. Should I invest in a girdled head? It seems like a sound idea and I can totally see the theory behind the girdle. I would rather spend the money now on the girdle kit than have to buy new jugs later on after they crack.
Super Jet IS a girdle head worth it?
- Thread starter SJ 701X
- Start date
- Location
- the jetski grave yard
usually cylinders crack from very high compression, sometimes hydro locking the motor or just bad luck. girdle head is like insurance to protect your investment. cylinder porting aint cheap if its good and the last thing you want to do, is grenade your cylinder. i run girdled heads on everything for the same reason the dog licks his nuts, because he can. if you want your ski to last, ride it like a baby carriage and modify nothing.
- Location
- Mullica Hill NJ
well said. x2 on the insurance
I don't beat on it, but if I can use something that will protect it and is as simple as changing out a head then I'll do it.
Draggingto
No Clue
- Location
- Brooklyn MI
I would do it, I had two buddys this summer crack there cylinders, they both had protec heads. We all have ADA girdled heads now. If you decide to go with one, check out jetmaniac on here. Hes a good guy with good prices. Im very happy with My ADA head i got from him. Not only does it work good, but it looks cool too lol.
Proformance1
Liquid Insanity
- Location
- New York Crew
IMO, not really reqd unless ported, or high compression. Ride it and save your cash for more power, then do it 
Now if its an SXR with heavy pipe thos are known to crack, lol
Now if its an SXR with heavy pipe thos are known to crack, lol
Like I said I'm running an ungirdled pro-tec head, like your friends I imagine. The PO had the engine rebuilt and then barely rode it, only has about 20 hrs. on it. I am going to get one when I get the cash. It will save me a potential 500 for a new topend.
Edit: What do you guys consider high compression? To me, 175 is high compression, to others 210 is high compression.
JT_Freeride
John Tetenes @Jtetenes
- Location
- Long Island
I run 185 it seems to be the norm around here maybe because we have 93 octane readily available at every gas station.
I can only get 91 octane with ethanol, so if I get an ada head it's going to be 37cc domes.
- Location
- amarillo ,tx
Sorry to thread jack is it ever necessary to run girdled head on 62t cylinders
From the digging that I have been doing apparently the 62t cylinders have a better casting and a thicker base, so they don't have the same crack problems as the 61x, but if you're running high compression, just like buzzard said, it's cheap insurance.
- Location
- Boynton Beach
You don't want that buddy..
- Location
- amarillo ,tx
^^^ ouch that 62t cylinders, I definitely dnt want that I have some porting done 771
- Location
- the jetski grave yard
62T cylinders are not any heavier duty than 61X. to put a girdled head on 62t, you have to grind out the exhaust mount casting in the middle. if they do break less often, it probably because they are used less often for high performance application. every 701 SJ & blaster came with the 61x. 62t are used mostly as a replacement bandaid. i said insurance, not cheap insurance. aint nothing cheap in this game except maybe walmart oil.
I would say its cheap compared to the time and money for a new top end.
djraider700
lol wut?
- Location
- South Jersey
Id say it's worth it for the reliability concerns.
terryreimer
JetSkeet
- Location
- fort wayne indiana
I have a stock 01 SJ with a ADA head and factory type 4 dry pipe and my cylinder just cracked...my head isn't girdled...gonna replace with a stock 61x cylinder and new pistons...still not sure if I'm gonna swap the head for a girdled or not or if that's even the cause...iv talked to a few good SJ builders and some say alot of people have ran dry pipes without cracking issues and some say u have to have girdled head on stock cylinders so guess it's personal preference
Last edited:
- Location
- Australia/Florida/Oregon
ouch , us guys over here run the water out side of the boat ! I think there are called pissers ! lolYou don't want that buddy..