Sbt?

Conquistador

B-Saw
Site Supporter
I am considering rebuilding my 550 engine or possibly upgrading to a 650. I might get an SBT motor, but am somewhat concerned about quality. Plus, I have read the old posts about what happened to guys like Pancake over at pwct & am not sure I want to support these guys with my business. Politics aside, has anyone ever owned an sbt b4? How was it?

I'm on a tight budget, but want to be back on the water asap. I also want to make sure I have something I can count on for years to come. (engine, at least)
 

Conquistador

B-Saw
Site Supporter
As I also have a thread about a 550/650 swap in the Old School section that has yet to get a response, (it hasn't been there very long) I'll post that here too.

"I know that there is a very similar thread about a 550/750 swap, but I have some questions. First I know that to swap from 550-650, I'll need a conversion plate, but what else is needed? Will the 550 electrics work on a 650?"
 
Here is my take on it...

SBT has made a huge turn around in how they run PWCToday and support our sport. 8 Months ago I would have told you to not even consider an SBT motor not because I thought they were crap, but because of how they ran PWCToday.

Since then they have made a complete turnaround. They are doing so much to help support and promote our sport. They even helped sponsor a standup freeride event at Daytona Beach where most of the riders there would never buy an SBT motor and not because they think they are junk rather because most of those types of riders are looking for high performance custom engines.

Now if you are looking for something to modify extensively and you want the most power you can get then I would consider having a builder who knows more about those types of engines build the motor for you.

Now if you are looking for a good reliable stock replacement for your motor then I would definitely go with an SBT. You can't beat the 2 year warranty the motor will come with. You can do anything you want to the motor and they will replace it no questions asked. That's some piece of mind.

Anyways thats my take on it and hats off to SBT for all that they have done.:biggthumpup:
 
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Fathom

WaveJunkie PR
Location
Central Illinois
SBT runs this site?
Here is my take on it...

SBT has made a huge turn around in how they run this site and support our sport. 8 Months ago I would have told you to not even consider an SBT motor not because I thought they were crap, but because of how they ran this site.

Since then they have made a complete turnaround. They are doing so much to help support and promote our sport. They even helped sponsor a standup freeride event at Daytona Beach where most of the riders there would never buy an SBT motor and not because they think they are junk rather because most of those types of riders are looking for high performance custom engines.

Now if you are looking for something to modify extensively and you want the most power you can get then I would consider having a builder who knows more about those types of engines build the motor for you.

Now if you are looking for a good reliable stock replacement for your motor then I would definitely go with an SBT. You can't beat the 2 year warranty the motor will come with. You can do anything you want to the motor and they will replace it no questions asked. That's some piece of mind.

Anyways thats my take on it and hats off to SBT for all that they have done.:biggthumpup:
Brian, you're more than half way to an SJ with an SBT motor purchase.
 
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Marshj

DarkHorse
Location
Ann Arbor
Here is my take on it...

SBT has made a huge turn around in how they run this site and support our sport. 8 Months ago I would have told you to not even consider an SBT motor not because I thought they were crap, but because of how they ran this site.

Since then they have made a complete turnaround. They are doing so much to help support and promote our sport. They even helped sponsor a standup freeride event at Daytona Beach where most of the riders there would never buy an SBT motor and not because they think they are junk rather because most of those types of riders are looking for high performance custom engines.

Now if you are looking for something to modify extensively and you want the most power you can get then I would consider having a builder who knows more about those types of engines build the motor for you.

Now if you are looking for a good reliable stock replacement for your motor then I would definitely go with an SBT. You can't beat the 2 year warranty the motor will come with. You can do anything you want to the motor and they will replace it no questions asked. That's some piece of mind.

Anyways thats my take on it and hats off to SBT for all that they have done.:biggthumpup:

amen. I have an SBT in my 97 xp (did i just admit to that on this site?) and its been great so far- good people
 
ive used sbt cranks in the past too. never a problem here. thats just my experience and i've only bought cranks from them.

good price, good products, good turnaround time. what more could you want?

if every crank/motor they turned out was trash, i doubt theyd still be around.


i think our crew has 2-3 SBT cranks in service right now! each has a couple of top ends on them as well...
 

meatball

User Title Unavailable
Location
Maryland
I'm running an SBT rebuilt 701 in my couch. Runs fine, no problems and hits like it should. no-fault warranty is pretty good too, except you gotta pay shipping... Other then that, its a great price, and as far as a stocker, I wouldnt mind doing another exchange.
 
Location
va
Captain B,
My 650sx with the 800cc PJS topend has a two year old SBT crank and is still kicking. I wasn't sure if it would last a month much less this long....
 
I installed a sbt motor in a 96 xp and then 2 years later the dude forgot to winterize it. Needless to say that thing was rusted up to the point it wouldn't move. I used a 24" pipe wrench on the PTO and worked it back and forth untill I got the bearings turning. After some wd40 and penetrating oil I got it running. The thing has ran for 2 years now. I didn't know if it would hold up to that or not. But this is 4 years and a TON of fuel has been through that thing and it is still running strong.
 

meatball

User Title Unavailable
Location
Maryland
I installed a sbt motor in a 96 xp and then 2 years later the dude forgot to winterize it. Needless to say that thing was rusted up to the point it wouldn't move. I used a 24" pipe wrench on the PTO and worked it back and forth untill I got the bearings turning. After some wd40 and penetrating oil I got it running. The thing has ran for 2 years now. I didn't know if it would hold up to that or not. But this is 4 years and a TON of fuel has been through that thing and it is still running strong.

WOW, you got very lucky with that!
 

Conquistador

B-Saw
Site Supporter
thanks for the input everybody. As soon as I can get some things worked out, it looks like I'll order one. I plan on running my half-pipe on it & doing a few upgrades. (prop, pump, timing, etc.). Will things like that hurt it at all?
 

meatball

User Title Unavailable
Location
Maryland
nope, not at all. I'd go with the one-year warranty unless you might do something stupid. Usually if an engine has a manufacterer defect it shows within the first 10-20 hours.
 
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