Well,
it's been just over a year with the motor so I figured it was time for an update.
In the past year the motor got a real workout as we get to ride all year, a rough estimate would be 100 + tanks of fuel went through the carbs (and some salt water from time to time) which isn't hard to do riding at least 2 days a week.
I still have the goofy smile every time I hit that little green button and hear the motor wake up. Still love the power and reliability that was built into this little monster by none other than Chucky, I can't thank him enough.
Now for the breakdown.
About 4 months into running the motor I noticed that it got a little muggy on the bottom so after a bit of checking I found a carb dribbling fuel when I chopped the throttle.
Chucky ordered me to get the ski up to him and in a matter of moments replaced a needle and seat on the dribbler. He did the other one since they were off and went through them top to bottom just to make sure.
That was extremely nice of Chucky and he did it free of charge.
Few months go by and all is great until a 4 day ski event rolls around (couchfeast).
Ski ran perfect on the first 3 days with many extended WOT runs through the mangroves. No couch could keep up with me in the tight stuff where and only the fastest would catch up to me and pass me on the long straights. 10 + minutes at WOT is tiring but a blast.
On the 4th day I blew out the reduction nozzle on my morning ride going WOT through some chop. No big deal right.
Pulled the ski out of the water and was going to run back home for a nozzle. Started the ski up to blow out the water and it begun to run away ever so slightly.
Turned out to be a small case leak right by where the starter motor goes in, the fact that the starter motor was lose made it easier to find.
Pulled the motor and found that the AM motor mounts I have been running did a number on my hull. All the bolts were still in and tight but the mounts wore into the inserts and SMC by about 1/4 " on the left side and a bit less on the right. Couldn't tell by yanking on the motor by hand but it did have quite bit of room to vibrate in.
The mounts were rattling everything apart and I bet that's what caused the starter to back out and cause the case leak (remember the needle and seat?).
One call to X-SCREAM had new seals (just in case) and sealant heading my way.
Resealed the motor, stuck in some OEM motor mounts into the patched up hull and all was back to normal
Another couple months roll around and we get some storms passing our coast so surf is up.
Gustav rocked with perfect conditions for a 3 day weekend and right after Ike came rolling by.
While the conditions weren't quite as nice as with Gustav I still managed to bust the nose of my ski and even hurt my self. Motor was perfect.
Didn't get back to the ski for 3 weeks (yep, I was in pain) and when I did I couldn't get the thing to turn over.
Remember the ordeal with the starter ?
I missed the chewed up o-ring on the starter and while we were having a blast in the surf salt water got into the stator area and rusted everything up tight.
My dumb ass caused the death of a mint bendix, a decent starter and my mint flywheel now isn't so mint. Replaced those parts and the motor fired right up.
That is it.
One year of total bliss only interrupted by my stupidity, not running OEM motor mounts and not checking the o-ring caused the most damage. Other than that I have replaced the spark plugs 3 times just for giggles and rode it hard.
The compression is still a perfect 185 PSI in each hole, the o-ringed head has never been off and the motor has never failed to deliver.
Would I do it again ?
HELL YES !!!
For the past year I have forgotten what wrenching is, carb adjustment, What's that? I just want to ride.
I work all week to be able to play on the weekend and with the motor Chucky built me I don't have any concerns about going to the beach. I know that I can hit the green button, install the silly grin and giggle all day. There is no monetary value that could be put on that.
Thank you Chucky and the whole X-SCREAM team for what you do. You have a customer for life. I mean that.
Thank you all for reading by drivel, I am an extremely happy camper.
:cheer::cheer::cheer:
