Custom/Hybrid The "Have you seen my pole?" Backie Chan build

[baxt3r]

Got the hull back from Daytona and into the garage to start working. Immediately realized I don't have the necessary hardware to start working on anything, so I put the hooks on the inside of the hull and finger-tightened the engine mounts and Kenney Keepers. Slid the pump shoe into place but didn't go any further. I want to be absolutely sure I mount this thing the correct way since it is pretty important to getting everything in line properly. Time to put together a shopping list of all the new stuff I need to get going.

 

[N-D-Red]

Looks great - good to see a full size picture of it.

 

[baxt3r]

Can anyone tell me if this looks right? Its just sitting in and not glued in. The only problem I see now is that the holes on the intake grate do not line up. Its the Jet Dynamics +2 grate.

 

[DirtKurt]

Looks good to me, but i'm not an expert on pump shoes. How far off is the intake grate?

 

[baxt3r]

This much. I think I have the solution, but I need to get back to the pump shoe install first.

 

[Pablo]

Drill out the intake grate holes to match. That's no big deal. Especially for an AM hull.

 

[Dmac80sc]

I haven't installed a pump shoe, but I would think once you put the glue on it would push the pump shoe out just enough for the holes to line up.

 

[baxt3r]

Thanks, Pablo. This is all new to me and I really want to make sure I do things correctly. Even if it takes longer. I just hope some first-time builder can learn from my inexperience so their build goes smoothly, or smoother than it would without this thread.

 

[baxt3r]

Ready to take the plunge putting the shoe in. Just need some acetone or MEK to clean up as I go. Got everything sanded and taped off, and the tube of 5200 is just screaming my name. Maybe that's my wife. I'll just pretend it's the 5200 and have another beer.

So far it is looking like the pump seal is going to be nice and tight. And I might even luck out with minimal shimming. But, I just jinxed myself. I'd have no luck if it weren't for bad luck. That's how I roll.

 

[Pablo]

I haven't installed a pump shoe, but I would think once you put the glue on it would push the pump shoe out just enough for the holes to line up.

Take ur time with the pump shoe installation. You'll want to make sure the mating surface between it and your pump seal is even on all sides. It might require using a few washers (as shims) where the screws go in to hold the pump shoe in place. Once you determine whether u need washers to space the pump shoe flush with the pump seal then u can glue it place and screw it down tight.

 

[baxt3r]

If the seal is super tight in most areas, would a little irregularity be okay? The shoe is flush at the top and on the sides, but at the bottom it wants to push out a little. Maybe 1/8". Just enough to see. If I push the shoe in and screw it down, will the pump seal make up the difference? Or am I asking for headaches down the road? Again, I just want to get it right.

The driveshaft looks remarkably centered in the bulkhead with the shoe in its current position. Maybe .08" from perfectly centered. not sure I could take that up. I used calipers to measure. However, the hull was upside down when I measured. I took several measurements. Don't remember exact numbers, but they were very close.

Thanks for chiming in. Any input is much appreciated. And seeing as we are somewhat close, I think a riding weekend is in order and I'm buying the first case of beer.

 

[Pablo]

That whole mating surface is critical to having good pump function. With my previous skis the surface has been flush on all sides and no issues. My shoe to seal gap has always been tight and typically have had to have someone push the pump in and compress the seal so I can get the pump bolt holes to line up. Even with that I still silicone the pump seal every time. An 1/8" gap doesn't seem like much but if it looks like a potential place to suck air and cavitate...it will. I would play with it and some washer shims and see if u can improve the overall fit before you start glueing.

 

[baxt3r]

The pump shoe only has that gap when it is sitting by itself, and the gap i between the hull and the shoe. When I test fit the pump, it pulled tight. I had to put some ass behind it. A couple good bumps with my hand made the pump bolt holes line up properly. I put a couple bolts in the holes to hold the pump and could see no gaps. I had to lean into the pump to keep it lined up to get the bolts in. I really don't think there is a gap there, but I could be missing something.

Again, I appreciate your responses. Anything helps. I think it's mainly because I lack the confidence in what I am doing. Seems typical when doing something for the first time. At least for me.

 

[XJCrawler]

Every intake grate coming out of Jet dynamics fits like crap, they just don't seem to care, there pump shoe also fits horribly

 

[naticen]

Who all makes shoes? My buddy has broken a couple plastic ones and the JD definitely requires a grinder

 

[XJCrawler]

Wdk has had the only nice fitting one that I've seen

 

[baxt3r]

Well, the first attempt at the pump shoe was a colossal f'ing failure. Should have made a how-not-to video. I could chew glass right now I'm so pissed off.

 

[River Rat]

Sucks but u cracked me up ^^^^

 

[Droste14]

Hahaha I didn't want go be the first one to post on your failure but the way you posted it made me giggle. What happened??

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[baxt3r]

Not sure where things went wrong but I pulled the shoe, cleaned the 5200 off and did a fair amount of cussing. Things were lined up great, the pump and driveshaft looked good. Then they didn't.

If I can get my head out of my crack and get this right, I'll make a video of how its done. If there is a video, please point me in that direction. I'm a visual learner. If in see it, I can do it.