- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
i suppose your right, im definitely repainting though.
Was given a 550 The General Lee
- Thread starter Ryan Declark
- Start date
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
Started sanding the ski. Wanted to keep the ski as close to its original form as it could be but i ended up breaking a piece of the fire extinguisher housing then i started going ham on it. Does anyone know a good replacement for trying to keep this somewhat original. Also if i decide to race the ski does anyone know if i wouldnt qualify if i just end up just glassing over the fire extinguisher hold.
Attachments
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
super sad i broke this fire extinguisher plastic piece, i feel like im not gonna have to cut it completely out and find another donor damnt.
WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
I have several old hulls here that are completely trashed I can probably get you a tube out of one of them.
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
dude you would be my hero. i ruined the tube and that plastic piece that kinda takes the shape of the hull
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WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
It will take me a minute but yeah I can cut you one out of an old hull.
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
Found a guy getting rid of a ski for 60 bucks, its the wrong fire extinguisher hold for this year but honestly Super stoked it just worked. Just started with the fire extinguisher hold this morning and im beyond excited that its gonna work without any major work needed., just need a cap now, with is annoying because people want 70 bucks for them online but whatever its done. Gonna keep sanding and prepping for small amounts of glass work.
Also since i am here, i would like have the ability to ride it in the surf. I know thier are a few threads on glass reinforcement for nose and bulkhead, my question is should i do that or try and find the metal brackets that help reinforce everything?
Also since i am here, i would like have the ability to ride it in the surf. I know thier are a few threads on glass reinforcement for nose and bulkhead, my question is should i do that or try and find the metal brackets that help reinforce everything?
Attachments
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
I would have taken the opportunity to widen the tray if you are not restoring to bone stock. I stood in a 550 tray once and man did it feel cramped. I don't think in the surf you'll have any sheriffs asking for a fire extinguisher....inland lakes are a different animal....though you could stuff one in the engine bay should you absolutely need it if you get pulled over.
WFO Speedracer
A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
- Location
- Alabama
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
I dont think this is the only one ill do, this is the first time iv ever restored a ski, so i tried to just make it as original as possible. Someone made a good point that its possible that these might be worth money one day for a nice original design. But aside from that i do plan on doing another one with a bigger engine and also widening the tray. Iv actually seen a few 650s recently that are pretty cool that i might mutilate to try out.
E350
Site Supporter
- Location
- Sacramento Delta
I am the least able rider posting in your thread. Regardless, here are a couple of things that could be helpful.
Post up your weight, height and age and other sports you do so that others can refine their advice to you.
And, you may already know about this resource, but if not, it is good for nomenclature and part numbers when you are searching ebay, etc. for parts:
IMHO, like @Sparkplug says, don't change the hull. That's ski's highest and best purpose is as a 550. And no amount of shortening or rockering the hull will make it better. Change whatever makes sense in the engine bay, but keep the hull the way it is except maybe for adding front and rear sponsons.
One of the members here has, IMHO, perfected the 550. Check out @Aquaholic 's Mini Monster thread if you haven't already:
Also, that Wave Hunters video posted by @hornedogg79 is simply awesome. It looks to me that those riders were doing incredible things on stock 550 hulls. No doubt with highly modified engines.
The below video was put together by a member of the forum here. It is very playful and is one of my favorites:
You will likely move on to other skis, but a stock hull 550 is really a pretty cool ski to have in the quiver or to pass on to others. If you want to share your sport with others, it makes a great beginner ski. Here is mine:
BTW, you can still find, or have made, year specific stock graphics.
Post up your weight, height and age and other sports you do so that others can refine their advice to you.
And, you may already know about this resource, but if not, it is good for nomenclature and part numbers when you are searching ebay, etc. for parts:
IMHO, like @Sparkplug says, don't change the hull. That's ski's highest and best purpose is as a 550. And no amount of shortening or rockering the hull will make it better. Change whatever makes sense in the engine bay, but keep the hull the way it is except maybe for adding front and rear sponsons.
One of the members here has, IMHO, perfected the 550. Check out @Aquaholic 's Mini Monster thread if you haven't already:
Custom/Hybrid - Mini Monster
550 Stroker mini monster. [Insert Jaws theme music here].
www.x-h2o.com
Also, that Wave Hunters video posted by @hornedogg79 is simply awesome. It looks to me that those riders were doing incredible things on stock 550 hulls. No doubt with highly modified engines.
The below video was put together by a member of the forum here. It is very playful and is one of my favorites:
You will likely move on to other skis, but a stock hull 550 is really a pretty cool ski to have in the quiver or to pass on to others. If you want to share your sport with others, it makes a great beginner ski. Here is mine:
BTW, you can still find, or have made, year specific stock graphics.
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- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
Thank you for the insite, i was unaware of all that but i will now use that tool. I appreciate the feedback. Again my idea was just to restore and make it look freah again with a a color id enjoy. And i also agree, i had an fx1 that was incredibly fast and ill likely move up to something further than that like an aftermarket hull and a 701 62t motor with all the engine goodies but for now this is keeping me busy and excited to get back into enjoying the sport. So ill sink so money into this guy getting it a little more fun than stock and keep it for myself or others. So far iv had alot of help with the fibergass work and paint so im only in the whole about 500 bucks with the purchase of the hull restoring this bad johnny. Also that 550 looks very nice
hornedogg79
dodgin' bass boats
I raced 7 rounds of AJSA vintage 550 class this summer and it's been some of the most fun I've had on a ski. I've ridden about every hull made and own a much nicer ski but seem to always find myself on a js550. Restore that thing and go race!
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- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
Dude so awesome. How much did you spend getting it race ready?
hornedogg79
dodgin' bass boats
Not much. I work on them and have a good collection of parts. Get 3 double lip oem seals from nasty nic on ebay. Intake spacer or new pjs intake to use an SBN 44 carb. Gaskets, sealant.... See what degree flywheel you have (21,25,or28) and adjust stator accordingly to make it 25. One mm = one degree roughly. If flywheel isn't stamped it's a 21) Half pipe exhaust is best but pricey. Use the 85+ stock "breadbox" if you want to save $. It's a good design. Lots of good resources and OG mechanics in the kaw 550 fb group.
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
10 4. iv never heard of a 3 lip seal but ill poke around.
E350
Site Supporter
- Location
- Sacramento Delta
I have the 550SX version sitting on my shelf, waiting to install. But here is the 550JS version. Call him.
- Location
- Costa Mesa CA
Whats the difference compared to stock