Super Jet Watcon hood seal "slit" question

[227]

I just got my Watcon hood seal in the mail and I was reading the tips for installation which said “Often the Super Jet will need a slit cut into the front seal area to allow the hood to drop into position”

What do they mean by “slit”?, Does that mean cutting the hood seal along its length? Anybody have to do this or should I just ignore it? Post pics if you can.

 

[ADDict]

No pics unfortunately, but I did have to do this to get my hood to seal. I put a slit from corner to corner right in the top/center of the foam, then I put another cut near the bottom on the engine comp side and removed that inside piece if that makes any sense..

 

[aramis]

I just put the Watcon seals on my 93 SN and 98 RN, and didn't have to make any slits. By the way, I used both contact cement and the adhesive strip but opinions will differ. After it was all in, I just rested the hood on it over night...not clamped down, but in the hooks on the front and the hood resting on the latch at the back. I put the hood in the hooks, and intentionally lifted up as much as possible while sliding the hood forward and rotating it down (trying not to drag the hood on the seal). The next morning there was enough of a groove formed in the seal that I didn't have to make any slits. I'm now in the habit of always storing my hoods like that to vent the engine compartment anyway.

Tips for a SN: test where your hood front sits relative to the seal track...the track was much wider than it has to be, and for my hood the seal had to go in the track all the way to the rear of the ski...if I would have put it toward the front of the ski, the hood wouldn't have sat on the seal.

Hope that helps...

 

[WaveDemon]

I just water tested my hood seal yesterday and it worked well. I didn't cut any slits or any extra glue. I just pulled the adhesive backing off and I inserted the seal into the groove and clamped the hood down over night. Pretty easy and no problems.

 

[227]

Cool thanks for the feedback

 

[Tkmww]

I put the slit in mine. I only used the adhesive but it came off after a ride. So put some contact cement on it and it is working again. I also noticed that my hood wasn't going far enough forward. I have the waterdawg hooks and they were not deep enough. So i reamed them out with a drill and the hood slides much farther forward now. If I did that before I don't think the slit would have been needed.

 

[Crab]

no cuts or extra glue

 

[Sospikey]

I was thinking to post this exact question, thanks 227!

 

[starter kill]

i just got mine in the mail, but havn't installed it yet. was wondering about the slits also.

 

[starter kill]

just installed mine. did NOT have to cut slits. works perfectly. this is great stuff.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

I too was able to install on a couple ski's w/o slits. It seems that some a/m hood hooks will keep the front of the hood too low to slide forward enough over the seal. The stock (rn) hood hooks will do the same when new, but are "bendable". After clamped overnight, I bent my hooks back to original position and have had no trouble since.

 

[Laxpro2]

Anyone have pictures of the slits they did? My superjet hood cant fall in place because the seal is to tall in the front part.

 

[Yami-Rider]

Just cut the center of the seal from left to right of the hull with a sharp new knife.

 

[stefan]

I rachet strappede my Hood down for 2 Days and all was good