Quinc
Buy a Superjet
- Location
- California
I have built so many projects since then I dont remember what I did. I might have gotten a new cable made. Or soldered my own barrel to the end of the oem cable.
WetJet 428 L/C Restoration
- Thread starter WindyCitySki.
- Start date
- Location
- Chicago
No worries, I appreciate you chiming in. Any advice on what to look for in a new, compatible throttle cable? Or how to adjust the existing? I don’t know where to even begin.
- Location
- Downers Grove
Do you have any parts skis in your garage or extra cables in the parts pile? That would be my first place to check. I don`t have my wet-jet handy to measure it, but you should be able to make any Superjet/fx1/WR3/VXR/ basically any 2 stroke yamaha/kawasaki cable work. Any idea what the length on your current cable is, the diameter of the threads where it goes through the bracket on your intake and the diameter of the threads in your steering wheel? That would help narrow down which cable would be the easiest to fit in.
Quinc
Buy a Superjet
- Location
- California
Cleaning out my parts bin I found an extra wetjet driveshaft. You want it?
- Location
- Chicago
Sadly, I do not. I will take the cable out and measure it to get some numbers. I think it is about 36" long, but not sure of the threads. Thanks G-Body
Sure! Sending you a private message.
- Location
- Chicago
Long overdue update:
I have been MIA since the holidays due to a busy work schedule and COVID-related hurdles. Thankfully, life has settled down a bit and I have been able to spend some time working on the WetJet. Sorry for not responding sooner to your messages @Quinc
For those following along, I ran into a compatibility issue with the OEM throttle cable and new carb. While browsing eBay, I came across a newer 90s WetJet throttle cable that appeared to have the same components as my OEM cable except for being longer. Decided to bite the bullet and purchased it. I am glad I did! The cable is identical except for being maybe 2 feet longer than my OEM cable. Even better, the new cable was a NOS with original tags. Here are a couple photos of the cable with the new SBN38 installed. I used the OEM throttle cable sleeve, lubricated the line and polished the brass fittings.
I have also made headway with the kill-switch. The plan is to butt splice the cable and integrate the kill-switch into the CDI-stator circuit. Here is a photo how that's going. I purchased a black sleeve to protect the new circuit and look more OEM.
Another upgrade is a new SS impeller. A fellow WetJet owner had Impros custom make him a few impellers. He happened to have an extra which I decided to jump on. Should be a solid upgrade.
What is left to do:
I have been MIA since the holidays due to a busy work schedule and COVID-related hurdles. Thankfully, life has settled down a bit and I have been able to spend some time working on the WetJet. Sorry for not responding sooner to your messages @Quinc
For those following along, I ran into a compatibility issue with the OEM throttle cable and new carb. While browsing eBay, I came across a newer 90s WetJet throttle cable that appeared to have the same components as my OEM cable except for being longer. Decided to bite the bullet and purchased it. I am glad I did! The cable is identical except for being maybe 2 feet longer than my OEM cable. Even better, the new cable was a NOS with original tags. Here are a couple photos of the cable with the new SBN38 installed. I used the OEM throttle cable sleeve, lubricated the line and polished the brass fittings.
I have also made headway with the kill-switch. The plan is to butt splice the cable and integrate the kill-switch into the CDI-stator circuit. Here is a photo how that's going. I purchased a black sleeve to protect the new circuit and look more OEM.
Another upgrade is a new SS impeller. A fellow WetJet owner had Impros custom make him a few impellers. He happened to have an extra which I decided to jump on. Should be a solid upgrade.
What is left to do:
- Finish the electrical connections
- Complete installation of primer in place of choke on the dash
- Install new impeller
- Potentially rebuild the pump upon inspection
- Reinforce bottom of hull due to damage down the center from previous owner's beaching habit
- Location
- Chicago
I really wish I was more organized when taking apart the different components.. While messing around with the carburetor, I managed to lose 1 of the nuts holding it in place on the manifold. A trip Ace Hardware, and many guesses later got me a new stainless steel size M8 nut.
What I was able to complete over the weekend:
1) Removed the OEM choke cable and installed the new primer. Sleek. OEM-look. Functional. Love it.
2) Also went to swap the impellers. I have a hunch that the previous owner raced or modified the machine for performance. The impeller I found appears to be a stainless steel impeller with some rough edges. Definitely not an OEM option. The wear ring has seen better days, but not terrible. Thankfully I have a replacement.
3) Evaluation of the impeller shaft produced no rattling or excessive movement. The orange/brown in the photos is 33-year-old grease and not corrosion. Overall, the previous owner did a great job of maintaining the machine. I gave the grease zerk fittings under the seat and in the jet a good fill up of marine grease.
4) While I do not have any photos of it, the electrical system is all wired and ready to go. Spliced connections are secure and sealed. All components from lanyard circuit, CDI, and stator have been tested and passed with flying colors.
After having everything put together, I wanted to test run the machine to see if all my hard work had paid off. I connected what I thought was my good 12v battery.. come to find it is dead.. Looks like the test run will have to wait until the following weekend when I can get a new battery. On the other hand, the ordeal might have been a blessing in disguise because I noticed that the hull is missing its 2 drain plugs (my hope was to put the WetJet into the water). Thankfully, Amazon came in clutch and I have a set of new plugs!
Once I get the machine going, my next issue might be the settings on the carburetor. According to the seller (Amazon), they say they are all set prior to shipping out. Maybe I will not have to make adjustments? Here is to hoping.
What I was able to complete over the weekend:
1) Removed the OEM choke cable and installed the new primer. Sleek. OEM-look. Functional. Love it.
2) Also went to swap the impellers. I have a hunch that the previous owner raced or modified the machine for performance. The impeller I found appears to be a stainless steel impeller with some rough edges. Definitely not an OEM option. The wear ring has seen better days, but not terrible. Thankfully I have a replacement.
3) Evaluation of the impeller shaft produced no rattling or excessive movement. The orange/brown in the photos is 33-year-old grease and not corrosion. Overall, the previous owner did a great job of maintaining the machine. I gave the grease zerk fittings under the seat and in the jet a good fill up of marine grease.
4) While I do not have any photos of it, the electrical system is all wired and ready to go. Spliced connections are secure and sealed. All components from lanyard circuit, CDI, and stator have been tested and passed with flying colors.
After having everything put together, I wanted to test run the machine to see if all my hard work had paid off. I connected what I thought was my good 12v battery.. come to find it is dead.. Looks like the test run will have to wait until the following weekend when I can get a new battery. On the other hand, the ordeal might have been a blessing in disguise because I noticed that the hull is missing its 2 drain plugs (my hope was to put the WetJet into the water). Thankfully, Amazon came in clutch and I have a set of new plugs!
Once I get the machine going, my next issue might be the settings on the carburetor. According to the seller (Amazon), they say they are all set prior to shipping out. Maybe I will not have to make adjustments? Here is to hoping.
- Location
- Chicago
Well, the new battery didn’t help.. just hear a clicking noise. Starter relay? Maybe need to double check my connections? I am at a loss.
- Location
- Chicago
Back in business! Got the electronics sorted and double checked my connections. When I checked the kill circuit with an inline spark tester, there was spark with the lanyard attached and no spark with the lanyard off. Success.
Unfortunately, I have run into another problem. For whatever reason it does not seem like the machine wants to pull fuel. All my connections on the new carb look great. Including the pulse line from the engine to the carb. Am I safe to assume the arrow pointing into the carb is fuel in?
Unfortunately, I have run into another problem. For whatever reason it does not seem like the machine wants to pull fuel. All my connections on the new carb look great. Including the pulse line from the engine to the carb. Am I safe to assume the arrow pointing into the carb is fuel in?
Quinc
Buy a Superjet
- Location
- California
Do you have the pulse line hooked up If you unhook the pulse line from the carb and hold your finger over it do you feel it pulsing? Is it a new carb or the original? Might need to be cleaned/rebuilt. Holding your hand over the top of the carb will also help it pull fuel.
- Location
- Chicago
Yeah, pulse and all. It is the new SBN38.
I actually got it going - problem was the gas tank was depressurizing due to the gas cap being loose. Not sure if that is possible, but after securing it the machine fired up after priming a bit more. The new carb may need some subtle adjustment. There is a slight hesitation in power when giving it some gas.
Actually just grabbed one of these myself. Not sure if I'm going to restore or just try to get it fired up and mess around a bit. Anybody have a link or .pdf of the service manual? Really hoping to get this thing going; I hate seeing this cool old stuff get parted out.
- Location
- Chicago
Welcome to the club! Page 1 of this thread has a PDF/link for the manual. Do you know which engine you have? Brut or Cuyuna?
- Location
- Chicago
Well, this weekend was the maiden voyage after 20+ years! Took her out on the water for a short amount of time before the rear pump assembly came loose.. Thankfully nothing was lost as I kept close to shore. Between the SBN38 and the SS impeller, this thing is a hell of a lot quicker than I expected. Next on the list is to patch the bottom of the hull and work on the pump. I noticed the hull took on a bit of water after pulling the drain plugs after my ride. I'll try to get a video up the next time I take it out. Water was freezing this weekend!
Wow, don't know how I overlooked that. Mine's got the Brut in it. I've barely looked the thing over at all; I'm excited to dig in and see what these things are all about. Before I dive in head first and start throwing parts at it, anybody have an idea what they're actually worth? haha
- Location
- Chicago
Nice! It seems like parts for the Brut engine are more readily available. In terms of worth, probably a couple hundred bucks depending on condition. I know for sure I won’t be getting my money back if I were to turn around and sell it. But after the ride I had with it this past weekend, I don’t think I ever will. It’s unique, a blast to ride, and a great conversation starter at the launch and beach.
That's cool. PO said it was a runner when it was put away due to a bad starter. Unfortunately, it looks like the starter was pulled during the diagnostic process and the flywheel is pretty crusty from sitting exposed. The rest of the engine compartment looks pretty clean and, from what I can see, the whole ski is complete. I also salvaged a Wet Bike that i passed by while riding around the country a while back so maybe I'll just have oddities collection to go with my standups, haha.
- Location
- Chicago
That's great! Sounds like the WetJet has a solid foundation. Look in your area for people selling their WetJet for parts. Seems to be fairly common here in the midwest at least. You will love the WetBike - nothing like some vintage watercrafts to add to the collection.
- Location
- Chicago
Almost 7 month update:
Got the WetJet running, but it was taking on water via a previous fiberglass/patch-job. Sadly, between work I didn't have the time to fix it...
At the same time while working on mine, a fellow WetJet enthusiast was selling 2 of his immaculate condition WetJets on the other side of the country. He retrofitted them with an upgrade in power too
I actually purchased the stainless steel impeller from him earlier in the thread. After a couple conversations, I decided to purchase them from him and make the trek. Pics are attached!
Got the WetJet running, but it was taking on water via a previous fiberglass/patch-job. Sadly, between work I didn't have the time to fix it...
At the same time while working on mine, a fellow WetJet enthusiast was selling 2 of his immaculate condition WetJets on the other side of the country. He retrofitted them with an upgrade in power too
I actually purchased the stainless steel impeller from him earlier in the thread. After a couple conversations, I decided to purchase them from him and make the trek. Pics are attached!
schicks
Karma Enforcer
- Location
- West Michigan
wow! those are clean, cool, and probably a crap load of fun! I wanna see video of those two racing on a buoy course.