300/440/550 What Ski Is This?

[delagem]

Hi, I was picking up the 1989 JS440 I bought my son on eBay, and the tow truck driver told me he had a similar ski for sale. He showed it to me, a Kawasaki stand up with a vin ending in 90 (ie 1990), but it had an exhaust exiting on the right rear of the craft, under the fire extinguisher compartment, not up forward. Other than that, it's identical to the JS440.

When he couldn't find the title to it, he told me to take it, for free.

So what model is this? And how do I go about getting a title for it? He lives in NJ, I live in NY.

Thanks for any info you guys can provide!

 

[w-nut]

with out seeeing pics im guessing its a 550

 

[delagem]

What do you need a pic of? I'll photograph whatever you need! Isn't there a way to figure it out by the vin?

 

[DannyF]

its a 550 for sure

 

[Powder]

Five fiddy hull at least I would guess a 550 motor too. No idea how you get a title for NY. Probably an official bill of sale even if for only a $1 with HIN and last registration should be all you need.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

90 model JS 550 sx with piston port engine,I used to have one as my personal demo boat when I worked at the Kawi shop.

 

[SuperJETT]

It's could be another 440, in 90 they switched to rear exhaust.

I had 3 friends with 440's, '89, '90, and '91 and the 89 had left front while the other 2 had right rear.

 

[WaveSlut]

I had a 90 JS440 with right rear exhaust under the extinguisher.

 

[Shonuff]

I had a 90 JS440 with right rear exhaust under the extinguisher.

Me too.

 

[Shonuff]

Except I still have it.

 

[delagem]

Well, the '89 440 has a sticker on the block that says "Kawasaki Motors Corp, 436cc" but the '90 doesn't have anything like that. There is a casting on the side of the cylinders on both that says 440. Guess I gotta pull a head and measure the bore, huh?

 

[delagem]

D'oh! Found a sticker inside hull, sez "JS440A" , "NO OIL" , and a barcode. The dream of a free 550 is crushed! Still a very nice ski for the price... Nicer than the one I bought! Even came with a bilge pump installed.

Anyone have any ideas on how to title it? He couldn't even find his registration, so I've pretty much got nothing, but I'm sure he'd send me a bill of sale or something if I called and asked.

 

[felix5oh]

It's a 1990 550. The hill should also have small sponsons on the rear. They came stock like that , i have one that's dead in my backyard.

Pre-reed motor.(i think) piston port style.

 

[SuperJETT]

It's a 1990 550. The hill should also have small sponsons on the rear. They came stock like that , i have one that's dead in my backyard.

Pre-reed motor.(i think) piston port style.

It's a 440, read the thread.

 

[sflsurfrider]

to find out the exact model/info of any kawi, i believe you can go to www.buykawasaki.com and plunk in the HIN.

as far as getting it titled, if it was titled to the tow truck driver, he can apply for a lost title and when it arrives in his mailbox, he can sign it and give it to you so you can transfer it into your name. thats the legal way in FL, anyhow. the illegal way is to find someone with a title and a HIN plate that theyll sell you. theyre pretty easy to find for the 440/550s.

 

[delagem]

And of course, the Kawasaki website doesn't work with HIN's, despite the box saying "Enter VIN or HIN".... That's ok, I've pretty much confirmed it's a 440.

The tow truck driver was nice enough to give my 13 yr old son a ski for free, I doubt he's nice enough to stand in line at DMV or spend any money to get the title again. I'm not THAT nice, and I'm the nicest guy in the world!

I once got a title for a scooter with no paperwork whatsoever, but it took months, had to get the vin certified by a cop, weighed on an official scale, notarized letter from previous owner, etc. Does anyone in NY know if that's possible with a '89 or '90 jet ski?

I'm not keen on swapping the VIN plates, but once I have my cop buddy confirm that these aren't stolen, I might consider that route....

 

[sflsurfrider]

he doesnt have topay anything or stand in line.

YOU apply for it, fill out what ever you can, mail it to him with a SASE (to the state) with a check (made out to the state) for how ever much it costs to do the title duplicate.

when the title arrives to him, he mails it to you.

 

[delagem]

ok, that might work. I'm not from NJ, I guess I'll have to call and ask him.

 

[Big Kahuna]

if you can find a pipe, head and get the cylinders ported you can really make that thing scream, known of many a 440superstock that would wipe a 550's tail!!!!!!!!!!

 

[delagem]

Hey, that sounds great! But at this point I'd settle for titled and running! I just got back inside from finding 75lbs/90lbs compression and a plugged fuel pump in the one I bought. Ugh.

And of course, the free ski has 130/130 and runs great!