Super Jet What would case a SJ to have heavy white smoke?

[Stunts]

Looking at buying a nicely modded RN but the problem is it smokes heavily. Its white smoke and the more you get on the gas, the more smoke pours out the exhaust, it is not steam. My original thoughts was headgasket but it was run off the water and no change. Oil is yamalube 2M 40:1 premix. Compression was 150 in both but one cylinder took longer to get there. Upon removing that plug, steam came out of that cylinder and the plug was "steamed clean". With it being run off the water and still smoking, wouldn't that eliminate headgasket? So does it need a whole new engine/rebuild? Don't understand how the compression is ok though unless that's not true, I didn't do the test, just going off what the Guy told me. What does everyone think it could be? I really want a RN but I'm not getting stuck with something that needs MAJOR work. Thanks for the help.

 

[baxt3r]

Could the oil be mixed a lot stronger than 40:1? Maybe he wasn't paying attention when mixing the fuel and doubled up the oil?

 

[wsuwrhr]

You have water somehow leaking into the combustion chamber. Nothing else it can be the way you are describing the problem.

Could be as simple as as an oring, or leaking head gasket, depending on what head you have. Could be worse like a cracked cylinder or head. Is your ski stored somewhere residual water left in it could freeze over the winter?

Brian

 

[Stunts]

Its a ski I am looking to buy. So running it off the water, it'd still smoke? If its just a head gasket, I have no problem fixing that, but if its worse, I am not going to buy it. The engine is fine then right, probably the head gasket, but at worst it is a cracked cylinder or head? Still not as expensive as a new engine. What would a good price on this ski be? Its a 97 with:
Dual 48mm Novi Maxi-Flow Carbs w/ billet connector and throttle wheel
Factory B Formula 4 Pipe w/ Water Injection (not installed)
Riva Intake
RIUS Racing Head & Dome, Reed Spacer, MSD Plug Wires
De-foamed, sealed/reinforced bond line and 2 ply 17oz Biax in the tray, around pump, inside hull on bond line, One season old Wamilton's Rickter Foot-holds & Wamilton Custom Cut Hydroturf. New turf on side rails
New 3" Wamilton Scupper w/ Home Depot One-way valve - Dual Cooling, 500GPH Single Bilge w/ Switch - Bulb Primer
Custom Carbon Rideplate - RIUS Intake Scoop, Pro-tec Drop Nozzle System w/ Brand New Cable (not installed),
R&D G-Force front sponsons and I think that is it.


If its just a headgasket I will buy it, but I fear its something worse and don't want to waste my money.

 

[icecoled007]

Its a ski I am looking to buy. So running it off the water, it'd still smoke? If its just a head gasket, I have no problem fixing that, but if its worse, I am not going to buy it. The engine is fine then right, probably the head gasket, but at worst it is a cracked cylinder or head? Still not as expensive as a new engine. What would a good price on this ski be? Its a 97 with:
Dual 48mm Novi Maxi-Flow Carbs w/ billet connector and throttle wheel
Factory B Formula 4 Pipe w/ Water Injection (not installed)
Riva Intake
RIUS Racing Head & Dome, Reed Spacer, MSD Plug Wires
De-foamed, sealed/reinforced bond line and 2 ply 17oz Biax in the tray, around pump, inside hull on bond line, One season old Wamilton's Rickter Foot-holds & Wamilton Custom Cut Hydroturf. New turf on side rails
New 3" Wamilton Scupper w/ Home Depot One-way valve - Dual Cooling, 500GPH Single Bilge w/ Switch - Bulb Primer
Custom Carbon Rideplate - RIUS Intake Scoop, Pro-tec Drop Nozzle System w/ Brand New Cable (not installed),
R&D G-Force front sponsons and I think that is it.


If its just a headgasket I will buy it, but I fear its something worse and don't want to waste my money.

A ski with mods gets difficult to value. Some people value it more, some people value it less (wrong people/didnt know what they were doing). That particular ski seems to have alot done to it. That factory B pipe is worth something (Ill take it)

A 100% oem ski anything below 2k would be a good deal IMO, a modded ski you might be looking at $2,500-$3,500. Thats just from my experience and what Ive seen.

Im not sure how much its ""smoking" but often it can vary on type of oil used, or how long its been sitting/how it was winterized.

Bottom line is RN usually dont have trouble selling at any price, so pick it up quick if it looks like a good deal.

 

[Stunts]

Its heavy white smoke, the more you get on the gas, the more it smokes. The owner thinks its something serious. I was hoping just for a headgasket. Say for $2500 do you think its worth it? I just don't want a money pit with this ski. The pipe is the 4 pipe, I'd sell it for the dry b pipe.

 

[icecoled007]

Id wait for someone else to chime in.... if the owner installed all those mods, he might know a thing or two about the history of the ski. Or if it needs something big....

 

[Stunts]

He doesn't sound to confident of a mechanic, I think he had someone else install the mods.

 

[icecoled007]

http://www.pwctoday.com/f141/found-cl-dont-know-if-its-good-deal-not-320983.html

$3,500 would be a good deal on that ski IMO, If you can get it for $2,500 buy it ASAP

 

[Stunts]

I was just throwing a figure out there, that is the ski in question. Even with the problems, go for it?

 

[icecoled007]

After reading that PWC thread you might want to look for a different ski. This thing might be getting in over your head a little

No offence, Im not trying to dog on you but....

You will need to tinker and work out the problems in this ski. Its the nature of a modded machine. This ski will cost you money, time, and resources. You might be better off buying a stock ski, riding it and learning on it.

Im still slowly learning tons day by day, if you jump too far in over your head you will be frustrated and that wont be any fun. Let the ski go, pick up something easier/cheaper. You can waste tons of money fast on these things.... I know by experience

 

[Stunts]

That's the thing, I don't want a stock ski, it'd be a waste of money. I am not expecting to go out and rock back flips the first day, or even year! But I don't see a point in getting a stock SJ and then dumping thousands into it, that you'll never get back, when you can buy a modded ski for practically the same price. You save yourself so much money. I am all about the right deal, and if this ski is a deal and only needs a head gasket, I will be good. I am fine with working on it, I just don't want to be dumping tons of money into it. If the compression checks out ok, I'll look at the plugs, pistons etc and if it runs ok just smokes, then I'll take it home, swap out the base head gasket, intake and exhaust gaskets while I am in there and see how it runs then. Still smokes, then I will dive deeper into it. I still have my turbo couch and boat to play with this summer, I am new to 2 stroke jet skis but very mechanically, the tools and skills are there and the knowledge can come as I go, it'd be a great learning experience and I am sure I will get lots of help on these forums. Everyone on here was trying to talk me into buying an FX1 that is in litterally every piece possible! That scared me a little bit but would have been a good learning experience. My only concern is if this is a good deal or not, I am worried about the money I will have to put into it, not the time and effort, that's the fun part that will all be worth while when I get it out on the water. I appreciate the advice, no offense taken at all. I will let you know about that pipe.

 

[sjetrider]

my first thought would be O-ring in head. If they are good then it is mostlikely cracked head or cylider. The costs involoved can range from $15 to $500. Know this when you buy it and let the seller know he needs to come down to accomidate these possibilities or fix it then give you a call.

Thats how I would deal with it personally.

 

[Stunts]

Come down from what, $3800? You don't think its a head gasket? I feel ok doing an O ring in the head, especially if I had a write up of some sort. I just don't want to have to rebuild the bottom end, like new pistons etc, no machine work. I can live with $500 but that's about my max for what I am getting it for.

 

[tor*p*do]

cracked cylinder will require new cylinder, pistons, rings,
clips, wrist pin bearings, machine shop to bore cylinder to match pistons
you add it up!

 

[Big Kahuna]

Try to find someone nearby that can go with you to check it out who knows what to look at.

 

[Stunts]

Fingers crossed its not a cracked cylinder! Anyway to tell? Wouldn't it have low compression?

 

[kevbo]

Your smoke concerns make no sense. It its not steam then its just smoke from the oil burning, its what they do. Second, how is a cracked anything going to make white smoke if there is no water in it???? Use your made up concerns to joo the dumb seller into taking less and then go have fun.

 

[Stunts]

I know 2 strokes smoke, but this is apparently POURING out. It didn't smoke like this last season. I have not seen the ski yet, only going off what the owner tells me. Steam in the cylinder made me think head gasket, I've been told that can also cause white smoke? Maybe its just bad/old oil from sitting all winter. What's the best oil to you? I'll flush it all out with fresh premix. Still doesn't explain steam in the cylinder though. I really hope its nothing major.

 

[Matt_E]

Oil smoke is black.