- Location
- the jetski grave yard
91 four fords. I got a cherry stock one out in the boneyard somewhere. Need to dig it out and sell it. I think 91 was the last year for the 440.
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White Trash Build 440/650
- Thread starter mikidymac
- Start date
- Location
- California
Been making slow progress as my back still isn’t back to normal.
This Rhaas kit has been a pain in the ass but maybe because it’s a rear exhaust. I had to grind the crap out of the battery tray and even stuff in a pool noodle to keep it from cutting into the hose.
I also couldn’t get the engine back far enough to get the bolts in or the coupler engaged enough without hitting the electrical box.
I had to cut down the aluminum bulkhead box, cut the electrical box spacers, grind the electrical box nubs off the back and even add spacers to to one side of the electrical box bracket to kick the exhaust side further back. Even now it barely clears.
Even with the engine mount bolts in the coupler still wasn’t engaged enough for me to be comfortable so I put a superjet coupler washer on the crank and it seems good to go now.
For the price and wait I’m pretty disappointed with the Rhaas kit but maybe it’s just my hull as others didn’t seem to have these issues or maybe I’m just too much of a perfectionist.
This Rhaas kit has been a pain in the ass but maybe because it’s a rear exhaust. I had to grind the crap out of the battery tray and even stuff in a pool noodle to keep it from cutting into the hose.
I also couldn’t get the engine back far enough to get the bolts in or the coupler engaged enough without hitting the electrical box.
I had to cut down the aluminum bulkhead box, cut the electrical box spacers, grind the electrical box nubs off the back and even add spacers to to one side of the electrical box bracket to kick the exhaust side further back. Even now it barely clears.
Even with the engine mount bolts in the coupler still wasn’t engaged enough for me to be comfortable so I put a superjet coupler washer on the crank and it seems good to go now.
For the price and wait I’m pretty disappointed with the Rhaas kit but maybe it’s just my hull as others didn’t seem to have these issues or maybe I’m just too much of a perfectionist.
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- Location
- California
Well, I guess it’s about time to cut to the chase.
Engine is installed and everything connected. I have a few mm clearance on the electrical box.
The gas tank is shifted as far as it can go because of the rear exhaust exit and touches the Bread Box outlet so I’ll have to keep an eye on that.
Got new WSM mats installed and they are just ok. They are hard like the crappy Black Tip and new SBT Hydroturf but they were cheap. I really miss the OG Hydroturf….
New OEM hood seal, fuel selector door and nose trim went on easy.
The lighting sucks but she is finally finished.
Now I just need to get it to the lake for a shakedown run.
Big shoutout to @1970Camaro, @JetManiac, Rhaas and PWC Muscle for help with the parts on this project, my little Groms should be happy with this beater.
Engine is installed and everything connected. I have a few mm clearance on the electrical box.
The gas tank is shifted as far as it can go because of the rear exhaust exit and touches the Bread Box outlet so I’ll have to keep an eye on that.
Got new WSM mats installed and they are just ok. They are hard like the crappy Black Tip and new SBT Hydroturf but they were cheap. I really miss the OG Hydroturf….
New OEM hood seal, fuel selector door and nose trim went on easy.
The lighting sucks but she is finally finished.
Now I just need to get it to the lake for a shakedown run.
Big shoutout to @1970Camaro, @JetManiac, Rhaas and PWC Muscle for help with the parts on this project, my little Groms should be happy with this beater.
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- Location
- Ahwahnee, CA
Very nice build. I have a nice 61x sitting in a tote for something like this…
Is the new hydroturf really just as crappy as black tip? Major bummer if so.
Is the new hydroturf really just as crappy as black tip? Major bummer if so.
- Location
- California
I can't speak for the sheet goods but the pre-cut one I saw seemed exactly the same as the WSM and BlackTip junk. It just isn't as squishy as it used to be. My guess is it is all exactly the same except for the branding logo cutouts.
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
I miss the days of ordering molded diamond "b" stock sheets for basically half price before sbt bought them out. I never saw any blemishes on the b stock either.
I have used several sheets of the newer HT. Can’t say there is much difference. l have used the molded and the regular turf. Seems to be the same. l don’t buy the pre-cut, so that l cannot give any opinion on it.
- Location
- California
Thank you, that is good to know.
- Location
- Georgia, USA
I put a 701 in a 550sx several years ago with the RHaas kit. I had the same problem with fitting the stock Yamaha exhaust. I ended putting the head pipe on a mill and removing like 3/16".
- Location
- Colorado
So OP - have you ridden it yet?
- Location
- California
No, it has been fighting me the entire way.
First startup it would not rev past 1/2 throttle and seemed to be hitting the rev limiter at 4,000 rpm. Turned out the be a bad coil.
Next the fuel system would not hold pressure. Turned out to be a big crack in the front of the fuel tank that was not there when I cleaned it and installed it.
Got a used tank from a friend. If all goes well and I can get the tank back in we are going to attempt to take it out on Monday.
- Location
- Reno,NV
what prop u run with that set up ?
- Location
- California
Skat repitched to straight 19 by Impros.
- Location
- California
Last fight was the stock gas tank. No matter what I did I couldn't get it to hold any pressure so I pulled it out and realized the fresh gas had for some reason made the entire front of the tank crack, maybe it was age? After two old tanks cracking I gave up.
So after having a new one on order from fly-n-ty it finally came in and I got her running.
The back is feeling pretty good so my son and I got them out on Saturday. It was foggy and cold in Cali but we had so much fun.
Both skis ran great. Only issue is the 650 Breadbox is rubbing on the new gas tank pretty bad so going to have to fix that.
My son decided he doesn't like the 550/440 hull so he took his Superjet back from me, LOL.
So after having a new one on order from fly-n-ty it finally came in and I got her running.
The back is feeling pretty good so my son and I got them out on Saturday. It was foggy and cold in Cali but we had so much fun.
Both skis ran great. Only issue is the 650 Breadbox is rubbing on the new gas tank pretty bad so going to have to fix that.
My son decided he doesn't like the 550/440 hull so he took his Superjet back from me, LOL.
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- Location
- Corona, California
Ski came out clean . Pretty cool build . I wonder if a b pipe could be stuffed in there easier than the bread box . But , that’s also not a small price to pay for a potential fix lol.
- Location
- California
I think a B-Pipe would be too big.
But that ain't going to happen either. This was to be a beater and loaner so not dumping anything else into it but a fix for the rubbing tank as neither of us like it enough to keep away from our superjets.
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
Find a kawi 650 pipe even a stocker will make more power and take up less room in the engine compartment