1st post!
Gordon McGonigal
>....................... I live in Southern California and I've
>shredded all of the local lakes and rivers. .................
^^^^^^^^
Excellent verb, dude.
Chris Demke
meaning. My favorite is 'shreddz', as in 'She shreddz those turns,
dude.'
BTW, it looks like the runabout model copmetition is heating up.
Sea Doo and Yamaha are both releasing new models this year. I have
never rode on a Sea Doo. My motto is 'Better to die on your feet
than live on your ass'. However I accept the fact that sitdown
watercraft must be fun to ride because SOOOO many people are buying
them!!! And the top end models are very fast right from the factory.
Does anyone want to relate their experience as to what it is like
to ride a Sea Doo, or any other runabout for that matter???
Chris 'The ShreddMaster' Demke
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(and then I woke up)
Andy Weaver
>Hey! I finally created a newsgroup just for Personal Watercraft!
Good job! I've been waiting for a couple years for a group like this.
>girlfriend) has been complaining that it is too slow. Compression
>is around 115 lbs in both cylinders. I am planning to mill the
>head to give it some more power. I will probably hone the
>cylinders and install new rings also. I have a DREMEL so I
>was thinking of doing some porting but I have no idea how to
>port a 2 stroke. Any ideas?!?!
I would be very cautious of changing or moving the port size without
some expert help. Try just cleaning up the roughness leading into the
ports and sharpening the vains where the flow splits with the Dremel.
You may be able to port out the cases also.
Is the rest of the 440 stock? There are other ways to get more power
without changing the ports. Milling the head .040 should bump the
compression up to about 175. I wouldn't go much higher than that
unless you plan on running race fuel.
A different pipe and waterbox are a good source for more power too.
How about a SS impeller?
I have a 440 SuperStock race boat that has everything except for
total loss ignition, and it hauls. Well, it did until I twisted the
crank. Now I can't get the cylinder off those long studs to change
the crank. I can't get it to budge after soaking in penetrating oil,
etc. Any ideas?
I also have a couple of X2's. One is my limited race boat that I
went ahead and put in a Westcoast waterbox and pulled the hood foam out
after I was done racing it. It makes a great play boat. My other X
used to be my modified race boat, but I changed to back to mostly
stock condition to sell.
I quit racing a couple years ago before they put the Waveblasters in the
X2 class and everyone started putting 750 motors in their modifieds.
Cubic dollars is a different race!
Andy
>
>
> Chris Demke
> ch...@sundude.jpl.nasa.gov
>
>
>
>
Chris Demke
Andy Weaver <awe...@epcot.spdc.ti.com> wrote:
>In article <2jbrr6$6...@sundude.JPL.NASA.GOV> ch...@sundude.JPL.NASA.GOV (Chris Demke) writes:
>>Hey! I finally created a newsgroup just for Personal Watercraft!
>
>Good job! I've been waiting for a couple years for a group like this.
>
>
>without changing the ports. Milling the head .040 should bump the
>compression up to about 175. I wouldn't go much higher than that
>unless you plan on running race fuel.
>
>A different pipe and waterbox are a good source for more power too.
>
>How about a SS impeller?
>
>I have a 440 SuperStock race boat that has everything except for
>total loss ignition, and it hauls. Well, it did until I twisted the
>crank. Now I can't get the cylinder off those long studs to change
>the crank. I can't get it to budge after soaking in penetrating oil,
>etc. Any ideas?
>
I bought the 440 last year for $1000. It looks like it has seen
lots of hours in the ocean :-( I put a Skat Trak 15.5 SS impeller
on it and changed the forward driveshaft bearings (one of them
had a crack in it's casing). My girlfriend rode it all summer
with no problems other than it being slow. I figured that that's
just the way 440's are, slow. But after pulling the engine apart
I think I know why it was so slow. The pistons are all galled
up on the area that comes into contact with the transfer ports.
Is this normal?? I thought that piston seizure usually occurrs
on the thrust side of the piston.
What pipe do you recommend? I was going to get a Coffman, with
a Westcoast exhaust manifold.
chris
In San Francisco
FINALLY! A new group for jet ski! I have been searching
for a used ski in good condition and 550 engine size. I
am in San Francisco and might as well take advantage of
the water around me!
Anyone out there know where the good areas for personal
water craft? I dont see many in the ocean and figure
that there must be lots somewhere in the delta...
Fred
Andy Weaver
>
>I bought the 440 last year for $1000. It looks like it has seen
>lots of hours in the ocean :-(
My first X2 came from Florida where it saw some salt water. When it came
time to rebuild it, the cylinder had to be broken off of the cases and the
cases were destroyed in the process. Expensive rebuild.
>I put a Skat Trak 15.5 SS impeller
>on it and changed the forward driveshaft bearings (one of them
>had a crack in it's casing). My girlfriend rode it all summer
>with no problems other than it being slow. I figured that that's
>just the way 440's are, slow.
All 440's aren't slow. I've outrun modified 550's and 650's with mine.
It really suprises some people to find out that it is a 440 after you
have left them in your wake.
> What pipe do you recommend? I was going to get a Coffman, with
>a Westcoast exhaust manifold.
I have a Westcoast pipe on mine, but Coffman products are good also.
Andy
Andy Weaver
>dude.'
> BTW, it looks like the runabout model copmetition is heating up.
>Sea Doo and Yamaha are both releasing new models this year. I have
>never rode on a Sea Doo. My motto is 'Better to die on your feet
>than live on your ass'. However I accept the fact that sitdown
>watercraft must be fun to ride because SOOOO many people are buying
>them!!! And the top end models are very fast right from the factory.
>Does anyone want to relate their experience as to what it is like
>to ride a Sea Doo, or any other runabout for that matter???
This weekend a friend of mine purchased a new Kawasaki 750 Xi and we
went to the lake to break it in.
I've only captianed large water vessels, such as this one :), a couple times
before, so I can't make a real good comparison. It seemed faster than
the Sea Doo that I rode a couple years ago, and faster than the 750SS I
rode about a year ago, but I thought that it was still sort of slow.
Maybe I was just expecting too much for $6000.
It is a good smooth-running, quiet, enjoyable boat. But it seems like just
that, a boat. I'd like to have one for touring scenic lakes, or floating
with a girlfriend in a private cove, but it's not a big adrenaline machine.
It's just too heavy and slow for jump turns and other "tricks".
They will turn fast once you have it going, if you have the arm strength.
But to turn it fast, you have to lean to the OUTSIDE of the turn (keeping
the boat flat on the water) then hang on. It puts a lot of stress on
your arms and the outside leg. I cranked a number of hard turns this
weekend and had fun doing that, but it is hard to come out on heading
when you are leaning to the outside of the turn and trying to steer out
of that turn. When I rode a 750SS about a year ago, we had our bouys out
when I got a chance to ride it. I had learned how to turn on a Sea Doo
before I had ridden the SS, but anyway, I was running the SS around our
course. I'd set up to turn it, at the same spot that I'd use with my X2,
and end up cutting about 2 feet to the inside of the bouy. That style
of hull really hooks up quick.
I also noticed that this Xi doesn't slide as easily as a Sea Doo. You can
lean in to gradual turns and gas it without it doing a 180.
They are fun, but I wouldn't want one.
Andy
Michael Levy
comfort.Not to mention bringing along some sandwiches and drinks.I have rode
stand up and sit down craft and find the sit down much more vesatile.
The stand up has more manuverability but lees control.Its a lot easier
to check out the scenery slowley cruising on a sit down.I own a Sea_doo
XP and find it to be one of the best things I ever bought.It's fast(45),
reliable,(no problems after 2 years) and way fun.Add to the list of
places to ride please... GET WET!!!
Stephen Watson
>Sea-doo's are awesome.Its great to be able to take a lenghty ride in
Great, enjoy the ride. Just you gas-guzzling speed-freaks remember:
SAIL HAS RIGHT-OF-WAY!!
>comfort.Not to mention bringing along some sandwiches and drinks.I have rode
^^^^^^
Which had damn well better be non-alcoholic.
--
| wat...@sce.carleton.ca (Steve Watson) | Not Carleton's opinion. Moreover: |
| "I've got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot |
| with an ignorant opinion! I'm a busy man! *I* say, either agree with me |
| or take a hike! I'm right, period! End of discussion!" - Calvin & Hobbes |
D.J. Miller II
on Wed, 23 Feb 1994 15:56:15 GMT, wat...@sce.carleton.ca (Stephen Watson)
writes:
> Michael Levy <mmii...@delphi.com> writes:
>
> >Sea-doo's are awesome.Its great to be able to take a lenghty ride in
>
> Great, enjoy the ride. Just you gas-guzzling speed-freaks remember:
>
> SAIL HAS RIGHT-OF-WAY!!
Good job, man!
(BTW, do you like to poke the caged lion at the zoo with a stick?)
> >comfort.Not to mention bringing along some sandwiches and drinks.I have rode
> ^^^^^^
> Which had damn well better be non-alcoholic.
>
>
> --
> | wat...@sce.carleton.ca (Steve Watson) | Not Carleton's opinion. Moreover: |
> | "I've got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot |
> | with an ignorant opinion! I'm a busy man! *I* say, either agree with me |
> | or take a hike! I'm right, period! End of discussion!" - Calvin & Hobbes |
Ha, ha -- just kidding. >8^)
--
____________________________________________________________
James Miller in Austin, Texas
Internet: jam...@wixer.bga.com (198.3.118.3)
alternate: jam...@bga.com (198.3.118.20)
____________________________________________________________
Lee Pedlow
: In article <2jh14v$7...@sundude.JPL.NASA.GOV> ch...@sundude.JPL.NASA.GOV (Chris Demke) writes:
: >I figured that that's
: >just the way 440's are, slow.
I have a 440 and a 550, both built superstock and I'll take the 440 any
time. I let my wife have the 550. The 440 turns better, get on plane
better and is much spunkier. It has a Kerker chamber and an OCJS manifold.
I love to blow away punks on 650's and x2's. They paid alot for that
garbage and get no ride out of it. I've had the 440 since '85 and it's the
greatest substitute for a dirt bike I've come across yet and NO ROAD RASH!
Chris Demke
So tell me, what do I have to do to make my 440 fast!!! I've got
it completely torn down right now. The cylinders are no good. I've
got an old '77 or '78 440 aluminum cylinder i'm gonna use in it's
place. How much should I have the head milled? What kind of pistons
should I use? Should I have the cylinders $ported$?? It's a '81 440.
The only mod is a 15.5 Skat Trak SS impeller. I plan to buy a Coffman
pipe. What should I do with the carb?? So many questions!!! :-)
Chris Demke
ch...@sundude.jpl.nasa.gov
chris...@west.sun.com
Ron Schweiger
jet ski to get souped up. But not the fastest over all, not even close.... Let'
s think about this a 650 engine is a third larger then a 440 engine don't you
think if the engine was built right it would be faster??? I used to have a supe
r fast 440 that was at clocked at 54 mph, which is not bad. But, my dad had a x
2 with dual carbs and everything else maxed out, it went about 58mph. The faste
st Ski I have ever seen was a X2 with get this fuel injection. It was clocked
at 64mph when he could keep the thing running. So in conclusion some day you wi
ll be blown away buy a 650 or X2 with a much faster engine on the top end.
Ron at WSU, sent to inform...
P.S. But for overall price and fun of riding nothing beats a 440....
Andy Weaver
Andy Weaver
>
>So tell me, what do I have to do to make my 440 fast!!! I've got
>it completely torn down right now. The cylinders are no good. I've
>got an old '77 or '78 440 aluminum cylinder i'm gonna use in it's
>place. How much should I have the head milled? What kind of pistons
>should I use? Should I have the cylinders $ported$?? It's a '81 440.
>The only mod is a 15.5 Skat Trak SS impeller. I plan to buy a Coffman
>pipe. What should I do with the carb?? So many questions!!! :-)
>
Try having the head milled ~.040" and getting a mild port job done.
My 440ss has a 38mm taperbored carb with the jet drilled (I forget
how much, but I could look it up). Add the pipe, intake and ehxaust
manifolds, and an unrestrictive waterbox (I think that mine is hollow :).
That should pick up the power considerably.
If you go with Wiesco pistons, I think that you are supposed to leave
a bit more clearence, and make sure that you warm it up before putting
it in the water and running it hard. I think that the piston expands
from the heat faster than the cylinder expands. Give it a few minutes
for it to equalize.
Andy
Lee Pedlow
: Yes, you are partially right about 440's they are definettly the simplest
: jet ski to get souped up. But not the fastest over all, not even close.... Let'
: s think about this a 650 engine is a third larger then a 440 engine don't you
: think if the engine was built right it would be faster??? I used to have a supe
: r fast 440 that was at clocked at 54 mph, which is not bad. But, my dad had a x
: 2 with dual carbs and everything else maxed out, it went about 58mph. The faste
: st Ski I have ever seen was a X2 with get this fuel injection. It was clocked
: at 64mph when he could keep the thing running. So in conclusion some day you wi
: ll be blown away buy a 650 or X2 with a much faster engine on the top end.
That may well be true but let's fill in everyone on some simple truths:
1. Kawasaki sold the 440's "detuned" significantly for noise and
warranty/longevity reasons. There was alot of additional performance to be
easily wrought from them.
2. The X2's and 650's handle like Dog S---. People who get off on them
think Corvettes are sports cars. (lets face it, both accelerate fast,
don't turn, don't stop and can't handle a bump without washing out.)
3. The 650 is uncomfortable to ride because of the peaked sides that are
flat on the 550's and 440's.
4. The X2 is a moving hazard because when starting, one cannot see what's
out in front since that ugly, bulbous cowling is blocking the operator's
view. I've seen some nasty accidents with them.
In summary, if you want to go fast, straight and have little control, get
a 650 or X2. Or better yet, be one of the morons that rents them and
operates them drunk!
Lee Pedlow lpe...@dsl.sema.com