finishing touches - suggestions?

[tom21]

Hey guys- second time riding an x-2 yesterday. I picked one up after seeing D-slicker and Pete just tear it up at Daytona last year. So I just got it up and running yesteday and took it to the water. its got a 750- the small pin I think ( has the two extra intake holes) single carb keihin out of an ss or something. 650 electronics and exhaust. stock steering and pump.

basically I love it, but the steering seems like it doesn't work as well as it should for the throw it has. cable is good and the nozzle turns to where it is partially being blocked by the hull, so why does it not just throw me off? its seems that body english is just as effective as the steering is. is this normal? or is this why you guys chop the back? a little help here.

also it runs great but just doesn't have the jump out of the water that even my stock 650sx had. what pitch works in these? for a 750 I expected it would pull a little harder.

other than that it was a blast, can't wait to hear what to do to fix these minor things so I can really get the most out of it.

[shawn_NJ]

After riding my tubbied/shortened 93 hull, I feel the same way when I ride my stock hull 89. Cutting the back helps alot, but tubbie 2's are the real fix.

The 9/17 on my small pin x2 jumps out of the water. I did replace the keihin 38 with a SBN 46. That seemed to help astronomically.

[tom21]

mmmmm not sure about that, it just seems like going straight that if you turn it hard it doesn't steer the ski as much as if it was a Sj or sx. the nozzle travels a great deal but it doesn't translate to the water the same way. for instance there is no way in hell I could sidemount, can you?

[shawn_NJ]

All joking aside, I can barely ride a stock x2 anymore, I am so used to the mod hull. What steering and turnplate are you using? Is it direct or a cage hull? I have a umi and quicksteer on my mod hull....It turns like butter, incredible. The stock 89 hull I have has direct and you have to LEAN LEAN LEAN to get it to cut hard.

[Vumad]

My ski is lacking power too. Has the power but isn't getting to to the water. It's either the pump seal or the prop, I am told.

Anyway, my X2 is a stock '87 hull with a deep westcoast intake grate, Jet Dynamics ride plate (identical to the one I am selling, have 2), stock nozzle with Accusteer sterring. That is just the way it handles. Even at slower speeds, it carves HARD. I lean 45 degrees or more any time I am making any kind of sharp turn. It does not handle at all like a super jet. No sliding the back end arround. Lean hard and power through the turn.

[tom21]

it has the stock steering but what has that got to do with the nozzle? if it turned anymore it would be shooting into the hull. how does the steering at the bars change the nozzle degree of turn? it can change the ratio but not the distance it throws. or am I missing something? #0 was suggesting a scoop intake grate to help a little.

maybe the stock/wrong prop is all it is and if it was hooked up better it may make the steering more responsive?

[shawn_NJ]

it has the stock steering but what has that got to do with the nozzle? if it turned anymore it would be shooting into the hull. how does the steering at the bars change the nozzle degree of turn? it can change the ratio but not the distance it throws. or am I missing something? #0 was suggesting a scoop intake grate to help a little.

maybe the stock/wrong prop is all it is and if it was hooked up better it may make the steering more responsive?


I was just curious what setup you were running, your right it only changes the ratio not the throw distance. I have a worx scoop grate on my 750 x2 and a jet dynamics on my 780, I did not notice any real handling difference other than it stays hooked up better and feels slightly more nose heavy when I installed them.

[Vumad]

You were riding at lake seminole. A scoop schouldn't been needed on that kind of water, no?

[tom21]

its my understanding that a scoop helps grab the water and direct the flow at the impeller. which should help keep the pump loaded and do it faster. and is the best for surf. it works but just doesn't have the neckbreaking accleration I expected. its marginally better than a 650. what pitch is stock anyone know?

[WaveDemon]

tom, maybe something is broken in the steering setup. get someone to hold the nozzle straight while you turn the bars. maybe the jet of water is keeping the nozzle straight under load.

[tom21]

its good, you can ride it and tell me. when are we going? this weekend?

[Vumad]

I'm working saturday. I was planning on going to Croom on Sunday. You guys free thursday?

Just got done working on my trailer. It's purdy like new. Going to pull my pump tomorrow. I'm going to try to get it out to the lake in the afternoon, that is, if I don't have to put any silicone or anything that has to dry in there.

[Vumad]

Booo... wont be riding tomorrow then. Anyone have the information on how to properly do the job? Should be pretty simple... but I've never done it, and I'm not positive I know what to silicone. I certainly want to see what prop is on there. Stock is for pansies, that's why Tom's ski is stock, I heard.

[#ZERO]

Tom... I'd put a lower pitch impeller to increase the bottom end power and D-cut the ride plate to make the ass end sit lower in the water.

Also don't forget to put a Pro-Tec decal were that champagne cork is sticking threw the side of the hull.

[w-nut]

wot pitch prop are you running at the moment tom , ive run 15 ,15.5 in a 650 pump and they have nice bite and bottom end pull . i think im useing a 13/18 sxr prop at the moment and that was good down low as well with a standard small pin 750.
another quick thought, where did you set your timeing to with the 650 elecs ive set mine up on the line and advanced round 5mm and that worked well for me
oh yeah congrats on getting it going and out on the water joining the x2 family:djsmilie:

[madscientist]

hull mod for clearance

1 = before

2 & 3 = after

also removes the air bubble from the hull around the pump for a little more droop

see ya in daytona?:cool2:

[tom21]

Vumad - its easy bro - silicone fills the gap between the pump and the hull, when you tear it out you will see. unless somebody didn't do it last time? sucks getting our hand in there but"you can do iiiiiiiit!"

#0- Pro Tec stickers on backorder. its a hot go fast goodie

W-nut stock timing, pretty sure its a stock prop, I have a 15/20 solas if thats any better. was trying to look and see what others are running, seems its like my sj- 12/17. anyone know stock pitch?

madscientist- good idea- was actually thinking of taking off the last two inches all across the back. better? don't think Daytona is in the cards for the x-2 this year, not that comfortable to ride it in big surf. maybe as a backup but again its not legal. decisions, decisions.

[Vumad]

Someone will have to let me have to sleep on the floor in their hotel room, feed me table scraps, let me bum a ride and I'll being my X2.

[madscientist]

what do you mean its not legal?

i rode it w/ just the d cut then did the q-steer and trim mod, before the hull mod and after are night and day. the a$$ end dropped down considerably after the mod. i may not cut the rest back until i have tubbies or crabbies on the x

[shawn_NJ]

If you are running a 750 with the stock prop you have to be cavitating pretty bad. And please bring/run the X2 @ daytona!

[madscientist]

if surf shreder from the tody site doesn't come we may be able to accomodate you

i'm running a straight 15.5 on mine which is about a 13-18

[tom21]

not titled and registered to me yet. just tested it to see if it was worth putting money into and building up. easy enough to unload the 750 and the rest was cheap enough to throw together.

easy enough to chop it - what like 30 seconds with and airsaw?

so a 13/18 is on the money?

as far as Daytona - do you really want to see me tumbling in the surf all day? cause there ain't no way I am not falling off constantly and getting back on from the back in the surf- well it just not gonna be easy. I give you guys major props it looks so easy - Hell Pete makes barrel rolls look possible and reality it I feel like a kid on big heavy huffy trying to pull a wheelie, its just dead weight and I can't even get it out of the water on a small wake. are the hulls made of lead?

[RAGS]

not titled and registered to me yet. just tested it to see if it was worth putting money into and building up. easy enough to unload the 750 and the rest was cheap enough to throw together.

easy enough to chop it - what like 30 seconds with and airsaw?

so a 13/18 is on the money?

as far as Daytona - do you really want to see me tumbling in the surf all day? cause there ain't no way I am not falling off constantly and getting back on from the back in the surf- well it just not gonna be easy. I give you guys major props it looks so easy - Hell Pete makes barrel rolls look possible and reality it I feel like a kid on big heavy huffy trying to pull a wheelie, its just dead weight and I can't even get it out of the water on a small wake. are the hulls made of lead?

that sounds like my old hull, waterlogged??

[tom21]

possibly- don't know - drill a hole to find out? it feels heavy in the front, not like a sj like a brick. doesn't seem heavy in the back. how much could it hold anyway?

[madscientist]

they are just nose heavy look at how they sit when floating

it just takes practice and tunning to get it out of the water

[RAGS]

possibly- don't know - drill a hole to find out? it feels heavy in the front, not like a sj like a brick. doesn't seem heavy in the back. how much could it hold anyway?

i was lucky to have a friend with a good hull x2 and there was a huge difference between picking his up and mine thats how i noticed it. i need to drill some holes but i havent yet.

[tom21]

they are just nose heavy look at how they sit when floating

it just takes practice and tunning to get it out of the water

yeah that takes some getting used to, WTF!? is this thing sinking????LOL

alrighty then I will just nut up and give it some time to be comfortable - 13/18 is the prop right?

see what I can do about Daytona. still need a bat box and straps, have a paper stuffed riva box holding the battery down now, redneckstyle!!! whatever it works

[RAGS]

hey tom i have a batt tray but no straps if you need it cover shipping and its yours

[tom21]

That would be awesome! I'll pm my addy, give me the total, I can chip in some beer money if you like?

[madscientist]

try a straight 15, 15.5, 16 for bottom to all around riding

coming from clearwater, bring vumad w/ u he's looking for a ride. he's in st.pete and sure he will appreciate it


if you check my vid on my myspace in my sig you will see my buddy mitch carving it up but due to his size and having olny riden the x thaT day he could not get it airborne but was carving it up

[RAGS]

That would be awesome! I'll pm my addy, give me the total, I can chip in some beer money if you like?

beer money would be awesome, ill sent it flat rate usps its like 8 bux.

i wish i had straps mine has a rope tied around it lol

[shawn_NJ]

13/18 sounds slightly too steep to me. I have a 12/17 and its nice but I would like a tad more low end, if I get another prop it will be a 10/17 or an 11/17. The 9/17 in my other 750 is pretty nice, I would try an sxr big hub cutback, as a few are running those with great results.

[Vumad]

My ski is a dog too, Tom. It doesn't pull hard and it wont come out of the water. It weighs less than half of what the sit down the engine came out of, but the engine doesn't move it. I am sure you and I have the same problem. Bad drive line. The 750 XI SS jumped out of thewater pretty good, but the much lighter X2 doesn't have any pull. I might have a prop that we can work a deal on, but it's going to be a while before I pull the pumps out the my skis. I have too many extra parts as it is. i need some of this ******** sold.

Tom, is this X2 going to be the sequal to your busted ass 650SX running on one cylinder?

I need to look into going to Daytona and sport the rustolium. I'm not going to go if it's going to cost me in the hundreds of dollars. It's really not that important to me. That's money I could spend to ride more often.

[WaveDemon]

I'm not going to go if it's going to cost me in the hundreds of dollars. It's really not that important to me. That's money I could spend to ride more often.
riding at the daytona freeride is worth more than a months worth of riding here.

[crab]

if surf shreder from the tody site doesn't come we may be able to accomodate you

i'm running a straight 15.5 on mine which is about a 13-18
Actually, a 13/18 is more like a straight 17, 13/18 big hub is awsome if you have the power to turn it. Nozzle tuning is the key, I had best results with the stock X2 nozzle on mine and stock cone.(84mm).

[crab]

riding at the daytona freeride is worth more than a months worth of riding here.I'll be dropping well over a grand for the wife and I, plus meals/drinks/ beer bribes, did I mention beer? Some things are just worth spending the green.:bananalama:

[madscientist]

i was thinking 13+18= 31/2=15.5

but we are looking forward to making all the new friends

[tom21]

riding at the daytona freeride is worth more than a months worth of riding here.

If you have the time and 150 cash you are an idiot not to go for just one day. even if you suck riding. you will be a better rider and more inspired just having witnessed it. IMO

[betrezra]

The X-2 just doesn't respond to steering like SJ or an SXI.... you HAVE to use body english to turn.... it's a totally diff ride.

Just takes time to get used to...... IMHO.

[tom21]

I was hoping someone who has both would chime in and say that. I was thinking that was the case but just needed confirmation.

what motor and prop are you running?

[Vumad]

So heres a tip. If your going to get to one side and carve HARD. make sure you keep some weight on the BACK. SUB-city!!! hehe, that was fun. Tom, too bad you didn't come. =X

[tom21]

yeah found that out. also can do it in a tight circle, just lean sideways and just forward and down she goes. then pop up to a tailstand. ride out clean. she was a blast, just want to make her all it can be. feel like it should have a harder launch.

Can THIS setup hit hard on the bottom or is it a mid-top end motor?

Any of you guys able to sidemount?

[betrezra]

It depends how you set your x-2 up.... some guys here chop the back 2" off for tight turns and backflips..... and surf riding.

I've got one ski that's getting chopped for surf riding and another that's staying stock length for speed.


There's a host of combo's for the x-2 on intake grate and ride plate.

The trick ocean set-up seems to be the toploader and the ocean pro finned ride plate.

I personnally have had trouble keeping the darn bolts in the toploader... as there's alot of load on that intake grate. Some people go so far as to drill a hole all the way through the ski to the top compartment and use long SS hardware for the intake grate.

CORNERING - I find my x-2's corner the tightest by leaning the handlebars just about touching the water....... you are almost sideways......and nail it...

if you try to keep the ski flat and just turn the steering, I get little response.... and then if you keep the ski flat around a turn at speed, I tend to just blow the back end out........ and watch all the SJ's blow by me :)

It's a totally different animal that takes body finesse' to operate......

That's the appeal for me :) plus the fact that mine are broken everyother week so I GET the JOY of turning wrenches everyweekend :)....... because I would much rather be wrenching that riding..... yeah that's the ticket.

[crab]

It depends how you set your x-2 up.... some guys here chop the back 2" off for tight turns and backflips..... and surf riding.

I've got one ski that's getting chopped for surf riding and another that's staying stock length for speed.


There's a host of combo's for the x-2 on intake grate and ride plate.

The trick ocean set-up seems to be the toploader and the ocean pro finned ride plate.

I personnally have had trouble keeping the darn bolts in the toploader... as there's alot of load on that intake grate. Some people go so far as to drill a hole all the way through the ski to the top compartment and use long SS hardware for the intake grate.

CORNERING - I find my x-2's corner the tightest by leaning the handlebars just about touching the water....... you are almost sideways......and nail it...

if you try to keep the ski flat and just turn the steering, I get little response.... and then if you keep the ski flat around a turn at speed, I tend to just blow the back end out........ and watch all the SJ's blow by me :)

It's a totally different animal that takes body finesse' to operate......

That's the appeal for me :) plus the fact that mine are broken everyother week so I GET the JOY of turning wrenches everyweekend :)....... because I would much rather be wrenching that riding..... yeah that's the ticket.I quit using the toploader, with a D cut rideplate and shortened hull, you don't need it , just grabs too much water . My motor responds much better now with a 2 bar intake and stock 84mm exit nozzle and cone. I didn't think it would do this, but did lots of testing both ways and it works much better, still doing about 50mph also.

[shawn_NJ]

I quit using the toploader, with a D cut rideplate and shortened hull, you don't need it , just grabs too much water . My motor responds much better now with a 2 bar intake and stock 84mm exit nozzle and cone. I didn't think it would do this, but did lots of testing both ways and it works much better, still doing about 50mph also.

Very interesting... Does it feel overall "looser"?

[Vumad]

How much better is the PJS nozzle than stock? and what is it better for?

[RAGS]

hey tom i have a batt tray but no straps if you need it cover shipping and its yours

tom i shipped the tray, pad and screws today around 2:00 priority mail.
you should have them in a few days

[Vumad]

What was wrong with my tray. Do I have cooties? You could have saved on shipping. It was free.

Oh, I forgot. Tom is a big money business owner.

[crab]

Very interesting... Does it feel overall "looser"?Much looser in a good way, easier to throw the back out. The only bad thing I found was at near 50 the rear rides higher in the water and thus it fell over. Never had that issue with the toploader, also it no longer has power brakes.