FX-1 144 in fx-1 pump question

[Algonquin]

Is it possible to put in a 144 pump without modifying the pump itself? I was looking at it and was hoping it would be possible to get it in with just glass work to the tray insert locations.

I haven't ruled out the Kawi 650 pump, but I'd like to go 144 and I don't have the funds to pay $600 for the pump tabs cut and re-welded.

 

[LBE]

Is it possible to put in a 144 pump without modifying the pump itself?

Anything is possible.

No it is not simple.
If it was simple everyone would have done it years ago. You can do the glass work and make it fit that way, but the time and trouble may not be worth it.
Save your pennies for the bolt in, much simpler.

 

[Wave Chaser]

Algonquin

I was in the same boat you are. I had all the parts not enough funds to go the bolt in route yet and wanted to get it in this winter.

My FX-1 has been riden pretty hard so tearing up a little fiberglass did not bother me.
I installed the FX driveshaft in the pump and test fitted. I have ground down the front mount area where the 144 pump rubs and glassed it up some but not finished yet. I have shimmed the back to center the driveshaft in the pump shoe and drilled the rear mounting holes.

It looks pretty good. All I have left is to mark and drill the front holes and grind out the pump shoe as much as possible. I understand the pro tech steering nozzle will work it shipped yesterday. I can take some pics of where I am at now if you would like.

 

[Algonquin]

Wave Chaser - I would definitely like to see pictures of your progress.

Even with the bolt in I am not going to run an fx-1 shoe even bored out. So I figure if I'm going to do that much glass work already might as well do some more and get the pump to fit

 

[special fx]

If you go the glass work route you won't be facing welding mods again when your wear ring corrodes.....just a long term thought.....and maybe only a saltwater concern. I know my stock FX wear ring only lasts a couple seasons before it's junk!

 

[Wave Chaser]

Here are some pics. It's messy but the grinder I used to cut into it was a little large to fit in ther area and I decided I would rather cut out to much and glass back in so it would be nice and strong when done.

There was one other item I ran into. the water outlet, siphone bilge and tail spout piece are all opposite from the FX-1. I dont need the bilge or spout but I flipped the vien section 180 and drilled new dowel pin holes in it so that the water feed would stay stock.

I will update to the 144 pump shoe next year but if I change that then I understand I will also need a SJ intake grate. Like I said earlier I am doing this with parts on hand the only thing I have had to purchase so far is the steering nozzle.

The rear tabs on mine needed 5mm of shim on each side the fronts I will raise with glass so that no shims will be needed. I may glass up the rear too not sure yet.

The only downside to this route I have had so far is tearing up the turf (it needed it badly anyway) and grinding the front mounting area.
I agree with special FX about once modified the parts will be replacable off the shelf and this also was motivation for this direction.

 

[Wave Chaser]

Ok sorry had to resize the pics

 

[WaveDemon]

you should talk to tom21. he runs a jetski shop and does that mod. I can't imagine that he'd charge as much as you said.

 

[Bonzia Bob]

Don't forget you still have to make the rideplate fit also.

 

[sjaholic]

that's what i thought after seeing pic #2.

 

[Flash-FX]

Wave Chaser, NOT to throw a wrench into your gears but...are you sure about the those shims? I spent a few hours messing around with the same exact thing.
Do you have a bearing assembly and motor w/coupler installed to verify the proper alignment? The 144mm pump is about 1" overall larger in diameter, that moves the driveshaft centerline about 1/2" (see pic, courtesy of Slug). Slug also used a spacer system that moved the pump away from the boat, and later had issues with the ride plate.

I think there might be more grinding in order to get things aligned better for you. :fing02:

BTW, What ever happened to Slug? That was one sweet FX-1!

 

[Wave Chaser]

Yeh I have layed the ride plate on there but figured I would work with that once I had the pump aligned.

I was surprised it needed shimming in the back also but I have the mid shaft assy still in the ski and have centered the 144 on the old pump shoe so there is equal distance around it. If I drop the rear down the pump is not center on the pump shoe.

The ride plate does not seem that far off I have a pro tech one and the x braceing runs at the highest point on the pump.

 

[wayne]

Don't forget you still have to make the rideplate fit also.

better listen to bob, he is the man when it comes to this mod.

 

[Wave Chaser]

Flash

You got me thinking about why it shimmed that way so I just went out and compared the reduction nozzles.

The reason the rear needs shimming is due to the way each pump mounts. You have pics of the front but if you match up ther reduction nozzles the FX tabs have a longer reach and a rubber insulator shimming it up high. The SJ reduction nozzle has the ears a little closer to center.

 

[tom21]

yeah what Bob said- please pull the bearing carrier and then reinstall your pump to make sure. if it is not sitting centered in the hole you're not done yet. I can't see how you could be even close judging by how much it has to drop down to hit the centerline.

 

[DsmRacing]

If you go the glass work route you won't be facing welding mods again when your wear ring corrodes.....just a long term thought.....and maybe only a saltwater concern. I know my stock FX wear ring only lasts a couple seasons before it's junk!

That's why I decided to go with a plastic liner one, hopefully it works out well:scratchchin:

 

[Wave Chaser]

Here is a visual look at why the rear needs shims even though you would think it would not using a bigger pump. The FX pump is on the right. They are both sitting level and the SJ Pump actually needs to go up about 2mm to center with the FX Nozzle. My FX also had about 2 or 3mm of shim on the original pump which gets me to the 5 I have shimmed it at to center.

Also note the large insulators on the FX pump which raise the pump up quite a bit.

 

[Flash-FX]

Nice pix...good topic. All I'm saying is double check your driveshaft centering (from the spline end to the tail end), if the shims are needed you have to use them. All boats are a little different.

Here are a few pix of what Blowsions answer is for the FX/144mm pump mod, "Bolt in". They cut off the forward mounting tabs and re-weld them (I think this is what Special FX was referring to with the wear ring life span/replacement, you can't use a off the shelf Yamaha part). The rear tabs were re-located also. For the guys that I've seen using this pump, it still required lots of grinding/glass work. The performance is worth it. :fing02:

Who are "Texas amigos Brian and Elmer" that developed this mod for Blowsion?

 

[Algonquin]

Those pics look good. I'd really like to see how it turns out.

I'm nervous about cutting my hull since its in real good shape, plus I just bought it.

The Blowsion pump looks nice, but it really seems like a waste with the fx1 pump shoe still in place. I know the fx1 shoe can be bored to the 130 mm range, but doesn't this cause cavitation? Seems like an air pocket would form right after the shoe. I used to have problems if I didn't seal old kawasaki pumps in real clean.

 

[Bonzia Bob]

Who are "Texas amigos Brian and Elmer" that developed this mod for Blowsion?

That would be FX-6.9boy and I :sneaky: