fj40cody
not a fair weather rider!
- Location
- Tipp City, OH
I decided to do some upgrades to my ski while I look and save for a new SJ. It started when I went to the Cleveland rock and ride and got to ride some really nice ski's (thanks guys)
So I started my build with just a home made alum hand pole that cost way more than I anticipated, cost of tools i.e. drill bits. The alum was only 35 at the local scrap yard. It is almost 4 pounds lighted, -2in shorter, and made the center of gravity lower on the ski because it is not so tall. I then put on a set of blowsion straight bars. And a freestyle pump cone. After these were on I got one test ride in, the shortened hand pole, bars and pump cone made a big difference. When doing a nose stab in flat water, when I come up I now have the power to drive out instead of the nose pointing straight up.
I then decided to get a set of footholds and do away with the footstraps I had installed. These wernt all that bad to install except that the gunwhales are curved not straight so it was hard to get the footholds to fit. After the footholds were in it was time for the hydro turf, at this time my friend that was helping said "now's the time to paint it" so I went the the paint shop and got some paint. Lucky for me he had the primer, reducer, hardner and all the rest of the paint supplies that I know nothing about. That went on really well for shooting the paint in a garage that we lined with plastic. He did a really good job of painting it.
The hydro turf really was a pain to install this being my first time but the more I did the easier it got. And by the end I think I had it down pretty good. I still have to do the pads on the hood, and the choke / fuel panel. All in all Im really happy with the way it turned out. I just cant wait to get it in the water.
My next upgrade will be bigger carb and exhaust. It should really run pretty good then because it has over sized pistons in it, and aftermarket reeds, or so I was told by a previous owner.:brap:I would really like to know what everybody thinks of the build?
So I started my build with just a home made alum hand pole that cost way more than I anticipated, cost of tools i.e. drill bits. The alum was only 35 at the local scrap yard. It is almost 4 pounds lighted, -2in shorter, and made the center of gravity lower on the ski because it is not so tall. I then put on a set of blowsion straight bars. And a freestyle pump cone. After these were on I got one test ride in, the shortened hand pole, bars and pump cone made a big difference. When doing a nose stab in flat water, when I come up I now have the power to drive out instead of the nose pointing straight up.
I then decided to get a set of footholds and do away with the footstraps I had installed. These wernt all that bad to install except that the gunwhales are curved not straight so it was hard to get the footholds to fit. After the footholds were in it was time for the hydro turf, at this time my friend that was helping said "now's the time to paint it" so I went the the paint shop and got some paint. Lucky for me he had the primer, reducer, hardner and all the rest of the paint supplies that I know nothing about. That went on really well for shooting the paint in a garage that we lined with plastic. He did a really good job of painting it.
The hydro turf really was a pain to install this being my first time but the more I did the easier it got. And by the end I think I had it down pretty good. I still have to do the pads on the hood, and the choke / fuel panel. All in all Im really happy with the way it turned out. I just cant wait to get it in the water.
My next upgrade will be bigger carb and exhaust. It should really run pretty good then because it has over sized pistons in it, and aftermarket reeds, or so I was told by a previous owner.:brap:I would really like to know what everybody thinks of the build?
Attachments
Last edited:
