Newbie questions

[resqman911]

Hey guys, I just got a 650 sx and I don't have any experiance with the mechanical side of things on a ski, so my question is what should I be looking for, its an old ski but seems to run good, I haven't had it in the water yet, I would hate to take it out on its maiden voyage and not know what to look for while testing it out.

Also what would you guys recommend as the mixture ratio on it? 32/1?

 

[SuziQ]

Hey fellow Georgia! I'm not too mechanical (one of many reasons I like this site too, for many people here are mechanical for sure)! I just try to make sure mine does not sink when I put it in the water, lol! Welcome to the site! :wave:

 

[SuziQ]

forgot to mention, I sunk my third ski (sj) on the maiden voyage in the surf at Monster Hole (Sebastian Inlet). Someone told me I should be proud! I believe this happened because nobody mentioned my hood vents should be sealed, and so the chop got me right as I was trying to get out of the inlet. Many were around, so I had much help thankfully, because we have many sharks down here. It took forever to get it in too, and I can thank two big sitdowns that happened to be in the area for the tow (tried to pay them, they didn't speak English well, yet when I kept repeating money, they said no no no...nice people)! Then all my friends down here set my poor sj on fire!

Of course, I have to give thanks to my two heroes, Savannah Scott and Stricky!

 

[resqman911]

I got lucky, the ski was given to me by a friend who didnt have time to mess with it. It had been sitting for a couple years, I cleaned the carb, flushed the fuel tank, and charged the battery, and the thing fired right up. I'm going to give it a rattle can paint job to get me by for the remainder of the summer.

 

[ger87410]

Sounds like you already checked about everything.

Does the 650 have a grease nipple at the driveshaft bearing (at the firewall in the engine compartment)like the 550? If so, might be worth seeing if it needs grease.

If you don't have a lanyard on that ski, probably be worth rigging the carb so it runs too rich at idle and will die if you fall off.

 

[resqman911]

Are there any direct replacement start switches with a lanyard or do I have to get inventive.