SX/SXi/SXi Pro newbie questions

[overkill131313]

new to the jet ski world

I have a 97 750......but how do i know if it is a sx or a sxi?

I'm soda blasting it and repainting it but I have a few questions about the turf.......

the bottom is glued?
the side top (are they called rails?) are they bolted on?
the front bumper is held on by?
the side bumpers are help on how?


going to pull the engine out for painting.....just to make it lighter for moving around......any secrects? do and dont?

thanks......I will have a million more questions as I go.......

 

[sxipro02]

Side rails use rivets under the plastic plugs and there are also some bolts behind the rails. I believe 5 or so per side.
front bumper is held on by two rivets and the bow eye.
bottom mat is glued, just tear it off and scrape all the glue off before the new pad and turf go down
tray sides just have the two bolts in the bottom in the tray and one near the hood, the dash also has two bolts under the mat. its easier to pull the motor and then unbolt the electronics so you can get at the hood latch.

Motor is simple to pull, just make good notes of the fuel line and water line routing before you pull it. I would suggest going through it and replacing all the gaskets while its out, its cheap and easy and will bite you in the a%$ if you dont do it.

 

[tor*p*do]

sxi started in '95.
no '97 boats were imported to the USA, but I assume yours is an sxi if it has dual carbs
the sxi pro came out here in '98 so it may be an early sxi pro

 

[overkill131313]

well im in BC Canada......would the SN # tell me what it is besides the year? I want to get a new hydro turf kit for it so I want to get the right one......seems like the sx and the sxi are the same......but now it might be a pro?

plus they talk about straight cut, straight molded, diamond cut, diamond molded.......what works for what.....or is it all just for looks? I was going to paint the ski Graber blue (new mustang color) but I wanted to do the turf in a bright yellow.....hydro yellow is not the color to go with this blue......now I have to come up with another color!

 

[tor*p*do]

dont know about canada, but last 2 digits are the year on US HINs

 

[munki63]

well im in BC Canada......would the SN # tell me what it is besides the year? I want to get a new hydro turf kit for it so I want to get the right one......seems like the sx and the sxi are the same......but now it might be a pro?

plus they talk about straight cut, straight molded, diamond cut, diamond molded.......what works for what.....or is it all just for looks? I was going to paint the ski Graber blue (new mustang color) but I wanted to do the turf in a bright yellow.....hydro yellow is not the color to go with this blue......now I have to come up with another color!

Different cuts are just for looks, I've found waffle is easier to turf with, Diamond is the most popular by far

 

[teddy]

Different cuts are just for looks, I've found waffle is easier to turf with, Diamond is the most popular by far

where are you getting the waffle turf i cant find it on hydroturf website???? have you ever had a problem with the waffle's ripping off ??

 

[munki63]

where are you getting the waffle turf i cant find it on hydroturf website???? have you ever had a problem with the waffle's ripping off ??

you have to ask for it

 

[overkill131313]

dont know about canada, but last 2 digits are the year on US HINs

yes this is how i know it is a 97......is it like sled where the SN# is a year before it model year.......if it says 97 is it a 97 or 98 model year? mine says 97

 

[astandupguy]

take lots of pics, helps with the reassembly, plus its cool to have for later, i wish i had more pics of mine before i tore it apart. and if your re turfing, do yourself a favor and install footholds

 

[sxipro02]

2nd above post. footholds are a must, you'll kick yourself if you dont do it now. I bought all my supplies from blowsion.com, they are a bit pricey but have everything you need. I used dual color diamond cut, looks the best IMHO. I also bought digger holds with stiched inserts to make the install faster. dont forget to buy pad for the sides and bottom of the tray, you'll need two rolls total if you do the sides.

If its a 98 it should have sponsons bolted on under the rail s on the back, I think the 98-02 sxi pro was the only one to have them. post a pic and we should be able to tell. Other thing you can do is google pics of the different years and see what decals match yours. That would be a start.

here is a pic of my turf done.

 

[98SXIPRO]

SX- silver motor("small pin"), single carb
SXI- Teal motor ("big pin"), dual carbs
SXI pro, teal big pin motor, but it was moved forward to keep the nose down. and came with factory sponsons in the rear


Lets see some pics!!


my 98' SXi Pro with a X2 tilt nozzle!

 

[overkill131313]

sorry I cant get any pic of it because it is an hour away at a friends......trying to keep it out of the yard so my kid doesnt see it........I want to have it ready to ride before I bring it home because then he will know that the 550 is his!

I do remember the engine is teal. I dont have the time or the money right now, so not going to be doing foot holds......maybe next winter! I dont recall any sponsons and there was no decals to compare......since the SN# said 97.....Im going to say it is a 97 SXI...

 

[overkill131313]

few more questions....

-how do you get the battery out of this jetski? there is no room to get it out......
-what is the plastic part called that has the hole that the rope goes through on the front and back (like a through hull fitting)
-what is the choke like pull knob under the hood on the exhaust side for......it is not a choke but you can pull it up.....cable that goes under the engine somewhere?

 

[sxipro02]

Never had a issue pulling the battery out, unless it has a A/M exhaust with a silencer running above it like my old setup. If it does you almost have to take it off first.
Plastic part your talking about is called a bow eye most of the time, Highly suggest a upgrade to stainless or aluminum. there on ebay for like $10 each
The cable is a water purge cable. There known for leaking over time and can be blocked off pretty cheap, again ebay has you covered.

 

[overkill131313]

water purge? so you pull this if the engine gets water in it? but if it hydro locks you still have to pull the plugs? I was thinking some thing like this but just was not sure? if it leaks I guess it leans the engine out and boom?

 

[tor*p*do]

factory drain, pull it and it stays partially open, leaks and leans out the motor, then boom
get rid of it and install a block off plate

 

[overkill131313]

so motor has to come out to install block off plate? would local kawi dealer be able to get plate or is this an aftermarket thing only?

 

[98SXIPRO]

yea, u gotta pull the motor. just 11 bolts (8 motor mount bolts, and 3 for the electrical box) once its out, u can just un bolt the case dump, and bolt on the new block off plate. Ebay has them for 10 bucks, 4 to ship (14 bucks). def. worth the piece of mind

 

[sxipro02]

yea, u gotta pull the motor. just 11 bolts (8 motor mount bolts, and 3 for the electrical box) once its out, u can just un bolt the case dump, and bolt on the new block off plate. Ebay has them for 10 bucks, 4 to ship (14 bucks). def. worth the piece of mind

It cleans up the engine bay too. If you get a good pipe on there it wont have anywhere to mount the cable anyway...