SX/SXi/SXi Pro So how screwed am I? And who can I take my ski to get it fixed in South Jersey?

[Anthony]

I was putting a new battery in my 750 SXi and when I was putting it into the ski, the battery wire must have caught on something, snapped the battery wire terminal (it is a 94 afterall) and then totally shorted out the ski. I saw sparks, then smoke from a wire and it seemed to happen so damn fast that I was only left to curse my luck.

Attached you will find two images of the wire. The first attachment shows where I saw the smoke coming out (the wires on the right is where it happened) and the second attachment shows where that wire traces too.

I am assuming I'm pretty screwed right about now? Since I am, can anybody recommend a place to take a ski to get repaired in the South Jersey area (the closer to Medford the better).



Many thanks in advance!

 

[menatep]

did you check all your fuses?

 

[Anthony]

I just saw the sparks and smoke, and then touched the wire and it was REALLY hot and figured, I was totally screwed.

I am embarrassed to say, I don't even know where the fuses are on this thing.

...digging around for the manual now...

 

[Anthony]

OK, I replaced the fuse that is right by where that 1st attachment was taken. When I pulled the wire apart (where it says "PULL"), the fuse was in 2 pieces and I had to use a needle nose to pull out the 1/2 that was stuck. Man I'm hoping that is where the problem is but my gut is telling me otherwise just do to the amount of spark and smoke.

Guess I will head out tomorrow and get another battery wire terminal.

 

[Kawikazi]

that's the only fuse on the 750, so if it was blown then you have found and fixed the prob.. I've done it many times bro don't sweat it. The 750s are tough to kill and simple to fiix

 

[227]

In the future, when installing a battery, always install the positve lead first and the negative lead last. When removing a Battery do the opposite, remove the negative lead first and the positive lead last. This way the Battery is disabled and the positive lead cannot accidently touch something and arch out. Remember the battery circuit has to be completed in order for it to arch, In other words you can have the Positive wire lead hooked to the battery and touch it to the metal of your case and nothing will happen as long as the negative lead is not hooked up

 

[Anthony]

Kawikazi, man I hope you're right.

227, I definitely got lazy and unfortunately paid for it. Never would have expected the terminal to snap but I will in the future.

 

[SUPERTUNE]

In the future, when installing a battery, always install the positve lead first and the negative lead last. When removing a Battery do the opposite, remove the negative lead first and the positive lead last. This way the Battery is disabled and the positive lead cannot accidently touch something and arch out. Remember the battery circuit has to be completed in order for it to arch, In other words you can have the Positive wire lead hooked to the battery and touch it to the metal of your case and nothing will happen as long as the negative lead is not hooked up

My opinion is OPPOSITE of what you stated.
Electronics are always safer if the ground stays connected to protect them, when removing the positive cable.
Removal: Positive off 1st, then the ground.
Install: Ground on 1st, then positive.

 

[Tyler Zane]

/\ x2

it doesn't matter what your working on, you always take the positive off first and put the positive on last! car, tractor, boat, space shuttle, etc.... this way if you accidentally touch the positive lead to anything grounded it will not spark or damage any electronics.

they teach you this in any tech school

 

[ATS_Aaron]

The correct procedure is to take the ground loose first. This way the tool you are using can't arc out if you touch something metal. Then when the ground is disconnected from the battery, the removal of the positive terminal is safer because the battery is already out of the circuit.

 

[Anthony]

I may just error on the side of caution going forward and have them both disconnected.

My problem was the smoke was coming from the wires pictures not just where the battery cable was touching the engine.

Still hoping it isn't fried...

 

[Tyler Zane]

the circuit got hot and the smoke is from the insulation on the wire cooking. when the positive lead touched it went to the nearest ground, which was the wire that started smoking.

a couple years back my dad said i could have a old 550 that had been laying in the yard for several years, if i could get it running. one night i was wasted and decided to try and turn it over. knowing the battery was dead i pulled my truck up to it to jump it of lol.... well i hooked the jumper cables up backwards to the battery leads on the ski (im my defense it was dark haha) that son of a b!tch about caught on fire. needless to say it blew the fuse, i replaced it and it has ran like a bat out of hell ever since...

 

[Tyler Zane]

sorry for the double post...

 

[227]

My opinion is OPPOSITE of what you stated.
Electronics are always safer if the ground stays connected to protect them, when removing the positive cable.
Removal: Positive off 1st, then the ground.
Install: Ground on 1st, then positive.

I'm certainly not going to argue with you with mechanical know how, nor have I ever attended any tech schools, but I believe I posted the order correctly. If you remove the positive lead while the neg is still hooked up then the wrench your using to remove the positive lead can "accidently" touch the engine, pipe, etc and will arch out and can possibly cause damage. This has happened to me before. If you remove the neg first the circuit is broken and it doesn't matter if you "accidently" hit the block, pipe, etc. while removing the pos. AM I wrong? Explain?

 

[Jet Set Performance]

Hi Anthony, sorry to hear about your problem. If you can't get it running, feel free to give us a call, I'm sure we can help you out, plus, we're located in Cherry Hill, pretty close to you.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

I'm certainly not going to argue with you with mechanical know how, nor have I ever attended any tech schools, but I believe I posted the order correctly. If you remove the positive lead while the neg is still hooked up then the wrench your using to remove the positive lead can "accidently" touch the engine, pipe, etc and will arch out and can possibly cause damage. This has happened to me before. If you remove the neg first the circuit is broken and it doesn't matter if you "accidently" hit the block, pipe, etc. while removing the pos. AM I wrong? Explain?

Negative first is safe for you. Positive first is safe for the electronics. I personally value my health over that of anything material so I always do negative first. This has never caused me or anyone else I have ever heard of any issues with the electronics on a jetski or elsewhere. I have however heard a number of stories of people getting hurt going after the positive first (ignorantly in their case). One guy had to get his metal wrist watch cut off because the resulting short welded all the links solid. This was like 20 years ago and the dude still has a scar around his wrist.

 

[WaveDemon]

I'm certainly not going to argue with you with mechanical know how, nor have I ever attended any tech schools, but I believe I posted the order correctly. If you remove the positive lead while the neg is still hooked up then the wrench your using to remove the positive lead can "accidently" touch the engine, pipe, etc and will arch out and can possibly cause damage. This has happened to me before. If you remove the neg first the circuit is broken and it doesn't matter if you "accidently" hit the block, pipe, etc. while removing the pos. AM I wrong? Explain?

right or wrong, I do it the same way as you for the same reason you do.