Super Jet so ticked off right now...

[aramis]

ok...I'm so freakin' ticked off, mostly cause I should have known better. But, I just found yet another reason why my ski was running crappy last summer.

My fancy schmancy carbon gas tank, that is like only 3 years old, is deteriorating and clogging the pickup tube with epoxy 'skin flakes'. I cut the main lines & pulled the tubes out of the tank and the gas can't even drip out. Any spot with a skim coat of epoxy on the inside of the tank is yellowed and flaking off.

All that money spent on something that caused more problems than anything else...

I haven't had the ski in the water once yet this summer, and with my limited free time is looking like August now if I'm lucky. Just got midshaft assembly rebuilt, and am working on the crank seals now. Luckily I didn't toss my original tank and fittings...

 

[227]

IMO Yamaha got it right the first time around. Bling isn't always a good thing, I see a lot of aftermarket "Improvements" that aren't really an improvement at all. Sorry you had to learn that the hard way.

 

[aramis]

Yeah, I know...I definitely knew better and did it anyway. The funny thing is, I did it not for the bling factor but only so I could have room to remount the battery low and in the center. It was an expensive experiment.

My guess is that this problem is why that vendor doesn't list this tank anymore on their site.

Wouldn't have even found it if it hadn't been for the also-crappy clear fuel lines not sealing to the fuel filter, and dripping gas. I pulled everything out of the ski to drain and cap since I was going away for a few days and didn't want to return to a bigger mess, and ended up finding it that way.

So, I'm going back to the oem tank, external fill, and some solid black fuel line...unless someone has a better suggestion on fuel line. Is standard solid black stuff from Auto Zone ok?

 

[demolition_x]

Who made the gas tank?

 

[tom21]

not sure if it will work but I have used some stuff called "Kreem" that I pick up at the local motorcycle dealership. its made for cleaning the rust from gas tanks on bikes and then sealing it. I used it many times for many years on vw bug fuel tanks. its like 20 bucks so maybe it would be worth a shot?

 

[BruceSki]

I would try and find some OEM gas line. That is the best stuff out there. Hell it is still in good shape on some of the 20 year old skis I have parted out. The OEM must have done something right there.

 

[engineman44]

Just don't use seadoos oem gray lines

 

[swapmeet]

Tygon fuel line is great, its fairly transparent but made to withstand fuel. I've found it a local Ace and True Value stores but McMasterCarr is where I bought mine.

Sorry bout your tank. I have a buddy who has one, i'll mention this to him.

 

[MADMAT]

My fancy schmancy carbon gas tank, that is like only 3 years old, is deteriorating and clogging the pickup tube with epoxy 'skin flakes'. I cut the main lines & pulled the tubes out of the tank and the gas can't even drip out. Any spot with a skim coat of epoxy on the inside of the tank is yellowed and flaking off.

Wow that is a nasty story....who made the POS?

 

[SXIPro]

I'd make the tank vendor pony up some $$ for providing a lousy product. That could have REALLY phucked up your ski. A full refund minimum.

 

[Sospikey]

Try jetmaniac for some used oem yamaha fuel line. Great shait!

 

[JetManiac]

I would try and find some OEM gas line. That is the best stuff out there. Hell it is still in good shape on some of the 20 year old skis I have parted out. The OEM must have done something right there.

You said it!

 

[aramis]

not sure I should say where the tank came from, since I haven't talked to them yet. Don't want to be bad mouthing anyone behind their back. It looks like they're not selling it any more so there's no future buyers to protect.

if there's a silver lining, I guess it's this: because of all the other work I'm doing, I'll have automatically cleaned or replaced every spot where this epoxy crap could have gotten to.

...and Chris, I'll send you a PM about fuel lines. Feels like I'm ordering from you at least once a week lately!!!

 

[McDog]

Wamiltons is the only cf fuel tank I have ever heard of. If it's them you should have a chance since they are not a fly by night company. Good luck.

 

[aramis]

just sent the vendor a polite e-mail requesting a refund, hopefully I hear something back...

 

[tor*p*do]

use cheap black fuel line from advance or auto-zone
been using it for years, works fine, cheap, no issues

 

[Waternut]

Why not just buy some fuel tank liner? Clean the tank as best you can, add the liner, and continue using the tank like nothing ever happened.

 

[aramis]

because when I spend 500 bucks on something I don't expect to have to band-aid it. It was sold as a gas tank and it is unsuitable for that purpose.

The tank has internal baffles that prevent lining anyway, and those baffles now have exposed hanging carbon threads and it continues to shed epoxy.

I tried to find the receipt from when I bought this, but I can't. I can say for sure that it has only been used for 2 years.

 

[Matt_E]

Damn, $500 for a gas tank? Out of curiosity, what was the supposed advantage of this tank over a stocker?

 

[aramis]

I really wanted to get the battery center mounted, but I also needed at least 3 gallons. This was the only tank I found that fit the bill. Plus, it was wicked cool carbon...

In hind sight, I should have left the #$^&$ battery where it was...