The Little Prince (1984 JS440)

Location
ATL
This ski came on our big haul.
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Buddy needed to make some room for a new project, and I was already enamored with this thing. So now it's mine! What's wrong with me.

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Quick little recap:
This was from the "boneyard" from the seller gave us no guarantees. And alarmingly included a spare 440 engine... I think he knew. That day we had it running. Next day, it made a maiden voyage acoss a cove and over heated.. turns out motor was just beyond clogged up with junk.

One "well lubricated" evening as my father would say. Myself and another buddy starting pulling the motor while we were bored at our friend's house. Few hours, few beers, some jbweld on the waterbox she was ready to go. 1000061826.jpg

I was out that next day ride, they got to blast it around, allegedly shot a disgusting brown sludge out the back and survived most the day! Flooded out one last time they packed it up and rode the other skis rest of the day. That night... (This was my anniversary...) I get a 11PM call.. it still isn't running again.

I demanded this time a Gin & Tonic be there waiting for me. Got it going, we rode it next day. It was a champ!!! I dialed the carb in a bit... 26MPH cavitation machine. It never stopped working, got 3 tank fills. Everyone did a tail stand on it.

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Location
ATL
That takes us to current time

I bought the thing off buddy. I can't leave well enough alone. So fixing and upgrade time. Not too much though want this to remain the anyone can ride ski

Step 1 for me is ditching stuff, threw out all the fuel lines, deleting the fuel selector, carb rebuild, ordered the kit from OSD Parts, trim plug wires, redo some wiring & grounds. Little stuff.

Bilge pump, was gonna do a typical RULE on a switch, but decided to just glue down an auto one. Saves me the explanation to someone new.
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Fixing the cavitation nightmare. Seller gave us a 16p PJS for this thing. I looked down the pump tunnel and I could see light through the whole outside of the thing lol. So here we go again... Certainly this 440 impeller will go better. Even made a nice DS holder this time.

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Nope it was horrible. Cut it down the middle... Still held onto the absolute last thread. SO MUCH SALT.

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Wire wheeled off all the aluminum chunks left over on the threads. Made an installer tool and got the new boi on! Pump glued back in!

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Few other little pieces to wrap up to get it on water. Got it a pole spring.. it didn't have one. Throwing out the resonator. Id like to get this PJS pipe in but that may come in a bit.
 
Nice! I have the same ski , I’ve always loved that graphic.
 

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Location
ATL
Well I spoke to soon. Went to turn it over and it was just not moving. Quickly yoinked the pump housing back off RTV everywhere. The pump is a disaster bearings frozen.. and I just sold the other one I pulled off the 440/650 on ebay like an idiot. So I figure that pump is trash, or the Driveshafts bent from my whole episode with it. Either way I'm over it. That's the last time I ever try and use a 440 pump setup.
Anyone got an entire 550 driveline?? Already have impeller really just need the bearing housing + Driveshaft and Pump shoe + stator
 
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Location
ATL
So new plans

I'm just gonna reuse my 650 from the other 440 that's now getting a 750.

Converting to 550 pump cause I feel that's a safer option.

Wanting this ski to be just endlessly reliable put anyone on

So anyway dove in. Stripped it down ordered a ton of stuff.
Trust the process again I guess

Only items I need to riddle is what throttle cable I need, and what impeller to run. Currently have a skat 15.5. But thinking I'll need a little taller for the 650. Planning to keep that 650 very very stock. Stock pipe, may even go stock head. Only mod really being a mikuni 44

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