Hi All,
My first post. Last fall I bought a 1998 WaveRunner GP1200, but haven't ridden it yet.
It came from a town a few hours away. A friend of our family heard it start easily and run strong for a few seconds (dry on its trailer) before towing it up here. Then it sat all winter outside on its trailer. The battery has been kept up and charged.
Recently I tried to start it but it just clicked. The battery was OK: 12.7 volts resting before, then with a charger on it while working.
Tried a few more times then noticed a little smoke from the engine compartment. The large red wire to the starter was very hot at the terminal on the starter. It was also loose on its terminal.
I tightened the terminal nut but it just kept turning and never really got tight. Stripped maybe, but I can't see down there ? it?s all by feel, and looking at pictures in the manual.
So, wanting to remove the starter to see what's wrong, I removed the two wires, then the starter mounting bolts, then tried to wiggle the back of the starter up and down to loosen it and get it out from its hole.
I can feel it moving up and down maybe 1/16"+, or so, but it won?t come out. I had our family friend help me and we tried to get a pry bar in, but its so tight in there... no luck.
The friend, who is a decent mechanic (fixing many kinds of car, boat and other engines and such for 30 years, but little PWC experience), suggested that it may be swollen with rust in the hole, possibly having been soaked in saltwater in the bilge one or more times.
He also suggested that he and I should pull the engine for the following reasons:
- He could help me learn how while he is in town, since it seems I will have to do this sooner or later anyway to keep the PWC in top condition on my own. Might as well do it now and make a list of procedures so I can do it anytime.
- Do a no-BS fix on the starter - actually look at it, and where it goes. Inspect, clean & coat the flywheel. And clean and lube everything on and around it to prevent future rust and so on.
- Then I'd have access to all other parts of the interior of the PWC to clean and inspect it, and clean and lube any steel bolts that are rusted before they seize up, and the same on any other steel parts on the engine or in the engine compartment.
- Just generally bring an unknown machine up to a decent standard of repair (there are a couple bolts missing here and there, some others rusted, the stuck starter, the trim cables need replaced, and who knows what else - the list is growing...).
There is a small winch boom on hand for lifting the engine.
So, should I go for this offer? If so, how long should it take to pull the engine after I know how?
All advice and comments will be appreciated.
My first post. Last fall I bought a 1998 WaveRunner GP1200, but haven't ridden it yet.
It came from a town a few hours away. A friend of our family heard it start easily and run strong for a few seconds (dry on its trailer) before towing it up here. Then it sat all winter outside on its trailer. The battery has been kept up and charged.
Recently I tried to start it but it just clicked. The battery was OK: 12.7 volts resting before, then with a charger on it while working.
Tried a few more times then noticed a little smoke from the engine compartment. The large red wire to the starter was very hot at the terminal on the starter. It was also loose on its terminal.
I tightened the terminal nut but it just kept turning and never really got tight. Stripped maybe, but I can't see down there ? it?s all by feel, and looking at pictures in the manual.
So, wanting to remove the starter to see what's wrong, I removed the two wires, then the starter mounting bolts, then tried to wiggle the back of the starter up and down to loosen it and get it out from its hole.
I can feel it moving up and down maybe 1/16"+, or so, but it won?t come out. I had our family friend help me and we tried to get a pry bar in, but its so tight in there... no luck.
The friend, who is a decent mechanic (fixing many kinds of car, boat and other engines and such for 30 years, but little PWC experience), suggested that it may be swollen with rust in the hole, possibly having been soaked in saltwater in the bilge one or more times.
He also suggested that he and I should pull the engine for the following reasons:
- He could help me learn how while he is in town, since it seems I will have to do this sooner or later anyway to keep the PWC in top condition on my own. Might as well do it now and make a list of procedures so I can do it anytime.
- Do a no-BS fix on the starter - actually look at it, and where it goes. Inspect, clean & coat the flywheel. And clean and lube everything on and around it to prevent future rust and so on.
- Then I'd have access to all other parts of the interior of the PWC to clean and inspect it, and clean and lube any steel bolts that are rusted before they seize up, and the same on any other steel parts on the engine or in the engine compartment.
- Just generally bring an unknown machine up to a decent standard of repair (there are a couple bolts missing here and there, some others rusted, the stuck starter, the trim cables need replaced, and who knows what else - the list is growing...).
There is a small winch boom on hand for lifting the engine.
So, should I go for this offer? If so, how long should it take to pull the engine after I know how?
All advice and comments will be appreciated.
