Yamaha Wave Blaster, 1996

[patz]

I have been asked to bring back to life a Yamaha WB. It was put away wet and I assume the battery is toast, gas valve to left "ON", gas in the tank.

Besides the obvious, drain and clean tank, new battery and pull/inspect carbs. Is there any other "gotchas" specific to this model and/or two stroke, two banger motors?

The engine looks clean, hull intact and the tires/trailer intact no rust and air in the tires.

Everything else is running so why not help a friend?

[PeteT]

Definitely the carbs will have to be checked and most likely rebuilt. Don't buy the aftermarket kits, only Mikuni. Also check the crankshaft seals. The 2 cylinder ones aren't that bad but the 3 cylinder engines are known for kicking them out. Just got finished with replacing the seals on the 1100. Rebuilt the the carbs. For 20 year old skis, they run great.

[patz]

Nuttin' wrong with old skiis. They are still two stroke, lighter and as fast as 70% of the new ones.

On the Yamaha motor? Oil injection, is that two stroke oil that I dump in the oil tank?

BTW, jets are NLA, gasket kits are $290 per carb.

[PeteT]

Yes they are oil injection. A lot of people convert to pre-mix, but so far I haven't had any problems. On the first tank you can always pre-mix a few gallons, plus the oil injection. Yes it will smoke more but at least you will know you are getting oil.
I have used Partshark in the past. I think I can post this, since it doesn't compete with PP
1996 Yamaha WAVE BLASTER II (WB760U) Repair Kit 2 | Part Shark

[patz]

Any cheap online battery sources? The dealer is about the same $$ as the Google pull ups. Geez, last MC battery I bought was $35. Everything is over $75.

[patz]

Best find, an "Everlast" for a 16CL battery. $39.99 delivered via Amazon.

BTW, any old school jet skiers have a list of banned areas for two stroke motors? Every douchebag sales guy says that you can't run 2 strokes. I can't find a list anywheres.

[wswartzwel]

When cleaning/rebuilding the carbs, there are little filter screens behind the brass needle valve seats that clog. Be sure to remove and clean them as well or it will starve for fuel. Fuel valve rubber is probably rotted, and fuel valve will probably need rebuilt replaced as well.

[PeteT]

That's a pretty good deal. I picked up some AGM batteries from Batteries Plus for about 80 bucks I think.

[speeder]

The price of all batteries has gone up like crazy in recent years.

[Geary]

I've got a '96 Waverunner III. I'd LOVE to know which modern 4 cycle engine could replace the old 701 2-stroke without too much trouble. (Getting towed behind a 2-stroke is nausea-enducing.)

[Esel Mann]

PeteT, sounds like you have (still) a waveraider 1100? I no longer have mine, but I do have the factory service manual. You are welcome to it should you not have it! Let me know and it's yours.

Patz, I would offer it to you but believe it or not, waveraider /= waveblaster as far as the factory service manual goes...

From what I saw of that era (mid-90's), the two-cylinder Yamahas were pretty stout. The three cylinder yamahas, such as the waveraider 1100 were known for piston burn through due to that cylinder running leaner than the others. I don't recall which cylinder it was which was notorious. Additionally from that era, as they got older, it seemed that many plugged the oilers and simply did pre-mix. Should you plug consider plugging the oil ports (if applicable) and pre-mix, make damn sure that the crank isn't lubricated from the oilers like Kawasakis were!

[Joe Bob]

I brought my ski's to CO. Every place I have gone to for parts, tell me about the two stroke ban.

No one give me any documentation.....

FAKE NEWS.....

[PeteT]

Eel Mann, thanks for the offer but I have one already. Mine only have about 135 hours on them so didn't get used too much. They are fast machines and handle great, but once you put some weight on them they get very tippy. Definitely not like the 3 and 4 seaters of today.

Joe Bob I know what you mean about the 2-stroke ban. The Colorado river banned them years ago. Just got back from a trip to Bass Lake and they still are cool there. Ran great and the kids and other families had a blast.

[Joe Bob]

A LIST!!!!!! GIMME A FRIGGIN' LIST!!!!

LOOKS LIKE AN FOIA. I once drove 200 miles and got banned for a rule that was never published.

Ya YOU! San Diego PCA....STILL pissed off....

[LakeCleElum]

Listen to PeteT......I wish I had $1 for all the motorcycles and snowmobiles I've gotten running over the years by cleaning the carbs.......2 and 4-stroke, doesn't matter....Not need for a "kit"....Just clean all the jets and passages.

Batteries: Ebay or "Batterystuff.com".....Be on your door in 2 days for a good price....

2-stroke ban? Catch me if you can...........

[ckelly78z]

In my adventures of working on small engines, I have found that completely dis-mantling the carb(s) on a workbench and spraying Gumout into every small metering hole, jet, and transfer hole, and cleaning all components went a long way towards fixing fuel problems at the motor.