Is this even worth it (JS440)

swapmeet · 12-07-2009, 11:04 PM

Hey everyone....

I'm noob-tastic here, but hope ya'll can give me some direction.
A friend let me ride his 650SX awhile back, and I was hooked. I told my wife that I was buying a standup.

That same day, a friend offered to give me a JS440. I later found out its a 76 (older than I am) and needs steering cable, throttle cable, finger throttle, battery, turf, grips, and a dead man switch. (I think thats it.)
The previous owner said he rebuilt the carb and "it ran fine last time it was out..." whenever that was.

So i've done the turf, and got a new start stop switch installed, but not wired, and found a throttle cable and installed it.

A week ago I bought a JS550 that 'lost compression' in one of the cylinders. Its a complete unit that has everything else I need, minus the batt. I figured rather than trying to find this part or that part, i'd buy this and sell whatever is left.

Tonight I started trying to take the steering cable off and i'm stuck. As I cuss this GD thing up one side and down the other, I wonder... is this complete waste of time?
I just want to be able to go out and enjoy riding when the weather warms up. I've read a few threads in the techincal area that make me poo my pants. All the performance mods and so on...

So I guess this is my question. Do I just sell the whole lot and write it off as a learning experience and hunt around for a working bike that isn't missing parts and runs?

Or do you think it would be worth it to finish getting this one running and maybe sell it as a running unit?

I have other projects I should be working on, and I didn't expect this to be as hard as its been. I'm overwhelmed and not sure what to do.

attnondeck · 12-07-2009, 11:56 PM

it is overwhelming. i wouldnt recommend doing more than one at a time (just look at my signature and trust me on this one...) they are alot of work but i enjoy working on them so that helps. but ANY questions you have can be answered on this site. Feel free to ask me any questions. im on all the time. there are alot of great people on this site that can help as well.. this is the off season and the site kinda sucks but if you post a question me and some others will jump right on it because its something jetski related. i think it will be worth it. post some pics of the ski your gonna work or.

burlmays9 · 12-08-2009, 12:23 AM

Working on your ski and riding it is unexplainable and tooling on your ski and modding it puts you on the fast track to learning how to work with them through experience.

The work you put in will be returned to you by the fun you have on the water. So, busting your azz over your ski is worth it.

Another piece of advice is to do your research when buying replacement or aftermarket parts, so you dont spend money on stuff you dont need.

attnondeck · 12-08-2009, 12:25 AM

i second that!

u887266 · 12-08-2009, 01:53 PM

I am with these guys also and by the way I am just down the road from you in Longview and if you need any help or some parts I have a few ski's laying around that I can help you out. I own several stand-ups, 7 to be exact, and I would trade them for nothing. Just let me know if you need any help.

swapmeet · 12-08-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u887266

I am with these guys also and by the way I am just down the road from you in Longview and if you need any help or some parts I have a few ski's laying around that I can help you out. I own several stand-ups, 7 to be exact, and I would trade them for nothing. Just let me know if you need any help.

Awesome! Thanks...

I'll post up some pics later. Thanks for the support guys.