What could this be?

[gonesleddin2]

I dont get a chance to ride much anymore and had a chance to sell my 02 Viper earlier this year.

Thought I was going to get completely out of sleds, but guess I still have some of it in the blood.. I have been kind of looking for a 97/98 SX 700. (I had one before the Viper)

I came across this ad today. I havent talked to this guy yet, but the ad says the 97 700 ........."engine overheated, turns over but doesn't stay running, may need top end work" ... wants $800. I think its a bit steep for a non running sled , esp. this time of year?

Any ideas exactly what to ask/look for? btw.. Sled supposedly has only 2300 miles or so.
thanks!

 

[ottawaair]

check compression on all 3 cyl.'s You may end up needing 3 pistons & cyl.'s. Hard to say w/o checking it out.

 

[A couple of bucks]

If you go and look at it, check bolt heads, fasteners, etc etc, to see if he has taken it apart. And how far it got tore down. Fresh marks on fastener heads are a dead give away. Along with the smell of penetrating oil. Might help with the decision making.

 

[Cherrypicker]

I over cooked my 97, got so hot the red head looked like a Hersey bar. The head was warped, I had a machinist mill the head, .005 or .010, can't recall. After looking at the cylinders couldn't see any apparent damage, although others told me the rings would be like spaghetti. I bolted the machined head up and 5 years later she is still running strong. Also pitched a recoil cage out the side of the crankcase knocking a coffee cup sized hole in the rear upper and lower crankcases, but not getting into the crankcase interior. I have a set of cases sitting on a shelf in the garage, just in case.
The sled has well over 8,000 miles on it and I would ride it anywhere. I might make a bid on the sled, but there was a reason it overheated, and there may be a hole in a heat exchanger, or simply a cracked hose, waterpump issue.

 

[gonesleddin2]

Thanks for the input guys. I just bought a 97 700sx with 2800 miles.

I decided I dont need another project right now. Like I was saying, I think $800 is a bit high for the potential problems it could have.