rx1jim
New member
I am in the process of rebuilding 2 SRX 700 engines at the same time. I am slowly getting the parts together. The first engine had 13000 miles on it and suffered from a severe lean burn down in the center cylinder. I bought all new OEM parts for it such as rings, pistons, gaskets, seals, reeds, wrist pins and wrist pin bearings. I bought a used cylinder head and exchanged the damaged cylinder. Just got my crankshaft inspected and rebuilt. I had the new OEM pistons coated with a thermal barrier on the dome and a low friction coating on the skirt by Swain Tech.. I am having the small parts such as the water rail, water pump cover, engine mounts, etc. powder coated silver. I glass bead blasted the plated parts which were slightly corroded and sent them out to get replated. Just need to get the parts back from the plater and I will ressemble the first engine.
The second engine is out of another 2000 SRX which I picked up 2 years ago. I am completely rebuilding the sled. I paid way too much for the sled. It looked good on the surface but the more I worked on it to put it in top shape, the more problems I found. This engine will be done the same way as the first engine. This engine was built by an engine "expert" not a member of this site but someone known to members of this site. It was supposedly ported but all I see is polished exhaust ports. The cases were sealed with RTV and some of the case bolts were missing. The recoils tarter had only 3 of the 6 bolts holding it in place. The air box was completely gutted making it a nightmare to jet properly. It had 2 heads from a 2000 engine and one head from a 98-99 engine. Once I saw a few of these mistakes, I decided to open it up, inspect it and rebuild it. I bought a set of slightly used stock cylinders and anothe 2000 head. Right now I am getting the crankshaft packed up to go to Midwest Crank for an inspection and rebuild (if required)
Once I get those engines (and sleds) back together and DONE, I'll start on a third 2000 SRX 700 engine which I am building as a complete spare. This will be the third exact copy.
I've spent WAY TOO MUCH money on these engines alone but they should last a long time. Yes, sledding is expensive but not nearly as expensive as some of my friends hobbies: one guy runs an alcohol funny car, he spends more money on engine parts than I spend in several years on my sleds, another friend has a custom hot rod, he spet over $100,000 on the car and it is not done yet.
I'll post pics once I get the reassembly process started. I built a small stand to hold the upper crankcase upside down for reassembly, a stand to hold the bottom assembly upright for assembling the top end, a fixture for holding the cylinders for honing them using a drill press, and a variety of other tools and fixtures to make the assembly process easy and fun. I'll have enough equipment to perform mass production rebuilds. I enjoy building the fixtures and working on the sleds as much as I like riding them.
My goal is to have my two SRX sleds and my 03 RX-1 done, finsihed, ready for the season by the end of Sept.. Once I get the SRXs done, then I need to rering the 03 RX-1. What a big disappointment the RX-1 has been. It started consuming oil at about 3000 miles and is getting worse with every mile. That is a another story. Should be an easy job though, just more money and time!
The second engine is out of another 2000 SRX which I picked up 2 years ago. I am completely rebuilding the sled. I paid way too much for the sled. It looked good on the surface but the more I worked on it to put it in top shape, the more problems I found. This engine will be done the same way as the first engine. This engine was built by an engine "expert" not a member of this site but someone known to members of this site. It was supposedly ported but all I see is polished exhaust ports. The cases were sealed with RTV and some of the case bolts were missing. The recoils tarter had only 3 of the 6 bolts holding it in place. The air box was completely gutted making it a nightmare to jet properly. It had 2 heads from a 2000 engine and one head from a 98-99 engine. Once I saw a few of these mistakes, I decided to open it up, inspect it and rebuild it. I bought a set of slightly used stock cylinders and anothe 2000 head. Right now I am getting the crankshaft packed up to go to Midwest Crank for an inspection and rebuild (if required)
Once I get those engines (and sleds) back together and DONE, I'll start on a third 2000 SRX 700 engine which I am building as a complete spare. This will be the third exact copy.
I've spent WAY TOO MUCH money on these engines alone but they should last a long time. Yes, sledding is expensive but not nearly as expensive as some of my friends hobbies: one guy runs an alcohol funny car, he spends more money on engine parts than I spend in several years on my sleds, another friend has a custom hot rod, he spet over $100,000 on the car and it is not done yet.
I'll post pics once I get the reassembly process started. I built a small stand to hold the upper crankcase upside down for reassembly, a stand to hold the bottom assembly upright for assembling the top end, a fixture for holding the cylinders for honing them using a drill press, and a variety of other tools and fixtures to make the assembly process easy and fun. I'll have enough equipment to perform mass production rebuilds. I enjoy building the fixtures and working on the sleds as much as I like riding them.
My goal is to have my two SRX sleds and my 03 RX-1 done, finsihed, ready for the season by the end of Sept.. Once I get the SRXs done, then I need to rering the 03 RX-1. What a big disappointment the RX-1 has been. It started consuming oil at about 3000 miles and is getting worse with every mile. That is a another story. Should be an easy job though, just more money and time!
super1c
Super Moderator
Wow i thought i had a full plate this summer. Keep us posted!
rx1jim
New member
I enjoy working on the sleds. I am very grateful to the terrific members of this site who have taught me a great deal. I fully expected to work on my 11 year old SRXs but my 03 RX-1 really aggravates the hell out of me. 9000 miles and I need to change the rings. Te rings are not worn out but were a problem from Yamaha. They changed the ring composition/heat treatment in 2005 to yield better pressure on the cylinder. It is not a big job, just a needless use of time and money, about $350.
The SRX is still my favorite sled of all time.
The SRX is still my favorite sled of all time.
super1c
Super Moderator
If i just had a bigger garage i would love to get one. We do a ton of river ridding around here and a SRX would be a blast. Clutch er out and make a racer out of her. Show some of those kid cat ridders what a old sled and man can do! LOL!
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
NICE JOB MAN. YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. 3:16 (yammie tony)