Kodiak jet repair

I have been told that my mid-80s Kodiak 2 stage jet unit needs a complete rebuild. Quoted $3500. Any ideas on other options. Any used units, etc. Thanks.

 

Welcome Bruce ,go online and download a manual for a Hamilton 770 series jet ,study it ,in all it's simplicity and ask yourself why can't I rebuild that.The cutlass bearings you can get from your local chandler ,the front bearing and seals you can match at an automotive bearing supplier {change the seal springs for stainless} A prop repairer will be able to rebuild the impellers and a competent sheetmetal shop should be able to roll wear rings in stainless ,if needed,to pattern .You may end up paying proper money for a water seal and a few other bits but it won't be mega money. There are no fine tolerances like you find in an outdrive leg and no specialist tools needed.The enormous advantage is that you will always know your jet. If you get stuck post questions on here ,there are several guys who will help, there is nothing special about a water jet,it's just a pump.The worst that can happen is you take it to your rebuilder in a box. The only thing that will kill it is severe corrosion, and if it's that bad scrap it.

 

Thanks for the reply. It occured to me that doing it myself might be an option. I contacted Kem Products, which handles Kodiak, and the parts are available for about $500, worst case. I'm not much of a mechanic, though. Do I have to pull the engine? Thanks again.

 

pulling the motor will make access to the pump considerably easier. I think yours is a flanged shaft, which means there will be 4 @ 3/8 bolts holding the universal shaft to the flange on the jet.

Most things are accessable from outside the transom. Remove the tail pipe (should be 6 @ 5/16 nuts, take the steering knuckle and reverse setup first). Impellor clearance should be no more than about .050" between blade and wear ring. Kodiak have stainless blades? so a re-build shouldn't be anything special.

The water seal and thrust bearing need to come out the front. Thrust bearing should be a QJ307, with split inner and brass cage. they are normally real tight on the shaft, so removing the whole shaft, bearing and bearing housing as one unit and using a press or puller on the bench is considerable easier. Note; you probably won't be able to remove the shaft out the front of the intake housing with the motor in place...

Have fun....

 

What speedboats said ,plus you don't neccessarily have to use Kodiak parts ,sourcing them elsewhere can be a big saving, most of the wearing parts aren't jet specific.

 

Apparently my unit has brass impellers. shouldn't change anything.

 

I will be surprised if they are brass Bruce ,they may be bronze or aluminium bronze but that won't change anything.

 

I can send you a Hamilton 770 series manual if you need it?

 

The manual would probably be helpful. I understand Kodiak and Hamilton are very similar. Can you e-mail it? My e-mail address is btpolaris@aol.com. Thanks.