First Ride On The Rare 1970's Jet Powered Water Bike (I Destroyed It)
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2023
- I buy a rare 1978 jet powered WetBike and take it for the first ride. #Jet, #Bike,
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The following video features activities performed in controlled environments by knowledgeable persons. DO NOT attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same or similar activities at home, as personal injury or property damage may result. 2vintage( Joe Weber, the persons shown in this video and ANY CONTRIBUTOR, ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY such injury or damage. ALL 2vintage( Joe Weber) CONTENT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.
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You should get in touch with the Cboys and maybe sell them some of the machines you fix. They love these types of stuff and they rip em.
Hey that’s not a bad idea really
Yea and they live close
They destroy stuff just to destroy it. Joe preserves stuff. Hmmmm ..
These things were a blast to ride once you figured it out. We had several of them over the years of production. I even had an oportunity to ride one that had a larger 3 cylinder powerhead in it. Was supposed to be good for over 120hp. The powerhead was so large that all of the flotation had to be removed from the engine compartment… so, if you took on water, it would sink like a rock.
Good friend of mine from Kosciusko, MS… Bruce Doty, actually one the national championship the one year they had sanctioned racing for WetBilkes.
I have video and pictures of the races… somewhere. I covered the races for a popular PWC magazine (…the name escapes me at the moment) from back in the day.
WetBike used to have these really cool print ads with Mario Andretti riding one.
in regards to the kawasaki jet ski... you have to get your weight more forward in order to stop it from porpoising like mad. a slight body weight adjustment, like a step further forward on the machine and she should rip across the water flatter
Adjusting the trim would go a long way to keeping it under control
@2vintage It’s missing the intake grate it most likely sucked up a rock from the bottom that’s why he said to start it in deep water so the impeller doesn’t suck anything up from the bottom. I have 3 jetskis and ran one without the intake grate because it was broken ended up replacing the jet pump because I ended up beaching it while it was running.
It absolutely looks like a rock got caught up in there then eventually chucked it out the side.
This brings back memories. We had one of these in my teen years - my brother and I were experts. We could do incredible spinning tricks. We also pulled a water skier behind it with two kids on the Wet Bike! Great times.
That shiny red silicone on there makes me think it was recently a part and it might have been a poor repair
Love your channel! I am 64 and started out with a brand new Yamaha DT 90, went to a DT 125 then DT 360; my last Yamaha was a new 1976 IT 400. I also had jet skis. It will help you tremendously if, when you evolve from kneeling, to standing, you plant one foot at the front of the tray as forward as possible. Place your other foot some distance apart..this will help you plane out the ski, and you won't be bouncing with your nose continually pointing towards the sky.
I've thought about commenting on the way he was riding the jet ski but I honestly couldn't tell if he was just trying to get the ski to do things it couldn't or if he really sucked that bad at riding one. I'm knew to his channel and have only watch 3 or 4 videos and based off of the number of toys he's got youd think he would have the muscle memory where it shouldn't take him long to figure out what to do to stay upright. Then you watch him ride this jet ski,,hmmm?
@@JustATakit I think it’s the second time he’s ridden a stand up jetski.
Yeah, like a surfboard you must have one foot in front of the other.
Trying to start the wetbike (or seadoo's) while the pump or intake grate is sitting on the bottom of a lake or river with sand and rocks is absolutely a cause for disaster and about guarantee what caused your issue! You sucked up a rock and the impeller slung it through the side. Never start a jet drive unit in less than 3-4 ft of water from the bottom of the intake grate. Hopefully you see this and don't make this mistake again with the bike or jetski and any future jet powered PWC you get.
i mean 3-4ft is a massive exaggeration but you’re right to some degree.
have had skis all my life and have started them in under a foot of water at least a thousand times.
@@allegorx58definitely not a massive exaggeration… just sucked up rocks and destroyed the jet pump on a 2023 svho in 3 foot deep water last weekend guy knows what he’s talking about. You’ve just been lucky lol
I always wait till it's at least 3 ft. My Yamaha is a 97 and still runs great!
This is exactly what I was expecting to happen when he rode the 750 standup. He kept starting it when it was sitting on the bottom in shallow water. Good way to plug up the water jackets too.
I did the same thing in my 1970 sidewinder jetboat 455 rocket.. Berkeley 12JG Pump with a jetovator..ugh..it mangled the impeller..And bowl..A $1200 AA race impeller..in one second..In shallow water.
Good luck finding a pump for that thing. That cast aluminum is tricky to weld
the impeller is probably the water pump for the engine so when the side broke out it stoped flowing water in the engine and as a result it got hot.
Gotta adjust the trim on the stand up or it's just gonna keep porpoising like that.
I was gonna say that but thought I'd see if anyone else did first. It doesn't look like it has adjustable trim on the go unless it's on the throttle grip. Definitely needs it though to really have fun
Holy cow Joe, you must spend $1,000 a month on batteries alone lol
Yeah pretty much
Self checkout nowadays. 3 for 1 duh 🤫🫣
@@craigkirkland hey now, don't be giving away trade secrets
@@2vintageget an account with a battery company
Okay I'm going to call it now you're going to have a museum in about 20 years of all the old-school s*** that was around back in the day
Your father is a saint. He was in way deeper in the water than you were - for THAT I would have insisted to my son that I had the first ride.
Great video. The reason the ski bounces up and down when you're riding it, know as porpoising, is that your weight is too far back on the ski. You need to keep your weight more towards the front and also stagger your stance like you're riding a surfboard with one foot forward and one foot back. Watch some videos of people racing these stand up skis and you'll see what I'm talking about. Once you get your stance and weight distributed correctly you'll have a lot more fun riding it. Keep going it takes a lot of practice to get good on one of these things but it is worth it, nothing is more fun than shredding on a ski.
You don’t ride it like a stand up ski. But you was correct on shifting his weight forward
It's so much fun, I bought a waverunner and they're so boring
Glad you were able to find parts for the Wetbike. Looks like a fun machine.
sucked up a rock when you got on in the shallow
Wow. I can't believe you found parts for it so quickly let alone at all
I'm thinking there was something in by the prop/intake and it blew out the side. Maybe when you were in the mud.
Wow ! That reminds me of the time a gear broke apart in my dirt bike while I was riding. It punched a hole right through the engine case. I replaced the broken gear & put window screening over the hole & added bondo body filler over the screening. It worked, really well, no leaks, whatsoever.
I owned one for ten years, new impeller ring, had to reweld a tooth on the starter ring, fuel pump diaphragm kept splitting, eventually sold it to a 15yr old kid who was starting a watercraft collection..Ive still got the old impeller ring, it has been repaired with body filler.
The body is also used to make a snowmobile.
Joe - again, your patience is outstanding. When you took the jet ski out and kept coming off, I half-expected it to turn turtle and sink to the bottom of the lake!
Anyhow, great result, glad you’re not punching the wall!
Don't know if you are aware of the aluminium welding rod ,type new fangled things that are available. Will Try and find correct term ,if you're interested. Seen em tested for strength, and they seem pretty good. I believe you use them the same way you braze .
Anyway ,to save cost , you could get cutting disc on grinder , make straight lines. Then take measurements , of material needed. And use these aluminium brazing rods. To repair hole. Would be cheaper than buying new part , and it failing elsewhere !!
that is a really nice, survivor wetbike. Deserves a good home for sure.
Sadly it goes to the junkyard
your a very brave man to try to ride this thing yet alone buy it.
Out in open water you can mount these things very easy. Apply throttle while you kinda drag along side, turning in a circle to the right. As it picks up a bit of speed it will stabilize then pull yourself up onto it. Takes a bit of practice, but is very easy when you get used to doing it. As others have said, keep your weight forward, especially on take-off. Best way to steer is by counter steering and leaning to the inside. You can knee drag just like on street bike. Tons of fun but they can go through a lot of fuel in a hurry. Enjoy!
Sadly.. you ran it in to shallow of water. You sucked in a rock and it blew out the side of the housing. Those things have to be in VERY deep water at all times when running.
WetSki sucked up a stone I’ll bet! Good catch on jet ski.
Had a Wet Bike for years, many memories! Even bought expansion chamber exhaust pipe
You get some great bargains over there. Well done. Aluminium castings aren't the easiest to tig but its worth a try. You need a new impeller though.
Great Video, a little tinkering with the engine, then out for a ride. I foresee Weber Water World - opening soon on Lake Winnebago
Great project, a classic.
Reading the title I was curious Joe, man that's a pretty amazing thing have had happen. I bet someone's got one for you, it looked SUPER fun to ride!!
Impros can rebuild that impeller and you can take the lower unit off and take it to a shop and get that tig welded. Might be just cheaper to get a used lower unit.
Nah, TIG welding isn't that expensive. Just shop around. The cool thing is that it's right at the opening so you can easily get in there to get it smooth again. This thing will be testing up the lake again soon. Just keep it in clean water ... Or install some kind of screen??
First saw one of those contraptions in a police academy movie, haven't seen one since.
When you did the first video on that bike and you started it in the driveway you could hear something in that lower unit me and my wife watch your videos together and I said to her that lower unit sounded weird when you started it crazy thing to happen something's definitely loose 💯💯💪
That's the sound of the jet drive with no load on it.... so your hearing the thrust bearing. Every older 2 stroke with a metal pump housing (new ski's have plastic ones) I've had makes that noise out of water with no load on the pump.
Saw allot of comments on the wetbike lower being made of aluminum but if memory serves me correctly it is made of magnesium, an easy way to check is file the case just long enough to get some fillings, then get a propane torch then sprinkle the fillings slowly into the flame and if they spark it's magnesium if not it's aluminum.
Joe, on the stand up... Take a take a step forward with either foot (kinda like a skateboard but facing forward) and put weight on the front of the footwell tray... It "should" stop porpoising and plane out. My son and I love your vids and watch them all the time. We live in the area (Black Creek) and hope to meet up with ya some day. Salut!
I almost bought a wet bike back in the early 90s. Also knew a guy that had one, but it always seemed to be broken down. They’re very high maintenance, and not easy to ride at first if you’ve never ridden one. But definitely very unique out on the water. Most are probably either in the junk pile or rotting away in a garage somewhere.
Had mine for several years with no issues and rode it year round as long as the lake didn't freeze over. Wore a wet suit in the winter with some fun times in the snow.
I'd love to find one of these I think they'd be a cool project and no one would know what the heck it was out on the lake by my house
I don't know if I could take two stroke out on the lake or if I have to take two stroke on the river only if it's four stroke I'm good to go
@@coyster530 Where the hell do you live…? Oh wait… Let me guess… … the “Left Coast”… Go east young man… South East… to the Land of The Free
@@macmclemore fortunately I live in California my friend I live in a beautiful part far Northern California but I do want to move eventually do not really know where I don't want to go anywhere where is a humid all summer I hate humidity
My friend had a new one in the 80s. It was so hard to ride and if a little wave hit the front, it would throw you over the handle bars. That really hurt your legs too. Also it didn’t run very good. Somebody was always working on it. When you fall off in the middle of the lake and it goes over, it’s game over for sure. It made a nice planter box in the yard!
If you would ride the jet ski on your knees with the handle bars down, you would get a better ride until you learn how to ride it. You can’t ride it with all your weight at the back.
Trying to drive a 1970s Oldsmobile like a 2023 Mustang. Get some flex tape :)
Always enjoy your videos 👍🏻🇬🇧
If u move your body weight closer to the bars or even 1 foot it will stop jumping and be some what smother ride just gotta play around with it FYI obviously I'm talking about the stand up ski.
Great video Joe!!!!
Had one u need to get on from the back and it will take awhile before u can get on without tipi g it over it all balance
Glad you are yoloing the money. Thanks for sharing the experience.
I always check the gap on new plugs. Maybe you did and just didn’t show it on the video.
Absolutely correct....
"It broke for whatever reason." It broke because You start all your water stuff too close to the shore in too shallow of water
You’re one of the best channels out there for power sports content. New toy Everyday. Lol😅👍👍👍🇨🇦🇨🇦
Also like your content.you do a great job.reminds me of myself.keep up the good work!!
if you ever get the wet bike going again. the key to getting in one is too stand with both legs on each side of rear foil, facing forward and jump up onto the seat from behind, like your running up behind a horse and jumping on. Takes some practice
Very nice! Pre-curser to the modern day jet ski. That was so cool and futuristic looking back in the 70"s that the Producers of James Bond put it in the Spy Who Loved Me.
JB Weld for the win!
Must have been interesting to see how Roger Moore managed to get one up on a plane in a tuxedo as 007.
I owned a pair of these about 20 yrs ago….i used to love watching my over confident friends hop on them and think they can ride them just to see them get flung 25’ over the handlebars😂😂😂😂 good times
When your riding you want to keep it from porpoising. If it starts doing that lean forward,even putting your chest against the pad. It’s also good to ride on your knees to get the feel of turning. You can hall as & turn sideways & you’ll slide sideways,wait till the water gets back in your inpropeller then take off. The main thing is stand like your on a surfboard. That way you can shift your weight to the front when you need it into the rear when you need it.
Make sure it's getting water to engine, it'll over heat and done. Check fresh water pump
Hi, I also think the pump intake was close to the bottom of the lake when you got on it and sucked something up then impeller just fired it the side of the housing.. next time get to deeper water,, keep up the entertaining videos,,.
Hope you get the part you need love all your videos.All the best to you all.
that second thing you were riding again (the purple thing) seems incredibly frustrating to ride LoL, but it's certainly entertaining to watch!
When cleaning those needle seats I cut the Qtips in half and put them in the drill chuck and use a little Mother’s metal polish and really clean them.
I wonder if anyone will do a carbon fiber electric version of that thing if you can get the weight down and power up it could get out of the water on its own easier
it still handles like junk
They handle excellent, you just have to learn how to ride them.
@@bradley7723 yeah thats why they kept making them. so much fun to ride🤔
You have done well on the Jetski, like a fish to water. When standing up, put one foot as far forward and the other foot at the rear with your top half leaning over the handlebars slightly. This will give your more balance, easier to ride and should stop the ski from porpoising (bouncing up and down). Good luck and enjoy it.
man there were so cool things in the 70s and 80s
I worked on jet skis and they are really expensive to fix . The impellers are the most on cost and usually the first thing to get messed up.
When driving up to a sand bar on a Jet Ski operator needs to shut engine down before landing. Common sense would tell you the grate will suck junk off of the bottom thu impeller.🤔
Once you get that thing going again you should swap in more power. That thing would hover over the water so nicely with a jump in power.
It looks like ya need a fixin. Old parts have reached there end.
great video joe love your content! i was going to get my first stand up jet ski a js550 are they pretty hard to get use to?
No they just take a little to get used to. Take it out a few times and you'll get the hang of it. It's definitely a good workout riding one.
@@2vintage sweet thanks! yeah i bet it is.
You can start on your knees and work up to your feet if you want to. That keeps your center of gravity low.
every things always GOOD TO GO! JOES FAMOUS LAST WORDS!!!!
Forgot to add using a drill with that qtip
I think the *bent* aluminum plate on the bottom is causing the porpoising. It doesn't take much to drastically change this. I don't think it came with that, so removing it might be even better.
When i drove one it wasn't that hard, you had a balance really good, It's sort of was like a snowmobile for the water with the exception of being able to turn sharp. It was a blast except in rough water
right on man, nice skis
A rock went up the intake. The lower unit will drop out easily with the removal of 8 or ten nuts underneath. Try to find the rubber gasket with the lower unit . Also look for a jet scoop that mounts on the intake and will prevent large damaging debris from entering. When you get it running take it in deep enough water by the shore and practice mounting the ski from the rear. Put both feet on rear ski one on each side of the jet, when you start to stand the back the bike will sink down and you can scoot up the seat. Practice until you have it down pat.
Another option on the hole is to bring it to a reputable welding shop as they very well can patch it. If memory serves me correctly the lower is made from magnesium which can be repaired. A prop shop would be able to repair your impeller.
When ever you get ready to ride get into the habbit of feeling the intake for obstructions. I have found rocks sometimes on my jet scoop before I went riding, they would get stuck in the fins of the scoop.
And don't forget to drill small holes in the seat latch studs to install hairpins in them to keep to seat on. The seat has a tendency to come of during high speed crashes or high sides. Hop you get it repaired on get to ride as they are a blast.
Sorry for the novel length comment, have fun and stay safe :)
To add to what you said... a easy and fast way
to tell if it's aluminum or magnesium is take
a dremel with a small sanding drum turn it to
high speed and in the blown out hole sand a
little on the bare metal and if you get white
sparks it magnesium if no sparks and it wants
to build up on the sanding drum its aluminum.
You can’t start anything jet powered in shallow water. Sucked up a rock.
wow. the draft on that thing must be 2 feet! + safety cushion.
Dock side start probably way to go ?
@@timewa851 just don't start it, use a paddle to be safe
What I was thinking. I had a jet boat. The biggest problem with them is sucking a rock, ruining the pump. Most times the rock gets stuck between the blades. Trashes the housing, looks like it bounced around trashing everything. Maybe sucked a few rocks. Actually never seen them blow a hole in them tho. The boats that's a sleeve. So if it's gets trashed you replace the sleeve not the whole pump. Bet seeing that hole ruined his day. On my boat that was a all day fix. Had to pull the motor and all. Needed 2 ppl to line things up to put it back in.
Damn shame but beautiful few minutes half a decade on.. great stuff, cheers, and hopefully it will be restored to its full glory once again.
“Allow myself to introduce….myself…the name is Bond, Joe Bond”😉
Ouch man. That’s an expensive lesson. The bottom of those things absolutely cannot come in contact with the ground. Instant impeller failure.
Fiberglass repair could be an option. Or the aluminium torch welding rod. build up slowly till filled in . If a replacement is unattainium.
Everytime I see something susuki made ,I just cringe , keep the videos coming pal!! You get good and you get bad , everywhere , then you get susuki , it's got a real bad rep already ... least you get em going pal !!
Hey Joe, re the Kawi JetSki, on the prior video, I was sure I could see exhaust coming from the cooling attachment for the water hose when you had the cap off ( I could be mistaken). If thats the case, it may suggest you have blown a head gasket ?
I worked for a wetbike dealer in Charleston back in 86 we got to ride them at boat shows for demos,, they were tons of fun. but after riding a jetski it is very apparent why they never got too popular way too hard for most people to take off
To ride a stand up jet ski you have to ride it like a skateboard. One foot up and one back. Its all about your center of gravity. You were riding with both feet back causing porposing, meaning the front end bounces. Takes practice.
4 strokes are so reliable and low maintenance not to mention so mixing oil and gas. I know some still like the 2 strokes though preference.
Been there, done that. Had three of them over the years. Rode them all over WA and OR. A real blast, not your gramma's Jet Ski. The new ones are even more awesome, if they're still being made, #Jetbike.
Looks like that Kawasaki kicks,happy for you and great that you found the problem,cheers.
You do know that you can add that lead acid to them also right joe if it's just not charging all the way. By using A bigger rubber hose for the end on the battery on the fill spout spot ports.
Very 😊interesting and I love it I just think you should put some foam or something over that microphone make it so much better
Stagger your feet when you ride the stand up. One foot up front, and one in back. I bet you won't fall as much ;)
You started off with it in too shallow of water, most likely sucked up a rock. When I was a kid my neighbor had two of those and did the exact same thing. He started off in shallow water, jet pump sucked up a rock and blew out the housing.
On the kawai 750. Those wires that are twisted up going into the grey box could cause issue with performance or intermittent starting problems. Those wire come from the kill switch start switch and i think the stator. Take those loose and put some sort of lube on the wire grommet that the wires pass thru and this will help. The plastic nut is sticking to the grommet causing it to twist up..
Joe, sell all your wet rides and wave runners and buy a brand new Sea Doo Fish Pro Go Rider things are built fantastically and amazing speed, and don't think it'll tip as much and its a three seater so can take yours sweetie and Vinny if he's up to it, lol.😊
You have to have an airbox on a two-stroke engine as well with a filter or runs lean
I had one of these...when you wipeout it isn't no joke!!! You can get really hurt on them if not careful!!
Jb weld will ficks that hole! Fixed my 3wheeler case!
Definitely a lot harder to ride than it looks, I would have definitely been disappointed if I had bought one, and found that out.👍
I worked in a store that sold PWC, and the most common problem was people sucking rocks up thru the jet pump. The cause is people starting the units up in to shallow of water. The owners manuals states to not start and run in water less than three feet, I always told people not less than four feet. Lesson learned.
21:52 engineers shop should be able to weld that up
Perfect video.
Check the flywheel key for a timing change.
epic ride ..DO you ever sell any of your bikes
I've seen these before but I've never seen them being used before can't wait