lowe1648 said:
Tigersharks weren't known for their reliability.
Yep, that too. Which is why they're no longer in business.
There were numerous flaws with my TS900 engine I ran for 3 years, and with the TS1000 engine I ran for the other 3 years (swapping out from the 900 to the 1000 was easy, as both use the same components, the blocks are identical in size, and the engine plate bolt pattern is the same).
First off, the original design used a counterbalance shaft, which was later done away with. Yet, the factory plugs the end of this cavity with a rubber coated metal plug, glued in place, not even a **** circlip ring to hold it in place....so, if the engine ever backfires, this plug blows out, exposing internal engine components to moisture and dirt.
Also, instead of a head gasket, they use O-rings on the cylinder heads. From my experience, these are not as durable as a head gasket, heat causes them to break down, next thing you know, your water jacket begins leaking into the cylinders, causing detonation, or outright engine failure, such as a hole through a piston, or worse.
On the back of the magneto/stator housing, they use an expandable bellows, which is made from a material guaranteed to break down, crack, and allow water or dirt to enter the flywheel/magneto assembly, something you don't want happening. There's no need for a bellows on the magneto housing, it's not like it builds up THAT much pressure inside, the only pressure resulting is from temperature differences. (Best to do away with that POS part, use a tap to cut threads into the fitting, install a SS machine screw with some sealant applied to the threads.)
They also use an inferior gasket material on the magneto housing, guaranteed to leak and allow water to infiltrate the components (I always used water pump gasket sealer, or RTV ultra black, to reassemble the 2 halves of the magneto case, and that seemed to prevent water from getting in there)
So, to anyone building a jetboat thinking of using a TS engine, take it from someone who has owned not one, but two of these POS engines, you'll want to avoid these like the plague. Better off to go with the Yamaha 1100, or if you want fuel efficiency, go with one of the newer VX110 engines, or the MR-1 FX HO.
The HO is the same engine as the VX110, the difference is that the air intake box is on top of the engine, instead of the restrictive system used on the VX, also it has a higher rev limiter, and a few other internal components that give it a higher horsepower output than the VX.
If you'd like to see some comparisons of the Tigershark VS. the High Output engine, go to my youtube channel, and look at the videos titled "2 Stroke Vs. 4 Stroke"
There's 3 different versions.
Part 1 shows the sound and performance from aboard the boat while underway.
Part 2 compares the sound, and the emission levels while sitting on the trailer, being flushed.
And Part 3 shows a comparison of the sound levels, taken from outside the boat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZX2C3c_Xzw
All 3 parts use the same camera, and no audio has been modified. The difference is VERY obvious, (especially part 3, that's why I included it.)
BTW, check out my videos titled "American Jetboat" This should give you some ideas on how to tackle your project, as well as some good laughs. (It's like American Chopper, and just as dysfunctional LOL) :mrgreen: