Fix Yamaha Waverunner VX deluxe Overheating - New Cylinder head and gasket installation

Tech Tuesday, this time is back with tech tips on jet skis.
Disclaimer: Slight mechanically skills will be required and necessary to do this job properly.
Extensive video on a Yamaha VX 110 Deluxe, with a problem of running Hot/Overheating after a few minutes of use on the water. The jetski runs totally normal in idle and during freshwater flushing, but cannot go full power for long before activating the temperature sensor/overheating.
Avoid falling into this trap when you buy a jetski, it will show normal operation in a driveway, but NOT on the water.
Main problem is most likely, that the ski was operated in salty waters near coastlines with waves creating sand and saltwater mixture ingestion throughout the engine, which in turn clogs up the cooling canals inside the engine (cylinder, Anode, head, exhaust manifold). This result in normal operation at low power settings with no noticeable problem, but the engine will struggle for deteriorated cooling when forced to give power. Depending on the amount of clogging the warning light will come on at lower or higher settings.
Here is a how to, DIY on trouble shooting and fixing/changing your head gasket, cams and head on your Yamaha VX Deluxe or equivalent.
I used a new Head delivered from SBT, and it works just perfect. Buy a new set of gaskets on Amazon and you are ready.
As promised in the video, here is a link to the service manual, with all tech specs and torque values on your jetski Yamaha VX deluxe 110/1100
dokumen.tips/documents/servic...
Symptoms could also be:
Jetski is overheating, only when under load and everything is normal otherwise. Meaning you can flush it and run idle and no overheat warning is coming on. The minute you give power and sail for a little distance approximately 700 yards, the jetski overheat and goes into limb mode.
Here is the possible failure and solution to this problem, and how to solve it.
the jetski used here is a Yamaha VX deluxe, however this could be the case on any jetski out there, which has been in salty, dirty or sandy waters. They simply ingest the salt, sand and dirt and cloggs the coolant system.
enjoy and work slowly towards to finish line. No rush is recommended .
enjoy, and sail safely,
best regards Rene

[@benbowden1827]

I have one of these apart but had to go overseas in a hurry for family reasons and unfortunately no longer have the timing chain marked. Any tips on TDC and realigning that might be different from other engines? its the 2007 MR1 I believe. Excellent video - this will be a huge help. Thank you for sharing

[@patx7720]

Disconnect battery, pull spark plugs, remove plastic driveshaft cover. Place a wooden stick down into #1 cylinder (FORWARD-most cylinder), grab drive coupling and rotate counterclockwise (when looking from stern to bow) to get #1 piston to top dead center of compression stroke. With that set, feed timing chain onto crank and keep it pulled up snug against crank with bungee cord (or rope,etc)... Set your camshafts in place with timing dots facing up (the camshaft lobes FARTHEST FROM the timing chain, when looking from stern to bow, will face outward from each other at about 10 and 2 o'clock). Gently lift the bow end of each camshaft to slip under/engage chain, ensuring there's no slack in the chain both between the cams, and(!), and the starboard side from EXHAUST cam to crankshaft (the side opposite the tensioner). With cam covers torqued and tensioner installed, rotate engine using the drive coupler (again, counterclockwise) through 2 full revolutions stopping back at #1 piston top dead center, then verify the timing dots are facing up again and the 2 cam lobes are facing away from each other at 10 and 2 again. If they aren't, take tensioner back out, cam covers off and adjust the cam positions (all while #1 is at top dead center). If you encounter any resistance while hand-rotating the engine, STOP, do not force the rotation. Take the cams back off and reset #1 to top dead center of compression stroke (you had probably set top dead center of intake/exhaust stroke by mistake).

[@techtips101]

Thank you guys - exactly like that a and if you want the manual for the engine sent to you by email I will be happy to provide you with a PDF of that manual. It is well explained in there and there are pretty ok illustrations as well Sail safely and enjoy you jet skis. Best regards Rene

[@patx7720]

Realized after I wrote my initial post (as I was doing it from memory, my apologies) I errored in which cylinder to reference as #1. Have edited the post with the corrections in CAPS. As a tip, put the exhaust cam in before the intake cam (leave the center cam cap off and the other 2 loose so you can slide it very slightly aft when you go to put the intake cam in). Again, ensure no chain slack between crank and exhaust cam. It's a bit tricky to get the intake cam in to get it's dot lined up. You may find a small amount of slack in the chain between the cams and the dot looks like it's 1 cam tooth off. Before you panic, put all the cam caps on and stick your finger in the tensioner hole and push on the cam guide and see if both the slack between the cams goes away and the dot now lines up (if not, try again with getting the intake cam on the right tooth.

[@benbowden1827]

​@@patx7720this is awesome. I knew everything in the first post already but my brother in law has had issues getting it to line up (im still overseas)... I'm sure these tips will get us all lined up. Thanks so much.

[@franciscrawford6208]

Good Day Mr Rene when installing the head gasket is it required to place indian Head on the head gasket

[@techtips101]

Hi there and thanks for watching and commenting. No you don’t have to - but make sure not to destroy the gasket when you place the gasket in its place. The head fits perfectly on the seat and with the dowels in place. You tighten the bolts the way I describe it and in that specific order. If you need the manual I can send it to you. Hope that helps, sail safely, best regards Rene.

[@franciscrawford6208]

Thanks for the quick response sir , I was told by the local mechanics in my area indian head was needed even though it never said so in the manual , I was also told to put Loctite on the head studs/bolts from my understanding all you need is engine oil right? And thank you again sir for the response Working on a VX110 for the first time and your video helps a lot

[@techtips101]

No you are good - only Oil on studs - no Loctite - Blue nor red - none. - clean the studs - put one droplet of engine oil on the rincles - same oil so you have the right measure measurements for the torch wrench. Hope that helps - best regards Rene

[@omar72371]

Do you know where is the thermostat located on that 1100 engine?

[@techtips101]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes however depending on your production year it will look differently in the engine compartment, but it should sit on the side of the oilsump. However and this is important many of the never ones don’t have a thermostat - mine for instance do not have one. So don’t look too much after it since it might not be there. Sail safely, best regards Rene