Rotary Valve Timing

When installing a Sea-Doo 587, 657, 657X, 717, 787 or 787 RFI engine, your rotary
valve must be timed. To do so you will need a timing degree wheel and the degree
specification for your particular engine. Please refer to the chart below for degree
specifications:

TIMING OPENING
YEAR MODEL VALVE OPENING (BTDC) TIMING CLOSING (ATDC)

1988 SP 132 132 52

1989 SP 132 132 52

1990 SP 132 132 52

GT 132 132 52

1991 SP 147 115 80

XP 132 115 65

GT 132 115 65

1992 SP 147 115 80

XP 147 130 65

GTS 147 115 80

GTX 147 130 65

1993 SP 147 115 80

SPX 147 130 65

SPI 147 115 80

XP 147 130 65

GTS 147 115 80

GTX 147 130 65

1994 SP 147 130 65

SPX 147 130 65

SPI 147 130 65

XP (5855) 147 130 65

GTS 147 130 65

SP 147 130 65

1995 SP 147 130 65

SPX 159 147 65

SPI 147 130 65

XP 800 159 147 65

XP 159 147 65

GTS 147 130 65

GTX 159 147 65

HX 159 147 65

1996 SP 147 130 65

SPX 159 147 65.5

SPI 147 130 65

XP 159 146.5 64

GSX 159 146.5 64

GTS 147 130 65

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX 159 146.5 64

HX 159 147 65.5

1997 SP 132 134 51.5

SPX 159 146.5 64

GS 159 147 65.5

GSI 159 147 65.5

GSX 159 146.5 64

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX 159 146.5 64

HX 159 147 65.5

XP 159 146.5 64

1998 SPX 159 147 63.5

GS 159 147 65.5

GTS 159 147 65.5

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

1999 SPX 159 147 63.5

GS 159 147 65.5

GSX RFI 159 147 63.5

GTS 159 147 65.5

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

2000 GS 159 147 65.5

GSX RFI 159 147 63.5

GTS INTER. 159 147 65.5

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

2001 GS 159 147 65.5

GSX RFI 159 147 63.5

GTS 159 147 65.5

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

GTI LE 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

GTI 159 147 65.5

GTX RFI 159 147 63.5

*Please remember the photos below are for illustration purposes only. Please
follow your own settings.
First place a screwdriver, pen, etc., or use a TDC gauge in the front (MAG) cylinder
through the spark plug hole. Then, turn the crankshaft to find the Top Dead Center of
the piston.

Next, place a timing degree wheel over the rotary valve gear, aligning the 360° mark at
the bottom of the front (MAG) intake port.
Now find the timing spec for your particular year and model. Using the inside track of
numbers, make a mark on the case corresponding to the timing spec for your engine.
This will be somewhere around 11 or 12 o'clock on the case. NOTE: do not
automatically use the notch on the case to time by - you need to make sure it's
timed correctly.
Align the rotary valve (as shown below) so that the port is open, and the edge of the
valve matches precisely with the mark. NOTE: the valve is asymmetrical. Flip it
around to find the closest match.