Buying new Ballast - need info

[kriley]

I am going to buy either the 750 or 1100 Fly High ballast from Wake Makers - My question is what am I going to have to do to install these - I have read in other threads that you have to extend your fill or drain hoses to fit - Is this the case fro both the 750 and the 1100?? What other surprises will I encounter that I did not catch on the past threads??? Thanks for your help - I am a newbie on the ballast deal so I want to make sure I have all my bases covered before purchasing....

[Wax]

Yes you have to extend the fill hose, not the drain hose. You can buy a plug and play kit on wakemakers for each side, I think they're $20 each. Or, like I did, I bought a sprinkler barb coupler at home depot and some braided vinyl hose and did both bags for like $11.

I'd go 1100 (because I did lol), but you will have to reinforce the side panel to the motor compartment. I didn't think I'd have to at first, but over time my panel has bowed and is now touching the exhaust manifold. You can find threads on how to do it, relatively simple job of screwing in aluminum supports with self tapping screws.

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[Wax]

Although that's on a LSV...not sure what difference there would be for other boats, but I'm sure it's all similar.

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[Wax]

Oh, 2013 LSV as in your other post

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[eblom]

Wakemakers sells a kit that has all of the fittings and extensions that you will need... They are great guys to work with if you have any questions call them up...

http://www.wakemakers.com/2013-supra-and-moomba-rear-upgrade.html

[kriley]

Thanks Wax and eblom!

[wolfeman131]

Wakemakers sells a kit that has all of the fittings and extensions that you will need... They are great guys to work with if you have any questions call them up...

http://www.wakemakers.com/2013-supra-and-moomba-rear-upgrade.html

you won't need anything for a 2013 LSV other than the new sacs as the fill/drain are the same line with the reversible pumps and vent line off the top will be fine. Everything went to 1" lines in 2013, so just get the right size fittings. Should be about a 30 min job: 5 min to uncover boat, 5 min to unplug old bags & plug in new ones, 20 mins to enjoy a cold one (or two) while admiring your work.

[blackout_58]

you won't need anything for a 2013 LSV other than the new sacs as the fill/drain are the same line with the reversible pumps and vent line off the top will be fine. Everything went to 1" lines in 2013, so just get the right size fittings. Should be about a 30 min job: 5 min to uncover boat, 5 min to unplug old bags & plug in new ones, 20 mins to enjoy a cold one (or two) while admiring your work.

I second Wolf's response, I just got my 1100's and did not have to change a thing in my Supra. As long as you pay attention to the bags you are ordering, they will tell you if you need the drain extender or not.

As a fyi, do not glue your quick connects in place until you have screwed them in once or twice. I made this mistake with Loctite and now have the unhappy pleasure of heating my bags up with a heat gun to try and get them out now.

[kriley]

Thanks Wolfeman and Blackout - The guy at Wake Makers told me to just screw the fitting in - Do you glue it?? or can you Teflon tape the threads...

[wolfeman131]

I had tightened mine, found they leaked a little and then used Teflon tape and channel locks. I was going to go with the glue, but no leaks since I used the tape.

[kriley]

Thanks!! I already have to many bad experiences with locktite - I was hoping Teflon would work

[jstenger]

I put a little vasoline on the threads and o-ring. I then used channel-locks to tighten them. No tape or glue. Just make sure that the o-ring doesn't squeeze out. I haven't had one leak yet.

[FFEMTP933]

you won't need anything for a 2013 LSV other than the new sacs as the fill/drain are the same line with the reversible pumps and vent line off the top will be fine. Everything went to 1" lines in 2013, so just get the right size fittings. Should be about a 30 min job: 5 min to uncover boat, 5 min to unplug old bags & plug in new ones, 20 mins to enjoy a cold one (or two) while admiring your work.

I third wolfeman. Of course one or two colds ones turned into several more cause I started my charcoal before starting mod thinking it would be ready to cook with by the time I finished the instill. The instill only took me about 5 minutes so I had pertly of time (miller time) waiting on charcoal to admire my work. Then I had to drink a few more once the meat hit the grill. Around here its illegal to grill without a cold one in hand, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

[blackout_58]

Thanks!! I already have to many bad experiences with locktite - I was hoping Teflon would work

Apparently the first 10 times with Loctite were not good enough for me.....I will let you know how it goes as it involves a heat gun.

[MLA]

Thanks!! I already have to many bad experiences with locktite - I was hoping Teflon would work

The threads on the fly high sacs are straight threads, not tapered pip threads. straight threads do not seal like tapered pipe threads, thats the reason for the oring at the base of the sac fittings. The oring does the sealing and the recommended glue is there to prevent the fitting from backing off. As the fitting backs off, the oring will allow some leakage.

Vaseline is petroleum based and will likely deteriorate the rubber oring. If you need a rubber safe lube, use silicone paste or a marine sealer thats not petroleum based and is safe to be in contact with rubber.

[jstenger]

Vaseline is petroleum based and will likely deteriorate the rubber oring. If you need a rubber safe lube, use silicone paste or a marine sealer thats not petroleum based and is safe to be in contact with rubber.
I did not know that about vasoline. I will make sure to stop using it and switch to a silicone base.

[jasonwm]

Some good info in this thread, I just wanted to expand on it a bit for the benefit of anyone that reads it in the future.

- We do not recommend glueing fittings into bags proactively; we deal with far more customers that want to remove fittings that have been cemented in than we deal with leaks or other issues from fittings that weren't glued in place. If you have a bag with fittings that have been cemented in place, what our vide on Removing Glued in Fly High Ballast Bag Fittings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpW_x9MeAQo).

- Teflon tape, thread sealant or other similar products will typically offer no benefit for our application. As MLA mentioned, Fly High ballast bags used a straight thread pattern (think of a nut on a bolt, you can spin the nut up and down the entire length of the bolt), and because of that, there is no binding effect as you tighten the threads. Additionally, the flange that is built into Fly High ballast bags is slightly pliable, so any material you add to the male threads of the fitting will just cause the female threads to enlarge.

- If you do have issues with leaks occurring and the fitting is fully seated in the flange on the bag, then we recommend using a multi-purpose PVC cement when threading the fitting in place to provide a chemical bond between the bag and the fitting (it can be released as outlined in the video above).

Finally, most 2013 MY boats have fittings cemented into the bag from the factory, so it may (or may not) be worth it for a lot of our customers to order our complete 2013+ Moomba Ballast Upgrade (http://www.wakemakers.com/2013-supra-and-moomba-rear-upgrade.html) just to make sure they have everything they need in one box.

[beat taco]

Holy crap that's genius. I have a bag I didn't use all summer because of glued in fittings. I figured heat was the answer but wouldn't have tried my feet and popping it out.

[jasonwm]

I'm glad you saw our video then, it's like free ballast since you already have the bag!

[kriley]

Thanks Jasonwm! I got the new ballast installed in about 10 minutes - drank a few cold adult beverages, cooked some beef, and got everything ready to see the new wake tomorrow!! I will post some pics on Sunday.. Thanks again for everyone's help.....

[bergermaister]

You gotta admit - WakeMakers rocks!

[kriley]

Bergermaister - WaveMakers does rock!! The new ballast made an awesome wave - Much bigger and ridable than the stock ballast..... So far you have led me right on the lights (which is addictive - ordered another 30 lights from oznium) and ballast... Thanks.....

[Boonejeepin]

You gotta admit - WakeMakers rocks!

Yep! Great guys.

[jasonwm]

Thanks for the kind words you guys, we're pretty lucky to be selling fun, and it makes everyone on the team feel pretty good when you guys are happy with what we're doing.