1996 Sea Doo Challenger Wont Accelerate

[extreme202]

I recently purchased a 1996 Sea Doo Challenger with the 787 motor. I put it out on the lake today and was driving fine had a little problems getting it up on plane but i think its from the cavitation but i also heard it could be from the wear ring on the impeller.

I was driving the boat around all day cruising around and it ran awesome, the motor starts up perfect and sounds good. All of a sudden i was giving it throttle, not even half throttle and i heard a whining noise from the back of the boat and all of a sudden the boat wouldn't move. I tried to give it throttle again and there was no boat movement, it had to get towed in.

Could it be that the drive shaft broke or the impeller shaft?

Anyone have an ideas or same problem?

Thank you very much!

 

[rgwekwert]

Sounds like it could just be weeds... I had the exact same thing last week end and had to swim underneath and pull out the weeds wrapped around the impeller. Never know, could be that simple, I never thought they would stop the boat dead... High whine, motor ran fine just wouldn't go.


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[Dr Honda]

Cavitation will feel like "Spinning your tires" with a car. You know the power is there, but there's no "Traction". Light cavitation is normally at the pump. So, wear ring, or impeller issues. If it's BAD cavitation... (like it just wont go) that's almost always air getting into the pump. Either the seal around the pump is leaking... or the driveshaft seal is gone.


But as above... what you were feeling was most likely something blocking the pump. If you sucked up a bunch of weeds, or an old shopping bag... you will get vibration, and no thrust. I'm not saying something didn't break... but it's unlikely that you lost splines, unless you know that something big got into the pump.


SO... before sending it to the shop... Just do an inspection, and try to turn the impeller on the driveshaft.

 

[extreme202]

The impeller spins freely when i turn it. But when i stick my hand in the intake on the bottom and spin the impeller the drive shaft doesnt move. Could it be the impeller shaft and the bearings? or could it possibly be the carbon ring?

I did remove a little bit of sea weed from the water intake prior to this happening.

Thanks

 

[extreme202]

Might need a pump rebuild. Start the boat up and runs good when just at idle speed on the lift with it in the water, i get the whinning noise after 20 seconds like it is trying to suck in water but isnt.

Should i just rebuild the whole pump?

 

[extreme202]

Well found out what the problem was... Have to rebuild the pump and put in a new drive shaft. The bearing was shot in the impeller shaft and the spindle on the drive shaft was rounded. They also didnt have the rubber bumper on the end of the drive shaft on the impeller side, they did have it on the pto /flywheel side.

Ordered rebuild kit for pump,wear ring, new drive shaft, and all new parts for drive shaft.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I just saw this post for the first time,,, Sorry for the delay.

The moment you said the impeller would spin, then the next step was to remove the pump as the impeller should ONLY spins when the engine is running...

Glad you found the issue. Not too devastating. Replace the impeller while you are there and take a good look at the carbon seal as well. Might be a great time to service the driveline parts.

 

[utah997]

So.. this may be a stupid answer. But you mentioned having to be "towed in" were both engines out? I had one die on me after I first got my boat (bad plugs) and was able to just use the port engine. That was one of the things that attracted me to this boat. "having a backup"

 

[extreme202]

So.. this may be a stupid answer. But you mentioned having to be "towed in" were both engines out? I had one die on me after I first got my boat (bad plugs) and was able to just use the port engine. That was one of the things that attracted me to this boat. "having a backup"

I have the sea doo challenger. it only has the single 787 motor.

 

[extreme202]

I just saw this post for the first time,,, Sorry for the delay.

The moment you said the impeller would spin, then the next step was to remove the pump as the impeller should ONLY spins when the engine is running...

Glad you found the issue. Not too devastating. Replace the impeller while you are there and take a good look at the carbon seal as well. Might be a great time to service the driveline parts.

Yep i am getting all new drive line parts as well. Just put all new parts in from the motor back and do it right.

 

[Coastiejoe]

That is exactly what I would have done.


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[extreme202]

That is exactly what I would have done.


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When rebuilding the impeller do i need an arbor press?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I don't think you will need it for the impeller itself. But info believe you will for the bearings,,,


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[Robj]

I wonder if engine misalignment could be a contributing factor? I would check alignment while you are at it.