95 XP Bogs Down, Temperature beeper

[Mgiffune]

Sorry in advance for the long thread - I summarized at the end of the pose.


I've got a 1995 XP with a 717 engine. I've owned it since 96, and have had few problems with it. Seems like I have a couple problems suddenly creep that may or may not be unrelated.

Everything has been running fine all summer, I noticed a little bit of water in the hull, but nothing too bad. I figured maybe it was the drive shaft seal going bad, but since I was having no other problems, I left it alone.

After reading this board some, I replaced the gray fuel lines and cleaned the selector switch. Everything ran fine.

I was going to try to rebuild the carbs, but one but one of the allen bolts holding the PTO side carb is stripped out, so that's not an option without some major work. Instead I removed the carb covers to access the fuel filters, cleaned them, and replaced them.

First time out after cleaning the carbs, the engine bogs down at high RPMs. It gradually got worse, to the point where I can't even get enough speed to get on a plane. It feels like a manual transmissions clutch slipping with no drive.

Then the constant beep of the high temp came on.

I was thinking it may be the drive shaft bearing and seal gone bad, and that may be also where the water is coming from.


Checked it out this morning, connected with a hose in my driveway, and I see the source of the water leak. The stud that holds the exhaust pipe to the engine manifold is broken. I actually found the broken stud a few weeks ago, but didn't know where it came from. The threads are broken off in the manifold.

Also, the high temp beep came on with the hose connected, which blew my theory of the lack of drive causing a lack of water through the engine.

Could all these problems be related? Could the water (and pressure) leak at the exhaust cause the high temperature beep and a loss of power at high RPM? Or could I have screwed up putting the carbs back together, and have a myriad of problems on my hands that coincidentally all happened simultaneously?

Sorry for the long thread - in summary -

1. Cleaned Carb filters and replaced gray fuel lines
2. Water leaking from broken stud at exhaust manifold
3. Bogs down at anything above a medium idle
4. Constant high temperature beep in water or connected to hose.
? Related or separate issues?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Dr Honda]

1) Good... but you aren't done. Normally when the Tempo hoses become a problem... the carbs are in need of a real cleaning/rebuild, and just changing the filter, or spraying a little carb cleaner in it won't cut it. You need to get that bolt out, and do a proper cleaning.

I would just get a big drill, and drill off the head, and then remove the bolt. (the stud will be easy to grab once the carbs are out of the way)


2) You got to fix this too. The water could be leaking back into the engine, and when you have an exhaust leak, you will asphyxiate the engine. Without clean air... it's not going to run. Not to mention, the leaking water along with the heat of the engine, and carbon from the exhaust will make carbonic acid... and it will start to erode the parts.

3) See answers 1&2.

4) there can be a bunch of reasons for this.

a) the intake, in the pump can be clogged.
b) any of the hoses can be clogged.
c) the water leak at your pipe is diverting enough water, to overheat the engine.


As far as related or seperat... you have 2 problems. Both need fixed, or your engine won't live much longer.

 

[Mgiffune]

Thanks for the response Dr. Honda, good to hear the opinion of the expert.

It looks like the exhaust manifold is NLA as a part. With the broken bolt, I'd just as soon replace the manifold than try to extract the bolt...I never seem to have any luck with that.

I've seen several available used on ebay for various years. Anyone know if the 96 - 97 800 engine used the same manifold as the 717?

Should I worry about the drive line seal, or do you think this is just a red herring? Worth replacing on a 15 year old seadoo regardless? Looks like I'm about to do an overhaul anyway.

 

[Dr Honda]

Thanks for the response Dr. Honda, good to hear the opinion of the expert.

Not a prob... that's what I'm here for. :cheers:



OK....


If you are going to keep the ski... yes, rebuild the drive line seal. It's cheap, and not to hard to do.


The exhaust...

Nope... the 720 and the 800 engine are totally different animals. You will need a pipe from an 800. (an 800 pipe from any model ski or boat will work) The 800 engine started life in the 96 xp 800... and ran up into the early 2000 era.