96 Speedster First Voyage, please help!!!

[ATRochie]

I am brand new to the seadoo boating world and need major help please!!!

So I purchased a 96 Speedster a few weeks back, and today was the day that I finally got it on the water. My first boat trip. Everything started out fine, but then I started having some major issues...

The boat cranked fine, both engines started, and off I went. I noticed that I could never seem to get the boat to get up to a strong speed, felt like I was dragging in the water. After awhile we realized that the engine compartment was full of water!!! Now I did have 4 people total on the boat, could this have something to do with engine compartment filling with water?!

Now I made sure that the drain plug was in before I put in water, so I have no clue where all this water came from. By the time I got the boat back on the trailer, one engine was working and one was not. When I try to crank them, one will try and turn and turn but won't start, the other tries for a split second then goes click. I stopped messing with it, because I was scared of the click noise! Please tell me what I need to do from here, and remember I am a seadoo newb!! I was soo close to enjoying my new boat, and now I am home and frustrated. I just left the drain plug out and left boat on incline and ran bilge until engine compartment was empty of water.

HELP ME!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kustomkarl]

It sounds like you have a leak somewhere in the cooling area of the engine. Instead of the cooling water going out of the boat is must have a leak in the exhaust or cooling line maybe or it could be leaking around the jet pump assy. You need to get the water out of the engine real fast before it does some major damage. Remove the spark plugs and install the spark plug caps on the grounding studs. Then turn the engine over. It should spit out the water. Only hit the starter for a few seconds so it won't over heat the starter and seize it up too. Spray some wd-40 down the cylinders to help lube and displace the water. After several times of spiting out the water install the spark plugs and get it fired up. If you need to, use some gas and oil like you use in the injector tank and add a couple oz mixed together, in each cylinder. When it fires shut it off after a few seconds. If you keep running it, it will get over heated because it doesn't have any cooling. Then attach the garden hose and start it up, open the water and let it fun for a few minutes. Do both engines that way. Next figure out where the water is coming from. Let us know if your still having problems or you have any more questions.

Karl

 

[ATRochie]

Thanks a ton Kustom Karl!

one thing I forgot to mention is that my speedster has been modified where the gas and oil has to be premixed. I have been using 40:1 mix and so far that didn't seem to be a problem. Does this make any difference with what I need to do. Also there is a black like fluid coming out of a port on the back of the boat when i try to crank the left engine. Is this good? Just trying to make sure I do the right thing. I haven't tried to crank the right engine because it just clicks on me.

Also what are the right spark plugs and where is a good place to get them. I found what gaps they need to be in the owners manual, but I could use a recommendation for a brand and type. I currently don't have any extras around, will get some in the morning. Thanks again.

 

[pincusa]

40:1 is the right premix for the engine. You can always take some fuel out of the tank to use to crank the engine with

I suspect you're only getting a clicking because the engine is hydro locked (water in the cylinders) You need to get it out quickly! Remove the plugs and crank it over. Put a rag over the head as water and oil will shoot out everywhere.

 

[timmyboy76]

ngk..

NGKBR8ES...need to remove/look at the electrical box for water. If still the click, with plugs removed, thenget inside electrical box for water inthere. In there, you'll see a fuse holder containing a 15amp fuse. check that along with the wires and "red" cables at solenoid (relay). Make sure those cables from battery to solenoid, and solenoid to starter, along with the grounds are good and terminal ends are clean/uncorroded. If all good, with plugs out, jump the 2-post at solenoid, see if the motor kicks over, if so...then new relay in order. Also, re-check all fuses EVERYWHERE...
Also...check the "carbon sea;" assy. If thats bad,it'll let water in..

 

[ATRochie]

thanks for all the advice, I went out today and picked up a box of NGK spark plugs and will have all day tomorrow to try to get her running again. I will keep you guys posted with my progress. She has been down for just over 24 hours now, and I'm getting nervous of water causing permanent damage. Thanks again.

 

[ATRochie]

well we have our first success. After taking off the plugs and cranking the engine, i had some water come out of the left engine. Put in fresh plugs, gave it a few cranks and finally it is running. Now it cranks right away, i did not run it for long, because I was not hooked up to water...

On to the right engine, the one that was "clicking". I took off the plugs, cranked the engine, with a towel over, and the towel hit the ceiling in my garage, and what I can only describe as a oil and water volcano erupted.

No one told me not to do this in my garage, but I was covered in crud, but smiling. After cranking this engine a few times and getting a huge amount of water out of the engine, I put fresh plugs in, and sure enough after a few tries, she cranked right up, and now she cranks up on the first try also.

Now onto the bigger problem. Here is what led up to this whole issue, and maybe someone can give me some advice. I put the boat in the water for the first time, and I did notice that there was some water by my feet. Not a whole lot. Everything else seemed to be fine. Having never driven one of these boats before, I didnt think much of it. I loaded up 3 friends and a dog, maybe 700lbs. Whenever I hit the accelerator it would begin to accelerate but when i got the throttle halfway up, both engines would hit rev imiters. If i eased into it EXTREMELY gradually, I could get the boat up to close to 30 mph, but it took FOREVER for it to plane out, longer than 10 seconds. Seemed like some cavitation going on!? Seemed to be alot harder than it should. We tried pulling a skier (200lbs) for a little bit, but could not get the boat up to speed at all, and couldnt get the boat to plane out. The water in the bottom seemed to be a little bit more, and the right engine started havig some trouble staying cranked, so we took the boat back to the dock, we had been out maybe 2 hours max. When I was at the dock, it seemed to be taking in even more water just sitting there. My feet were in a sizable puddle at this point. After about 15-20 mins I got the boat loaded on the trailer and when I released the drain plug water came out for like 10 mins. Looking in the engine compartment there was water almost up to where the spark plugs plug in.

So now that my engines are cranking again, I need some advice on what could be causing these problems. I've been pulled on 85hp jet skis on skis before, and it just never felt like we were getting full power out of boat. Any advice on what to do next would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind, I am a total speedster NEWB, and just putting in fresh plugs and getting water out of engines was a feat for me! Thanks to everyone again.

 

[timmyboy76]

o-yah, when get'n water out of engine, make sure nuth'n aboveyou/around (cars),..etc, it'll get blasted...:rofl:
For the water in at your feet, need to check the "scupper" valve, at back of boat. There should be at least, a rubber flap there, this allows water NOT to enter boat, if deteriated or missing, need to replace, or at West Marine/boat shop, the have this clear cage thing, twith a ping-pong ball, encoroprated into it...same purpose. With water being that extreme, it drained into latch assy, thus, help fill up the engine bay. With that much water in bay, need to look at the carbon ring assy around driveshaft, under the grey cover by motor, may be cracked, and/or the pump is not sealed good at back of boat. Since you have power, but no thrust, may want to invest in wear rings, help out dremendously, and with replace'n those, will need to re-seal pump anyhow...

 

[ATRochie]

I finally got my boat hooked up to a garden hose, and I did find a small leak, but its probably not the culprit of all the water in my engine compartment. It was one of the little hoses that goes up to the top of the engine, I'm not quite sure what you call it, but it was squirting water out, so we took off the clamp and tightened it up and it stopped that leak. I noticed that there was some black sludge coming out of the ports on the back of the boat, it seemed to lessen as the engines continued running On the left engine there was some water shooting straight down to the ground on the back of the boat, seemed a little odd, you can see it in the picture. After hooking up both engines, we concluded that there was no water coming into the engine compartment from this process. This leads me to believe that my leak must be somewhere involving my intake, like maybe wear rings or something like that, there was no water coming out of the two engines that I could see inside the compartment. Someone please look at these pictures and tell me what you think. I'm ready for some help on whatever the next step is...Please give me some advice, and thanks to everyone for their help thus far, I am learning about this boat fast!

 

[timmyboy76]

hey Roch...what you could do, is tilt thr boat up, has high as you can, (this is taken in consideration, that the lake/ocean is somewhat of a travel) and fill the engine bay up, til it is past the "carbon ring" assy's..(the accordian boot, looking thing). Then look at back of boat, and under it, see if its leak'n.
If lake aint far, then take boat there, leave the tie downs on, and back ur up, til ass-end is submerged, then have a look in engine bay, see if waters com'n in.
You can, remove the "grey" shield, and loosen the clamp on accordian boot, thats toward back of boat, and push it towards motor, hard as you can, then at same time, tighten it, this will put more pressure, on carbon ring against the steel collar....:cheers:

 

[ATRochie]

alright, so I carried my boat to a local repair shop, I am going to let these guys give it a once over and check for my leak. I tried some things myself, but I am just not "seadoo smart" enough yet. My gut feeling is that the boat needs wear rings. I should find out something in the next few days and I will keep everyone posted on my findings.

 

[ATRochie]

OK, so boat is back from shop, all the leakin is fixed, replaced bilge pump, replaced left wear ring, and also gasket around drain plug. I took it out for the first time today, and everything was running fine. I ran it for about 15 mins and then this loud whistling or alarm noise started sounding. After about 2 minutes, my right engine stopped cranking, all it does now is click. The left engine cranks fine every time. I pulled out the plugs and tried cranking it this way, and all it does is give One click, and that's it. Any ideas would be very helpful!!

I've owned this boat since April and have only had it out 4 times! I'm dying to get this thing working right. Please help me!

 

[timmyboy76]

OK, so boat is back from shop, all the leakin is fixed, replaced bilge pump, replaced left wear ring, and also gasket around drain plug. I took it out for the first time today, and everything was running fine. I ran it for about 15 mins and then this loud whistling or alarm noise started sounding. After about 2 minutes, my right engine stopped cranking, all it does now is click. The left engine cranks fine every time. I pulled out the plugs and tried cranking it this way, and all it does is give One click, and that's it. Any ideas would be very helpful!!

I've owned this boat since April and have only had it out 4 times! I'm dying to get this thing working right. Please help me!

pull the grey shield off from back of motor, and turn the pto. If stuck, then you'll need to pull the pump off, then try again (turn pto), if still stuck then need engine rebuilt. While pump off, spin the impellor, see if its "free". Or you can jump the relay (where the red cables go into and bolt down, inside the elect. box). jump those post, and see if motor turns, if so, then inspect the red cable from relay to starter, and if good, then replace the relay.

 

[ATRochie]

okay, so bad news, just found out that engine does need rebuild, the shop I have it at wants 250 for the tear down, and between $1200-$2500 for the rebuild. Needless to say I am not going ahead with the work. Is there a cheaper alternative, what is the normal cost for this service? I see rebuilt engines on ebay for around $700, I am tempted to sell the whole thing if I can't get this fixed for less than $1500....any ideas here would be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone for their help so far.

 

[Stewie]

okay, so bad news, just found out that engine does need rebuild, the shop I have it at wants 250 for the tear down, and between $1200-$2500 for the rebuild. Needless to say I am not going ahead with the work. Is there a cheaper alternative, what is the normal cost for this service? I see rebuilt engines on ebay for around $700, I am tempted to sell the whole thing if I can't get this fixed for less than $1500....any ideas here would be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone for their help so far.

Wow, that's tough luck. I had a similar problem the other day when the bilge filled with some water. Some dope (me) didn't tighten the bilge plugs very well. I'm not sure really how much water was in the bilge, but it drained for a solid 5-8 minutes. The water drained and both engines started back up but the port engine would hang up around 3,500 rpm until the boat planed out. Once planed out the engine operated normally. Without all the power at the start, though, we couldn't pull up a skier. The bilge pump wouldn't run either.

This weekend I might try what you did and see if any water blows out of the motor. Unfortunately I'm off for a 60 day deployment on Monday and won't get a chance to take it out again until September.

I'll have a mechanic look at it when I get back as well.

I hope I don't have a rebuild in my future!