96 xp - taking on water

[skenny77]

I recently had the starter replaced in my 96 XP. I launched it last weekend for the first time and it started fine. After riding for the day, I rafted it off a friend's boat over night. When I woke up the next morning it was practically underwater. I took off the seat and found the entire hull full of water. The drain plug was installed. It has never taken on water before, but I have never left it in the water over night. I am not sure if there it is a coincidence or if the mechanic did something wrong or did not correctly reassemble something. I did find an allen head screw in the bottom of the hull after draining it, which I believe to be the 3rd screw from the starter (the one u can not see when looking with the engine installed).
At any rate, It will not start and I don't want to make it worse by continuing to try. Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on where to start troubleshooting/

thanks...

 

[Bills86e]

Pull the *plugs and put *wires on the grounding lugs for safety. Spin/crank engine
until (do not over-heat starter, use 15 sec intervals, 5 minutes) all water spits out of the lower case. Put starter fluid to try starting engine two times, then use pre-mix
gas/oil in *plug holes & down carbs to get it to start & run it a hour. That may save it from the moisture in the engine to rust & destroy the engine. VERY important to
IMMEDIATELY get it running to save it! Bill

 

[MonkeyMan]

The carbon seals on these jet boats and skis often leak constantly, and if you leave a boat or ski in the water overnight, it can sink.

The boats often don't sink, since they have bilge pumps that come on when a certain amount of water is in the hull, but the battery will eventually die and it can sink as well.

I have known guys who could float their skis overnight with no problems, then guys who will sink them overnight. Just depends on how well your seals are working.

Get that water out and run it and hope for the best. The quicker you run it, the less damage you will have.

 

[skenny77]

Bill,

I appreciate ur help. I have a couple (probably silly) questions, as I am not a very mechanical person. I understand electrical, but engines really aren't my thing.
When u say starter fluid, I assume u are taling about something I would buy at Autozone? the pre-mix u are talking about, can u describe it? Like gas and 2 cycle oil that I would use in my chaninsaw, or a mix of gas and seadoo oil?
After putting that stuff in do I put the plugs back in? if I am to run it for an hour, I assume I need to hook it up to a hose? I am not sure it is even set up for that. It has been out of the water for 5 days, is this going to make this all in vain? I think I will have to try to charge the battery first, as when I was trying to start it after this happenned, it was dropping below 8 volts.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[skenny77]

can u describe these carbon seals to me? where can I find them? Can they be checked or can I easily tell if they are good or bad?

 

[MonkeyMan]

Carbon seal is on the drive shaft halfway between the engine and the impeller, inside the engine bay. There is a rubber accordian boot that pushes the carbon against a stainless seal. The carbon is stationary, the stainless portion spins with the driveshaft.

When in the water and running, a fine mist of water will seep out and spray inside the hull. This keeps the seal cool, and is normal.

When sitting still, if the seals are really in good shape, they may not leak at all, but I assume most leak at least a little, and some a LOT!

When it is in the water, reach down and pull back on that rubber boot and a bunch of water will come in.

Check it when the engine is off and see if it is leaking. If so, then that would be your culprit.