Brand new Sea-Doo owner with one issue....I hope!!!

[NHScott]

So here's the deal. I bought a 2004 GTX 185 Limited Supercharged PWC from a good fiend of mine last Fall. This past weekend I changed the oil, changed the plugs, topped off the coolant and took her for her first ride as the new owner. She fired right up, idled fine and performed okay seeing as she's been sitting for two years. There was one thing I noticed; she only topped out at around 32 mph. Of course I googled it and it turns out it could be one of two (hopefully not both) issues. Either a worn wear ring or a failing super charger. My friend said he replaced the impeller and rebuilt the supercharger a few years back. So the question of the day do any of you guys know what the issue might be? I'm sure there are many threads about this same issue but I just want to get it diagnosed and fixed ASAP without having to donate a ton of cash to the local dealer. Can't wait for your replies.

Thanks
Scott

 

[Digdog]

What RPM are you getting at 32mph?

 

[NHScott]

What RPM are you getting at 32mph?

Not 100% sure but she wasn’t really revving too high. Maybe 7,000 rpm but not 100% sure. She was running smoothly though.

 

[Digdog]

It would help with the diagnosis if we knew what the RPM is, otherwise can't tell if it's lacking power output or if its the pump.

 

[Greg Moore]

Make sure you're not using the learning key if equiped! To check the S/C, pull the big hose of the middle of it (faces directly rearward) and reach in until you feel the fins of the blades. Try to turn them by your fingers, if it either doesn't turn or actually slowly turns the motor, it's OK, if you can turn it pretty easy, clutches are gone.

Wear ring is most pronounced at launch from standing, will rev like crazy and feel like a car on ice. Doesn't impact top end nearly as much as your description. Without RPM's though it's a crap shoot. Basically if the S/C is slipping or simply shot, you'll never develope anything close to full speed OR full RPM's. With a bad ring or damaged impeller, you'll hit full RPM's way too early and not hit full speed.

 

[NHScott]

I’m planning on visually inspecting the wear ring and impeller. If they look good I’ll put her back in the water and note the rpm’s at her max speed and get back to you. Stay tuned. Thanks.

 

[NHScott]

Make sure you're not using the learning key if equiped! To check the S/C, pull the big hose of the middle of it (faces directly rearward) and reach in until you feel the fins of the blades. Try to turn them by your fingers, if it either doesn't turn or actually slowly turns the motor, it's OK, if you can turn it pretty easy, clutches are gone.

Wear ring is most pronounced at launch from standing, will rev like crazy and feel like a car on ice. Doesn't impact top end nearly as much as your description. Without RPM's though it's a crap shoot. Basically if the S/C is slipping or simply shot, you'll never develope anything close to full speed OR full RPM's. With a bad ring or damaged impeller, you'll hit full RPM's way too early and not hit full speed.

So I pulled the hose off of the supercharger and attempted to spin it and it would not move at all so can I assume the supercharger is OK? Thanks

 

[NHScott]

So I took a picture of the impeller and wear ring and they don’t look too bad but I’ll attach a pic for you guys to judge for yourself. One thing I forgot to mention was the gas that’s in there has been sitting for a year and a half so could it be the gas that is causing the lack of TopSpeed? I will take it out on the water tomorrow evening and let you guys know what the RPMs are a top speed. Thanks.

 

[mikidymac]

Wear ring and impeller look good.

 

[Greg Moore]

That impeller isn't going to degrade top end much at all, maybe hole shot for first 20ft. Old gas, dump that shit out! In comparison to give you an idea.. If you had a 350 Chevy V8 in your good old pickup putting out the same HP per cubic inch as these motors can (at least the 255/260) you'd have one thousand and fourty HP under the hood of that pickup and $25K invested to make that motor, what would you run for gas and oil?

For sure go fresh gas, S/C is good enough to get near top end if you can't turn it. I torque wrench in inch/lbs is needed to check it prefectly but if you can't turn it by hand, at worst you might lose a couple of MPH.

Plugs, clean fresh gas could make a difference but yeah, we need RPM vs MPH

 

[NHScott]

That impeller isn't going to degrade top end much at all, maybe hole shot for first 20ft. Old gas, dump that shit out! In comparison to give you an idea.. If you had a 350 Chevy V8 in your good old pickup putting out the same HP per cubic inch as these motors can (at least the 255/260) you'd have one thousand and fourty HP under the hood of that pickup and $25K invested to make that motor, what would you run for gas and oil?

For sure go fresh gas, S/C is good enough to get near top end if you can't turn it. I torque wrench in inch/lbs is needed to check it prefectly but if you can't turn it by hand, at worst you might lose a couple of MPH.

Plugs, clean fresh gas could make a difference but yeah, we need RPM vs MPH

Great advice Gregg. To your point I’ve tried to stick a syphon down the full tube but can’t get it in. Any suggestions

That impeller isn't going to degrade top end much at all, maybe hole shot for first 20ft. Old gas, dump that shit out! In comparison to give you an idea.. If you had a 350 Chevy V8 in your good old pickup putting out the same HP per cubic inch as these motors can (at least the 255/260) you'd have one thousand and fourty HP under the hood of that pickup and $25K invested to make that motor, what would you run for gas and oil?

For sure go fresh gas, S/C is good enough to get near top end if you can't turn it. I torque wrench in inch/lbs is needed to check it prefectly but if you can't turn it by hand, at worst you might lose a couple of MPH.

Plugs, clean fresh gas could make a difference but yeah, we need RPM vs MPH

i was finally able to siphon the old gas out. Almost 8 gallons worth. I bet fresh gas will no doubt improve the performance. How could it not. I’m water testing tomorrow evening and will check back with the RPMs and hopefully improved top speed. Thanks for all the great

That impeller isn't going to degrade top end much at all, maybe hole shot for first 20ft. Old gas, dump that shit out! In comparison to give you an idea.. If you had a 350 Chevy V8 in your good old pickup putting out the same HP per cubic inch as these motors can (at least the 255/260) you'd have one thousand and fourty HP under the hood of that pickup and $25K invested to make that motor, what would you run for gas and oil?

For sure go fresh gas, S/C is good enough to get near top end if you can't turn it. I torque wrench in inch/lbs is needed to check it prefectly but if you can't turn it by hand, at worst you might lose a couple of MPH.

Plugs, clean fresh gas could make a difference but yeah, we need RPM vs MPH

So to my utter disappointment filling her with fresh gas didn’t improve the top speed but here’s the results . I ran her for about ten minutes. Top speed inched up to 35 MPH and the RPM’s at full throttle were 5,700. What’s my next course of action gentlemen? Thanks again.

It would help with the diagnosis if we knew what the RPM is, otherwise can't tell if it's lacking power output or if its the pump.

So after putting in fresh fuel it still only got to 35 mph at 5500 rpm’s at full throttle. I have no idea what the issue is.

 

[Greg Moore]

You are using the yellow key not the white right? 35mph is exactly the speed learner is set to. Short of that, your RPM match your speed so it isn't a pump issue, you're simply not making the right HP.. Could be an air restriction into the S/C or a major leak beyond it. Possibly cam jumped a tooth but doubt it..

 

[greenhornet2]

funny story, I bought a 17 spark used, 30hrs. From the factory they keys are backwards. My green key is supposed to be learners key, yellow is the fast key, like my other spark. This one the keys are backwards, green is fast yellow is slow...

 

[Digdog]

Great advice Gregg. To your point I’ve tried to stick a syphon down the full tube but can’t get it in. Any suggestions

i was finally able to siphon the old gas out. Almost 8 gallons worth. I bet fresh gas will no doubt improve the performance. How could it not. I’m water testing tomorrow evening and will check back with the RPMs and hopefully improved top speed. Thanks for all the great

So to my utter disappointment filling her with fresh gas didn’t improve the top speed but here’s the results . I ran her for about ten minutes. Top speed inched up to 35 MPH and the RPM’s at full throttle were 5,700. What’s my next course of action gentlemen? Thanks again.

So after putting in fresh fuel it still only got to 35 mph at 5500 rpm’s at full throttle. I have no idea what the issue is.

For sure it's not the pump, does it rev higher than 5500 rpm out of the water? Did the engine ever go above 5500 rpm on the way up to 35mph? Did you inspect the plugs again? That would be a good start to a diagnosis, remove them and note the color, if they are wet or dry, if they are wet with water, rusty, carboned up? It sounds like a cylinder is not firing or something is limiting the power output such as the learner key.