Carbon Ring Busted????

[scoogie_scott]

I have a 98 GTI. I posted on here previously with cavitation problems and it was narrowed down to a problem around my carbon seal. So I started looking around the drive shaft and noticed Tridon Clamp #6 in the parts catalog was loose and was spinning around the drive shaft. Once I retightened the clamp back on the boot and went back on the water I was able to slowly get the ski to plane out but only one time. The clamp had come loose again and moved forward off the boot and started spinning around the drive shaft again. By now, the clamp was bent up so I went to the parts store and got a new one. I put it on today very snug and noticed that the front of the boot where I put the clamp on still seemed to move around just like it was with the clamp off. I would like to think if the carbon ring was good then I shouldn't be able to wiggle the front of the boot up and down on the drive shaft. Is this true or not. Also, I never looked to see if water was leaking in around the boot; however, when my buddy first went out on the ski one day to try and run it, he said he noticed water was leaking in around the boot. I would just like to know if my assumption of the ring being busted is more than likely correct before I go pulling the pump and all off. If it needs to be replaced, what all else should I replace with it? I believe I've seen where there are drive shaft rebuild kits. Any advice or info would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Dr Honda]

The ID of the carbon seal is about 30% larger than the drive shaft. SO... it can move around. If the clamp is popping off... you will suck air, and the ski will go nowhere.

 

[scoogie_scott]

Ok. Well maybe I can try it out tomorrow with the new clamp and see how it performs. If it doesn't do any better and I see water leaking in, can I assume it's busted and needs to be replaced?

 

[Dr Honda]

Yes and no.

They will leak and look fine. So, they don't need to be broken to leak. Also... the stainless ring that it pushes on... on some of the mid 90's skis... they used an o-ring to hold it in place, and when that splits... the stainless ring slides back, and doesn't keep enough pressure on the carbon seal.

Basically... if it's been more than a few years... just buy a boot, carbon seal, the O-rings for in the stainless ring, and a new clip... and rebuild the seal. Do not buy an aftermarket carbon ring.