Carbon Seal Chattering

[TheGTIjetguy]

Hello, new to PWCs, so forgive my lack of knowledge. The carbon seal on my 2002 GTI 720cc was chattering when I ran it on the trailer. (20 seconds or less at a time). When it was running, the seal hat, or wear ring was staying stationary with the carbon ring instead of turning with the driveshaft. Boot and c-clip were in the right location based on my research.

I removed the jet pump and driveshaft, and everything looks to be in good shape, however the seal hat rotated on the driveshaft without much resistance when I slipped it back on. Are the seal hat rubber o-rings the only thing mating it to the drive shaft? If so, do I just need to do a carbon seal kit to fix?
Many thanks.

 

[POPPS]

A bit confusing,,,please post some pics,,the carbon ring should not rotate,,,the wear ring has nothing to do with the carbon ring,,,there are 2”o” rings in the stainless sleeve,,,they rarely go.

 

[TheGTIjetguy]

I apologize for the confusion. The carbon ring is clamped to the boot and doesn’t move. I believe it’s called the seal hat? That is staying stationary along with the carbon ring instead of spinning with the driveshaft.

 

[WhiskeyD]

The stainless steel piece should spin with the driveshaft. Replace the 2 orings and the c-clip while you have it apart.

 

[TheGTIjetguy]

I will do that. Are there any good aftermarket carbon seal kits out there, or is oem the only recommendation?

 

[TheGTIjetguy]

Good news.

Thanks for the advice.
I got impatient and put the driveshaft back in the ski with the old carbon seal parts as they didn’t look too bad. Carbon seal functions as it should and didn’t leak a drop when I had it in the water tonight. My suspicion is one of the o-rings was rolled or the boot was tightened crooked.
Now I’ll start another thread for the next problem. Runs great on the trailer, but wouldn’t start in the water….

 

[mikidymac]

Check compression.

 

[TheGTIjetguy]

Checked compression. Definitely low at 80 psi . Looks like a top end.

 

[mikidymac]

Yup.

 

[Tiggo]

Even with 80 psi compression it should start in the water. Definitely needs refurbed top end but I would also check battery, starter, solenoid, etc. too.

 

[TheGTIjetguy]

Ok, battery is a brand new agm and the starter solenoid is new. Not sure if the previous owner did anything with the starter. Attached are pictures of the cylinders. There is a groove and crack in the pto cylinder. New ones are in order from sbt, so I will see what happens when I install them.

 

[mikidymac]

Even with 80 psi compression it should start in the water. Definitely needs refurbed top end but I would also check battery, starter, solenoid, etc. too.

No it won’t. Typically below 120 they will not start in the water. Too much load and not enough compression.