Just heard a bump / thump and then loss of power

[mtnandy]

Out with the wife toady on our new 2013 gtx 155 . Total hours 22. Riding along about 15 mph and all of the sudden I feel a bump / thump and what I believe was,a mechanical ping. Next thing I know we loose propulsion but not power. Had to limp back to the dock at 4 mph which was as fast as it would go. No engine problems or gauge warnings on the display. Got it back to the dock and went in the lake to see if I could get under the intake to see if,it was blocked by something but could not feel anything up inside the intake. Then started the engine to see if the drive shaft was turning which it was. So now what to do. Could it have sucked something up inside a hose or something like that. When I give it gas it just sounds like it is not getting power to the prop. I think it must be either failing to spin the prop or it is not getting water to push out the jet. The ski does vibrate a lot when I give it a lot of gas but the top top speed is 5 mph no matter how much gas you give it.

 

[KK40384]

You sucked something up in the pump. You can't always see everything through the intake grate. You may have to disassemble the pump to check for debris.

 

[mtnandy]

The manual says to turn it over on its side if necessary to get to the intake for inspection and cleaning. If i do that will I be able to see the problem

 

[kunzman]

The manual says to turn it over on its side if necessary to get to the intake for inspection and cleaning. If i do that will I be able to see the problem

Put it on the trailer and then get under it with a flash light and look back towards the impeller. I have sucked bits of wood in mine 3 times this summer. I've been able to remove it with a 16" long needle nose. You can buy a set of three of these with varying bends at Auto Zone for $30. Only once did I have to take the grate off (3 screws) to get it out. If you see nothing stuck to the impeller whatever it was got past it.

 

[KK40384]

The manual says to turn it over on its side if necessary to get to the intake for inspection and cleaning. If i do that will I be able to see the problem

Depends on what it is that maybe be in there and what part it's actually stuck in. I had the fortune of sucking up a plastic bottle cap that was wedged in the impeller and couldn't get it out without removing the pump. Good thing removing the pump is real easy on my 08. I don't think yours is any harder.

 

[mtnandy]

If something gets stuck in the impeller wouldn't it keep it from turning and make a lot of noise. I just don't have any thrust/ water flw but the engine and exhaust are not overheating which makes me think the intake is not clogged

 

[Jafo]

I had similar problem and it was piece of wood stuck in the impeller on my gtx155 2011 it did vibrate a lot clean pump and good as new

 

[KK40384]

If something gets stuck in the impeller wouldn't it keep it from turning and make a lot of noise. I just don't have any thrust/ water flw but the engine and exhaust are not overheating which makes me think the intake is not clogged

You can get junk wedged between the impeller blades themselves which allows it to spin freely but will cause so much cavitation that you can't get up on plane if your life depended on it. If that happens everything else will be the same. Water flow to the exhaust and intercooler will not usually be restricted.

 

[mtnandy]

Is this something I can see if I look in the jet from the back or from the intake

 

[KK40384]

Not usually due to the nose cone and pump vanes in the way. Even if you do see it, you'll most likely need to remove the pump assembly to clear it.

 

[red2blue]

It ain't difficult. I can pull mine remove the prop, grease the cone reassemble and reinstall in an hr.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

That's what mine sounds like when I suck up a rock or gravel, I guess you sucked something into your jet pump.

 

[Jafo]

Yes but you will need torch mine was stuck between the impellor and wear ring

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yes but you will need torch mine was stuck between the impellor and wear ring

He's right, you won't see it without a good source of light and careful examination.

 

[mtnandy]

That must be what happened because there were a lot of leaves in the water and also some small sticks.

 

[Jafo]

I had seaweed stuck once impellor would not cut it up in water took out and started on trailer and it chopped it up hard to imagine but it worked