Lots of revs but not going very fast

[justininspain]

Hi from Spain. I'm new to the forum and grateful it exists! So much great info and help on here.

Anyway, I have a 99 GTX, have had it about a month. Last week the tuned pipe sprung a leak so I removed it, had it welded and fitted it back nicely with a brand new gasket.

All pipes connected correctly, as they were before.

Before the tuned pipe issue the ski was running great, apart from always taking a few goes to get it started from cold (is this normal?).

But now, after my fix, it took a long time to get it started today and when I headed out of the port it was quite rough and when I opened up the throttle it had plenty of revs but it didn't pick up speed quickly like it used to.

Before, at 5000rpm that would be plenty for a fun morning in the waves, but today I could have eaten a sandwich and drunk some beer at that rpm. Just not enough oomph.

Apart from the not-so-great starting, the engine seems to rev nicely and idles at just over 1000rpm. It's just that lack of oomph which is missing now.

Not sure if it's connected to the tuned pipe issue (or maybe just a coincidence) but something isn't right and not sure what to look for.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Need to get back and enjoy those waves again!

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Dr Honda]

sounds like cavitation. Check the pump for something stuck in it... but it may be time for a carbon seal.

 

[justininspain]

Thanks Tony! I looked underneath but there didn't appear to be anything stuck there. Should I be looking somewhere else too? In terms of changing the carbon seal...is that a big job or relatively straight forward?

Thanks for your help.

 

[dpvandy01]

Check your wear ring. That would be my guess

 

[fractus]

Listen to what the good Dr. says...
Justin BTW I like the analogy:
Before, at 5000rpm that would be plenty for a fun morning in the waves, but today I could have eaten a sandwich and drunk some beer at that rpm. Just not enough oomph.

 

[justininspain]

Thanks fractus!

I may sound a bit dumb here but the Dr says "carbon seal" dpvandy01 says "wear ring". I assume these are different? How would I know which of the two was causing the problem??

Thanks again.

 

[spx800]

yes they are different. the wear ring is part of the jet pump. there should be max. .040" between the prop and wear ring. the carbon seal is on the drive shaft inside the hull.

 

[justininspain]

Thanks for the info. I have been doing some digging and if it is the carbon seal, should the ski have any forward motion at all? And should it be taking in water?

One final question please! When I had the tuned pipe issue the ski took in a lot of water. Nearly the whole engine compartment full. Could this have caused some damage to something, such as the carbon seal, or something else? Perhaps it washed all the grease off something that I just need to re-grease? Just seems odd it was working perfectly until the ski filled with sea water.

Thanks

 

[Dr Honda]

Nope... the water would not have cause the damage.

The carbon ring/seal is easy to replace. if you have the manual... it outlines how to do it.

 

[hexec]

Same thing happened to my XP 800 on Saturday. I was told to look at the carbon ring. I have a question about that but first when I took the pump off I found that the cone was cracked and it lost all of the oil and burned the thrust bearing. It had totally exploded and damaged the pusher. The impeller was slopping around about 1/4" on the shaft. I figure this was causing the severe cavitation. I plan to replace the 2 bearings, thrust bearing and washer, pusher, spring, and cone. comments or suggestions. This is my first time pulling the pump. Yes, I'm a newbee and loving every minute on the water.

ok, back to the carbon ring. I'm not exactly sure what this ring is doing. It looks like its sealing the shaft from water getting in. It doesn't touch the shaft, it uses the boot pressure to push it against the support joint. Out of the water when I start the engine this rubbing of the carbon seal causes heat. Is this norm? Should there be some slop in the seal so it doesn't touch the shaft? Is there an alignment process to make sure its pushing evenly and flat and at the right pressure? Or am I just too picky?

Oh yeah, I heard something about replacing it with a bearing. Is this true? If so any part numbers I should order?

 

[hexec]

bump....anyone?

 

[Kozerxp]

Heat is normal that from the friction that's why your not supposed to run the ski for for then 3min on the hose cause the carbon collar will over heat there should not be a gap that carbon collar keeps the water out the you don't need to change to the bearing style so people just like it better

 

[Dr Honda]

bump....anyone?

You need to start your own thread. Dont' ask questions on someone else's thread.

 

[bigJake]

Thanks fractus!

I may sound a bit dumb here but the Dr says "carbon seal" dpvandy01 says "wear ring". I assume these are different? How would I know which of the two was causing the problem??

Thanks again.

I'm also not clear on the different symptoms for cavitation caused by the wear ring vs the carbon seal. If someone could please explain.

 

[hexec]

Thanks Kozerxp.
Sorry Justininspain, didn't mean to highjack your thread. I'll start my own thread. I just thought that we have a similar (or the same) issue and we might be able to learn from each other.