New owner - need help?

[varg24]

Hello everyone, and thanks in advance for any assistance.

I recently purchased a 1999 Challenger and just yesterday took it for the first time out to a lake. We also have another boat, but this is our first jet boat, so I am just starting to learn some of the terms for these motors. The boat we purchased has the daul 110hp motors.

I have a couple of questions:

1. What are the things I should look at first to make sure this boat will run well for us the next cople of years?
2. There seemed to be a power loss on both motors at about 3-4K, but then it would really kick in and fly to about 6.6 to 7K. Is there an adjustment needed for this?
3. Tried pulling a skier but there was not enough pop and the motots never got to 5K when trying.
4. Motor compartment was full of water at the end of a 4 hr run. Not sure where it enters, but I would like that fixed.
5. Lastly (and embarrasingly), I sucked up the tow rope, and got it around both shafts. I was able to undo one of them, but I noticed that the blue plastic protective tube was very broken on both shafts. I still cannot get the one rope off the second shaft. What is the easiest way to get this off, and should the plastic tubes be replaced?
6. I see alot of cavitation issues, and I think I was experiencing it when I couldn't get past 5K on both motors. Where do I start to fix this?


Any help on any of this would be appreciated. In the meantime, where is the best place and what is the best manual to get for this?

Thanks

 

[varg24]

To add,

Sorry about all of the mispells - trying to get this posted durning my lunch hour.

 

[varg24]

OK I need more help,

I have joined as a premium member to gain access to the manuals - but now I see no 1999 Challenger shop manual. Can someone tell me what one I need?

Thanks

 

[RFoster130]

definitely sounds like cavitation issues. i am sure your tow rope experience didnt help. Most the times we would suggest new wear rings and check the condition of your wear ring. I would also suggest new carbon seals is you are getting that much water in the engine compartment. I would also figure out why the bilge pump didnt come on and empty the water. The blue plastic shaft boots are garbage. You can cut just the ends off to where they fit in the hole flush and throw the rest away.

 

[Dr Honda]

Welcome, and where in PA are you?

about the boat.... it's a 99 challenger with 110hp engines? Is it a challenger 1800?

1) If you have a boat already... then you know about the normal boat maintenance. (once we ID your boat, we can add to this)

2) Shouldn't be a power loss with the engines. Cavitation normally let's the engines rev high, and you just don't move.

3) That boat should yank the arms off the skier.

4) How much water is "Full of water?" A couple gallons at the end of the day is normal, but the engines shouldn't be under water.

5) Yup... it' happens. Cut the rope away, and make sure you didn't hurt the impellers ad wear rings. As far as the tube... just remove them. They are rope protectors, but they just break, and go into the pumps, and cause more damage than the rope by it self.

6) Normally, yes. Cavitation is the issue when you can't pull a skier. But, the engines should be reving. (like spinning your tires in a car) If you can't break 5000 RPM... something else is wrong.

Since you have 800 engines... it could be the carbs... but I'm going to take a shot, and say the RAVE valves need cleaned.


As far as the manual... if it's a challenger 1800... then you can grab any of the years around that boat. It didn't change much.

I just checked, and you can grab the 1998 manual for that boat. It's the same other than color.

 

[varg24]

Thanks for the reply's - we are in North Central PA.

Yes it is a 1999 Challenger with the two 110Hp motors.

I have downloaded both the 98 and 2000 manuals, althought the 2000 manual is for a sportster, I think the motors are the same.

I pulled both 'pumps?' off last night to do some inspection. Looks like the rubber part that is suppose to be in the end of the impellor is chewed up on one of the impellors. Also has a crack on a carbon sleeve part. Not sure what else I should be looking at. I would like to run this for the rest of this summer before I tear all apart and do the massive overhaul.

I was towed after I sucked up my rope, but was only pulled in at 5mph, - I shouldn't have any issues becasue of that should I?

What do I look at first for the power issues? Carbs? Is there a carb rebuild kit I could order? And I have no idea what RAVE is - that is a new term for me. How difficult are they to deal with?

Thanks

 

[Dr Honda]

Ummmmmm...... A crack in the carbon part? Your driveshaft seals are carbon rings... but they are inside the hull, close to the engines. Is this the part you are talking about? OR... are you talking about the wear ring around the impeller?

If it's the carbon ring in the hull... that would explain the water in the hull.


The RAVE valves are the power valves in the exhaust ports of your engines. They get covered in carbon, and leftover oil... and they will stick. In you case... it sounds like they are sticking closed... and eventually pop open. That's why you get a rush of power. Before you rebuild the carbs... clean the valves. Now that you have the manual... it will show you how to get into them.

Once you get them out... the easiest way to clean them is to hit them with a wire wheel on a bench grinder.


If you towed it at a low speed... then you are probably OK. When you get towed... it can push water into the engine. If you think that may have happened... get the engines started, and rev them a few times. It will purge out the water.

 

[varg24]

The ring I was talking about was the one under the rubber boot around the driveshaft in the hull. I pulled the rubber boot back toward the motor so I could see if the rope was tangled up in there, and noticed that this carbon ring had a chip in it and it slid back and forth on the driveshaft. Not sure where it is suppose to go or if it is suppose to be a pressed fit somewhere.

Also - how important is that ruber piece that fits into the end of the impellor? The one I have is pretty chewed up.

I will pull the RAVE and get them cleaned and see what happens.

I really have to appologize for my lack of knowledge, I will do my reading once I get this manual printed out.

 

[Dr Honda]

No apologies needed. That's what we are here for.


The rubber part on the impeller. Was it a little cone shaped thing between the impeller and the driveshaft? If it was... that's the seal to keep the grease in the splines of the driveshaft. It's relatively important. I would replace it since you have the pump off.

The carbon seal just pushes up on the stainless ring. it will leak a little water past to keep it self cool. The fit is pretty sloppy... but the boot should have firm pressure. If it felt soft... or was easy to pull back... then replace the boot too.

If the chip was extending into the face of the carbon ring seal... then it needs replaced.

 

[seadooya]

manual...

the 2000 sportster you downloaded, wont work. Different motors.