RAVE leaking oil

[OneT]

What is the cause of this leak? RAVE's have been cleaned and new bellows , gaskets and O rings installed just a few weeks ago!!!

She was running great then i went to the lake wednesday and found this but it still runs great !

 

[Dr Honda]

Looks like the O-ring failed, and could have melted the bellows.

Pop the cap, and see where it's leaking from.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

I was under the impression that the bellows and o-rings won't keep the gas/oil goo from coming up if the valve/housing are worn. Once the diameters come out of spec, it just blows oil into the bellows which makes it out onto the motor. When was the last time you replaced them? (PS I could be wrong...)

 

[OneT]

I'll check it out in the morning after work .

I don't think they have ever been changed but who knows i just got the ski about a month ago. but both rave's were fine after i rebuilt them so i think it maybe the o ring like Dr honda said !

ty

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

if you have your old ones, make sure they're the same diameter and thickness.... but I fear otherwise. I would LOVE you to prove me wrong because I have a half dozen raves that are "leaking oil"

 

[OneT]

oops let me rephrase that i cleaned them and replaced the bellows , gaskets and O rings.

When it gets daylight outside i'll start working on it!

 

[OneT]

ok well i took it apart and cleaned it , found nothing wrong with o ring so put it back together and ran on trailer .
No leaks found going to lake now to test her out will let you all know!

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

Well? Did it leak again? I've found that this happens over the duration of a ride. You'd over heat your carbon seal running it on the trailer long enough to spot a leak. Also, to elaborate on my previous post, I was referring to the thickness of the o-rings. I honestly believe it's the diameter of the rave valve shaft relative to the housing diameter that makes them leak oil and melt those plastic plunger caps.

 

[dannyual767]

IDo is correct. You've got worn valves and/or housing resulting in excessive clearance allowing oil to escape. Both of my XPs did this. I bought rebuild kits with new o-rings, bellows and gaskets. Both skis still leaked. One was so bad that it melted the plastic pistons.

On that ski, a pair of new valves and a pair of new housings stopped the leakage and piston melting. These parts are pricey but they are the only way to stop the leaking. My other ski doesn't leak near as bad but still, it will be getting new parts soon.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

IDo is correct. You've got worn valves and/or housing resulting in excessive clearance allowing oil to escape. Both of my XPs did this. I bought rebuild kits with new o-rings, bellows and gaskets. Both skis still leaked. One was so bad that it melted the plastic pistons.

On that ski, a pair of new valves and a pair of new housings stopped the leakage and piston melting. These parts are pricey but they are the only way to stop the leaking. My other ski doesn't leak near as bad but still, it will be getting new parts soon.

What brand/who did you buy your new valves/housings from? I've bought the same replacements from SBT once, and was displeased with how long they lasted. I expected at least several years from parts that cost $200. They barely made it a year, and I blew the engine mid way through the season. The valves weren't the reason for the failure, but soon after rebuild, one began to leak. :facepalm: spending another $100 to fix it just hurts to think about right now. I'd like to know how long ago you replaced yours and if you ride a lot.

 

[dannyual767]

IDoSD, thats too bad to hear. And its bad for me too since my parts also came from SBT :facepalm: . I've only got a handful of hours on my $200 worth of parts.

These things seem so simple. It seems like a bronze wall liner could be used in the housings to achieve the proper clearance. This is the way machine shops rebuild automobile engine head valve guides. Drill the guide out, insert liner and ream/hone to fit. Seems like that could be done to these parts as well and I bet they'd last a lot longer than one season!

 

[OneT]

ok i cleaned and checked the o ring and gasket all was ok ! we ran it like crazy sunday and used almost two tanks of gas and still no leak!

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

:thumbsup: I hope that that's all it was. Not to jinx, but please post if it starts leaking in the next month or so.

 

[OneT]

Well? Did it leak again? I've found that this happens over the duration of a ride. You'd over heat your carbon seal running it on the trailer long enough to spot a leak. Also, to elaborate on my previous post, I was referring to the thickness of the o-rings. I honestly believe it's the diameter of the rave valve shaft relative to the housing diameter that makes them leak oil and melt those plastic plunger caps.

i do have a whistle type of sound coming from the jet pump when out on the water! i checked the pump oil today and it was full but needed changed!!! Could the carbon seal or wear ring cause that sound?

 

[OneT]

I will do IDo.