wear ring impeller clearance

[avalontom]

I just bought a new 2008 RXT. Within minutes of my first trip, I sucked up a piece of wood that got stuck in the impeller and put bad grooves in the original wear ring (plastic or nylon). I installed a new wear ring over the weekend, and I think there is a problem. There is no space between the impeller and the new wear ring. I removed the old wear ring by putting the jet pump in the freezer along with the new wear ring. I was able to easily pull the old wear ring out. The new one slid in easily half way; however, I needed to knock it in the rest of the way with a soft mallet. The impeller will not spin freely easily by hand because there is absolutely no space between the impeller and the new wear ring. All the blades are touching the wear ring. The new wear ring is an exact fit as I was able to get it in witout taking the impeller off. I really didn't have to hit it too hard with the mallet either. Should I work the impeller into the wear ring by hand and then put it back on the waverunner? Should I put it back on the waverunner and let it wear itself in? Do I have a bad wear ring and should I replace? Any information would be appreciated.

Also, I did not use any adhesive to put the wear ring in. I simply pushed it in while it was cold. It this ok? I have read about people using silicon and other products to hold in place. That makes me nervous the next time I need to change it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[avalontom]

Any ideas?

 

[jmeinders]

Did it put any scratches longwise in the wear ring when it slid in? If after it warms up, you still can't spin it at all, I might be worried, but if it will spin a little bit...then crank it up and you'll have a great seal to push some power through!

 

[All Things Custom]

you must have used a no name wear ring or off the wall...

I used to get these in my shop from time to time, as long as it is like you said very close and not bound sold put in with a sledge hammer, spray some wd-40 on it, install it and start the ski, it will spit out a bunch of fine swirls of plastic as it shaves the ring to fit.

but this is a risk, if it wasn't just a little snug but rather tight, you risk the impeller grabbing a chunk of the wear ring and tearing it.... and possibly bending the impeller.

So its your judgment call, we weren't there to see how tight is tight...