Went to Colorado River - Things didnt go well.....

[cheappc]

First of all, hope you guys are doing great, I went to Laughlin Nevada, to the Colorado River and everything didnt go as planned.

I did everything I could to make sure everything was perfect, but I learned a big big lesson, when your driving 300+ miles to a location, on an older boat, everything gets lose. This is the second time this happens to me:

1. One of the hoses that was off in the engine bay, so all this water went inside the engine bay, almost completely engulfed my engine, I was lucky enough to see it, and someone showed me so I had to completely let it drain and plug the hose (pictures coming up)

2. The engine was working before I left California, I turned it on a couple of times for a 10 seconds to make sure it turned over, as soon as I got to Laughlin, the engine wouldnt turn over "even with the plugs out" so... I got worried, one of the seadoo repair places there told me my engine was no good (mind you I just got a completely rebuild engine 9 months ago). Finally got it to turn over (I dont know how they did it but I remember someone telling me to rotate something in the engine bay).

3. Finally got everything plugged in, all the hoses tide up, put the boat in the water, let the engine rev at lowest rpm for 30 minutes, good, I drove it around the shore (didnt want to go too far of shore just in case i start sinking again). Everything was smooth, however I couldnt rev it up like used to all the way...

4. The following day it got worse, I couldnt rev it upover 30% of throttle it would die on me. I am still premixing because I was being careful in not to run the engine to lean like before and blow a piston, I might have too much oil in the gasoline and fouled up the plugs and the carburator.

Need your help, do you think thats it? when I take it out of the water, the engine sounds great, however I cant go over 30% throttle or it just turns off on me...

Thanks!!

 

[ocod]

Wow. That does sound good.

One I hope you have more plugs. Are they new??
Do you know if the carb setting were touched?? maybe low speed adjustment.??
I would think that if boat now starts and idles in/out of water its not a fuel/spark? issue causing it to cut out at partial throttle.

Check needle settings and see if that helps??
Hopefully DR chims in and gives some insight.

Hope it works out for you. Enjoy the vacation if you can.

 

[cheappc]

Where do you see needle settings for fuel?

 

[parrothd]

1st check the compression, make sure you haven't damaged the engine, if it's good replace the plugs and add more fuel to the tank to help lean out the oil. Did you rebuild the carbs after you rebuild the engine?

 

[ocod]

Where do you see needle settings for fuel?

#33 is the low speed adjustment. if you have the 717/720 motor the LS is 2.25 turns out iirc and arcoss carb on other side should be the HS neddle set all the way in. Thats the way manual says it should be on mine???
If you look through support brace of spark arrestor "Y" closest to front you will see screw with bar going though it like picture.
Count how many till closed it is now as reference.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/seadooforums/Seadoo_oem/Seadoo_JB.asp?Type=13&A=5&B=16

How did the plugs look??
Did that shop check compression like parrotd suggested?
You ran how much oil to gas when you premixed? did you take into account gas already in tank?

 

[parrothd]

Should be 1.5 turns out and closed for hs..

 

[Phildoo]

Check the spark plug boxes and see if there no water in them

 

[cheappc]

I did turn it over without the plugs and alot of water/oil did come out. As a matter of fact that was the day I left it running for 30 minutes in the water - just docked it, left it running at lowest throttle, to make sure everything was fine with the motor, the motor sounded great, I even rode it around the shore.. like for 5 to 10 minutes... then I decided to just take it out of the water and go back to my hotel room.

The following day I decided to try it again.. and it got worse, whenever I tried to give it more gas by upping the throttle it would die out on me at 30 to 40% throttle. I will go ahead and check compression later on today. And replace the spark plugs (they were brand new but you never know). I did premix 40/1, 3.2 oz of oil for every gallon of gas, with the old gas in there...

Wow do you really think the motor could have gone bad already?

 

[cheappc]

By the way parrothd, I did rebuild the carbs last year, Seadooya did it! however after they rebuild the motor I dont think they had to redo the carbs since they were just done....

 

[parrothd]

What hose came off? Why is there water in the cylinders, did you run the boat on the hose and leave the water running?

 

[ocod]

I did turn it over without the plugs and alot of water/oil did come out. As a matter of fact that was the day I left it running for 30 minutes in the water - just docked it, left it running at lowest throttle, to make sure everything was fine with the motor, the motor sounded great, I even rode it around the shore.. like for 5 to 10 minutes... then I decided to just take it out of the water and go back to my hotel room.

The following day I decided to try it again.. and it got worse, whenever I tried to give it more gas by upping the throttle it would die out on me at 30 to 40% throttle. I will go ahead and check compression later on today. And replace the spark plugs (they were brand new but you never know). I did premix 40/1, 3.2 oz of oil for every gallon of gas, with the old gas in there...
Wow do you really think the motor could have gone bad already?

I would think premix not a cause then if the plugs were still good.
keep your fingers crossed it isn't. waiting for results of compresson check.

 

[cheappc]

After removing all the water from the engine bay, and tied the hose that came off, I took the boat out and launched it onto the river once again, i left the boat on the river, docked next to the launching pad tied it up and left the engine running at lowest throttle to make sure all the internals were in order, I looked inside the engine bay, water was not sipping in anymore, the engine sounded great, a lot of white smoke came out but I kind of expected that because its been sitting for 9 months.

At that moment I decided to leave it on the river docked and let the engine on for 30 minutes at lowest throttle so all the internals would be ok. Then I decided to try it again the following day. Thats when the engine would turn off on me anytime i gave it more than 30% throttle. I guess we cant determine anything until I give a compression check... Ill do that for lunch later on today and report back.

 

[cheappc]

By the way, thanks guys I couldnt make it without you guys, I really appreciate this forum and everything Im learning and the helpful tips you guys always give me, I think im becoming more and more comfortable about this boating thing, when I first came here I didnt know a little bit of anything, now Im learning so much! and im less apprehensive when i want to dive in and take stuff apart and put it back together!

Thanks again...

 

[cli55er]

i hope you get everything worked out dude!

 

[cheappc]

Ok guys I did the compression test, removed both spark plugs and rented a compression tester at autozone, unbelievably both cylinders are giving me 150?? here is the picture:

 

[cheappc]

Ok here is the hose IN RED that was off, also the one in GREEN was lose too, retightened it with a screw driver

RED hose that was off

 

[SeadooBOB Square Pants]

Your carbon ring or carrier seal might be failing. The area circled in green is where your drive line meets the PTO flywheel. If that is leaking, which mine is awesome......then you may want to check the seal by pulling back the boot and checking that. That will actually also cause cavitation if those seals are failing. Any who need some Pros to chime in but below is a link you can check out replacement parts for that, I am not suggesting you just buy these check all advice yourself first, people are extremely helpful but not all the info is correct. I might be wrong too just check first.

http://onlyseadoo.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=2&products_id=4

 

[cheappc]

Thanks guys!

I put new spark plugs in yesterday, funny the engine sounds great, did the compression test both cylinders said 150, hopefully the compression tester isnt bad.

So why do you guys think the engine cuts off at 30 to 40% throttle? Sorry to keep bugging...

 

[YUOnDaGround]

So why do you guys think the engine cuts off at 30 to 40% throttle? Sorry to keep bugging...

Same thing happened to my boat after cruising for about 10 min. I fouled one of the plugs and when I tried to start it up again after replacing the sparkplugs with new ones it fouled the same cylinder. I still haven't fixed it...don't know what is wrong. Good luck.

 

[RFoster130]

Make sure you arent overheating it.

 

[cheappc]

Oh oh, how do I overheated?

 

[ocod]

Oh oh, how do I overheated?

I think you would of heard the alarm beeps had that happened.
so no luck with getting past 30% throttle w/o it dying in the water??
Did you check the setting of the carb to make sure??
The carbon seals if they go bad your boat would cavitate/or rpms would redline and boat not go anywhere. Which did not fit your description..
How much longer are you there for?? We need to get your boat working and take some pictures in action.

Hoping my trek to Sanibel Island in June goes w/o a hitch

 

[cheappc]

LOL OCOD.

Im no longer at Laughlin. Im back at work, I gave up after the second day, I didnt want to mess up my parents vacation, and I didnt want to mess up my vacation anymore than it was. It was 5 days 4 nights out there, good relaxing time.

When I got to Laughlin this time, me and my girlfriend launched the boat, and we were off sailing away when BAM, engine stopped about 20 feet from shore, I was like what happened? I opened the engine bay and I saw all this water engulfing the engine bay, I immediately threw my anchor line (remember this is a river, it has a small current), and I threw myself in the river and towed it back to shore (it wasnt too far).

I learned a lot though this time. Most importantly I realized now, something similar happened to me before, that I have to take extra precautionary measures "always".

1. Launch the boat by myself, open the engine compartment, make sure everything looks ok, ride it around the shore for 20 minutes to make sure everything looks fine before I invite my parents or any guests onboard.

2. Carry a lot of tools on the boat (spark plug remover, screw driver, anything else you might need to get you out of a bind).

3. Carry safety equipment (2 tow paddles, 1 Emergency Noise Signal, 4 Hazard flags).

4. Anchor - I was going to remove it so I can go faster, I thought it was extra weight, but now I realized it saved my butt 2 times.

5. I forgot to carry extra oil, and fogging oil, how dumb!

Anyway I will go in and make sure the carb settting is good.

 

[ocod]

Yep its best to give in and enjoy momment.
I've learned those steps many years ago with my old boat.
I pay $165/year for SeaTow and anyhing happens free tow back...Is that service not available where your at. CC requires most of the safety gear you mentioned plus a whiste and LV.
A sinking would ruin my day though. I had water coming from plastic cap that the weedless cable goes through when I first got boat and water testing it. I'm going to starting opening hatch and looking for water for now on though. I hate having water in there so I'm always turning on bilge pump and makeing sure it pumping or its dry...
I going to start my to do, pre tow list. Dont want to get caught w/o something as a zip tie :cuss:

Can't see why the older members haven't chimed in to help you. May be change title to something else. :nopity:
Next time out take a vid of whats happening.
Did that engine ever work pior to that outing. Or was it from the shop --> works on trailer--->No work on water
Its a fuel or electrical but cant see why it would be.
Bad reticfer(throwing it out there may be wrong info)
Take carb out or check fuel lines to filter/pump/to carb. for fuel flow.

 

[RFoster130]

Do you get the normal beeps when you put the lanyard on?