1998 SPX no acceleration

[summertime43]

I have been referring to this wonderful site for a few years, finding solutions to my "smaller" problems by reading through the threads. thank you for saving me lots of money and problems over the years!
My confession: I am a mom, who bought a seadoo for my three teenagers about 8 years ago. They (we) love it - but can't afford much for repairs - the shop is also quite an inconvenience to get to so I try to do as much as I can myself. I am not a mechanic! but I can read, follow directions - especially when there are photos (Sometimes I look up parts on ebay - just to be sure I have the right part in mind!)
This year I used your forum to diagnose and replace a starter relay. Easy and worked like a charm. Started right up with the new part. But... once I got it into the water, the engine runs nicely, but the machine doesn't MOVE forward faster than a little putt putt, no matter how much throttle they give it. It is acting just like those times when I discovered a bunch of weed tangled up in the space underneath. (Impeller?) Nothing is in there though. There was a bit of grey white smoke coming out the back, and it seemed to me that there wasn't a nice big shooting out of water like I usually see. I really, really don't want to have to take it to the shop, and am hoping it is something I can do with your guidance. I am thinking - change the plugs, (I don't know how to check them, so I will just change them, check the fuel line filter (if I can find it) and add some dry gas. I don't know where the carbs are, so checking and cleaning those would probably not be something I can do easily, although I have replaced them on a lawn tractor once, so ???
Any suggestions? I put a ton of money into it at the shop last year - don't want to do it again if I can help it. I also don't want to give up on it. We love it!

 

[robin savell lloyd]

I may be mistaken but I believe anyone who tries hard can fix the problem. you may need a little help at times but if you are a little mechanicly inclined you may be able to fix this your self. When you give it gas does the engine race up but the ski does not take off? If so, I believe You may need to pull the pump off and look at the impeller and make sure there is no obvious damage that you can see to the impeller. The wear ring probbly needs to be replaced and the neoprene seal between the pump and the boat. there is allso a threw hull seal that can cause this problem but if you put the ski in the water and the hull does not fill up with water this seal may be ok. Do not get me wrong There are other places that the hull can fill up with water so this does not mean that the threw hull seal is bad if you have water in your hull.

 

[summertime43]

I actually had the impeller replaced last year. The engine does rev up when I give it throttle, but just doesn't move forward faster. It just putts around in the water at a low mph. What do you think about the gas filter? If it revs up, I guess that means it is getting the gas, right?
I really don't want it to be the impeller - because I don't even know what to look for.

 

[robin savell lloyd]

You seem to have a cavitation problem. If you had impeller replaced last year I would dout it would be your problem. but I would suspect that maybe the wear ring is bad. the person who put a new impeller should of put a new wear ring on it as well at least I would have thought so. Do you have a jig saw to cut plywood? If so and you know how to use it a little bit you should be able to replace wear ring. You may just have a bad pump seal. a pump seal is easy to replace. If you have replaced your solinoid this would only be a little bit harder but not by much. :cheers:

 

[summertime43]

Today we put it in and my other son got it moving nicely - for a short time, then it would bog down again and putt putt, then speed up, etc.
when I opened the seat cover - YIKES!!! a lot of water - half way up the engine. What are your thoughs? still pump seal? Would that be expensive? I think I better send it out. And... thanks! your quick response is sincerely appreciated!

 

[robin savell lloyd]

there is a ceramic seal that may only need a very minor adjustment that is causeing the leak you may want to try addjusting it first. It may be faster to fix it than to load it on the trailor. good luck Robin :cheers: