2009 GTI SE 155 Revs But Won't Go

[Broosedamoose67]

I was cruising along at about 45 MPH when the ski just started slowing down. When I give it throttle, the engine revs up but the ski will only go about 5-6 MPH. It "feels" like the prop came lose from the drive shaft. I had someone skilled with Sea Doo take a quick look at it and it is not the wear ring. He said that on that MY there was a problem where the driveshaft breaks loose from the crankshaft and that may be the issue. He is going to pull the jet pump today and check things out. Is this an expensive repair? I just bought the thing! Only the second time I've had it on the water! It has 113 hours on it. I just got rid of a 2002 GTX because a seal on the crankshaft let go and the cylinders were flooding with oil. I'm not having good luck with these!

 

[Broosedamoose67]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? My mechanic has not had time to pull it apart yet.

 

[Milehighguy303]

I am not an expert in the driveline department, but it does seem as if your splines on the driveshaft have maybe stripped. If the wear ring is good, impeller is good, then there is a driveline issue of some type, and stripped splines have been brought up a few times in the forum. Not very common, but it does happen. Hard to say what the cost may be, but I think repairs are largely a replacement shaft and doable.

 

[Broosedamoose67]

I am not an expert in the driveline department, but it does seem as if your splines on the driveshaft have maybe stripped. If the wear ring is good, impeller is good, then there is a driveline issue of some type, and stripped splines have been brought up a few times in the forum. Not very common, but it does happen. Hard to say what the cost may be, but I think repairs are largely a replacement shaft and doable.

My ski is still in line waiting to be looked at. I've tried to do some searching on this issue but haven't had much luck other than what I already posted. My fear is that the crankshaft is damaged which means an expensive repair! I'm not sure how the driveshaft and the crankshaft are connected.

 

[skiasylum]

Many engines have a coupling which screws onto the end of the crank shaft with the internal spline in it. It is not easy to replace it but it can be done, but it is usually the driveshaft male splines that strip per the use of dissimilar metals.

 

[ski-d00]

Have you put it back in the water to try it again? By far the most common problem is that you sucked something up and then when you took it out of the water it falls out. If you've looked carefully at the pump from both sides and don't see anything you should put it back in the water and try again. Can't tell you how many times I've been told they stripped the driveshaft and I test and it runs perfectly fine. I'd say at least 70% of the time this happens. The other 30% is divided up between still finding a small piece in the impeller, bad carbon seal, bad pump bearing, bad wear ring and the least is stripped driveshaft which almost always is stripped at the impeller and not the engine side.

 

[Broosedamoose67]

I got the ski back today and all is good! He pulled the jet pump out and found everything was tight. Put it back together and tested it and it ran fine. I think you were right about maybe sucking up something. He did say the starter is on it's way out though. It starts hard. That's not too bad of a job though.