97 gts no thrust

[97GTS]

hello all,
I have a 97 seadoo gts that I just purchased from an individual, an I took it out on the lake in TN had no problems at all. I am now in Florida and took it out in the ocean on Tuesday had no problems. Took it out of the water and properly cleaned it (flushed the engine with fresh water, cleaned the hull and sprayed all over the engine and the impeller) Let it sit for a couple of days and took it out again today (Thursday), and it ran for the first hour fine no problems. After bringing my wife back in so she could go back to the condo :rofl:I took it back out and once I pulled the throttle and once I got to about 5 to 10 MPH all the engine did was rev up and I got no thrust. I limped it to the beach and let the boat sit for about 10 minutes and tried again, and I found out that as long as I keep the throttle at full power it works fine, once I let off and idle and the try to go full throttle again all the engine does it rev up and I get no thrust... but once it sits for about 10 minutes it works fine for about 10 to 15 minutes or until I let off the throttle. I am in FL and none of the shops out here have been no help nor can they see me for the next two week. I am just wondering if I can run it or should I leave it parked until I can get it into the shop.

Please help
CR

 

[derek]

it sounds like there is something stuck in the pump. pump comes out real easy. 2 10 mm wrenches, a 13 and a 17 mm socket. a ratchet and a long extension. looking up inside from underneath may show you the problem. but you sometines can't get it out, even though you can see it. also gives you a good look at impeller and wear ring.

 

[97GTS]

would this explain the fact that ir get better after the boat cools down, can I do this while the boat is on the trailer? Could this also the an engine issue... I really don't want to run it if i'm going to blow up the engine...

 

[nswillin]

If it's reving up fine, then your engine is probally ok. Sounds like what derek said, could be something in the pump, but most likely your wear ring is bad or the impeller is chewed up. Throw it back on the trailer and crawl underneath and look into the intake grate to see if you can see anything. Also, from the outside, look through the pump and you should have a paper thin gap between the wear ring and the impeller.

 

[97GTS]

thanks for the advise, I am still alittle confused though would all the things your describing alow the boat to run at normal condistions and then all the sudden start acting up? are we sure this is not an engine problem and just an impeller problem...

 

[nswillin]

General rule, High revs, no speed = propulsion problems. Low revs, no speed = engine or fuel problem.

 

[97GTS]

how hard is it to get the pump off and once I get it off what am I looking for and or whats the next step...

 

[robin savell lloyd]

It does sound strange. I would allmost wander if the ceramic seal is heating up and alowing the pump to suck air but I would not thank so as it is submerged in water. It does sound like cavitation if the engine rpms are high and you are not moving fast. I just never heard of this to be a intermiting problem it is normaly allways their until the problem is fixed. Another thing to look at would be the drive shaft from engine to impeller. This allso would not normaly be ok for a few minutes and then act up Good luck Robin :cheers:

 

[nswillin]

If your gonna take the pump off, you can do with the few tools Derek mentioned. But if you get in there and see that your wear ring is trash and impeller doesn't look good, thats a little bit more work. To fix it, your gonna need a vise, new wear ring, impeller maybe, hack saw or dremel tool to cut old ring out, jet pump oil, torque wrench, silicone, a freezer, and some beer. Hate to say it but I would take it back home to fix it, unless you got all those items with you in your condo.

If you do take the pump off look at the back of the impeller. Look for dings and nicks on it. Same deal with the wear ring, the gap should not exceed 1mm.

You could join as a premium member and download the shop manual for your ski so you'll have step by step instructions, pictures and everything, on removing it and replacing the bad parts if necessary.

 

[97GTS]

OK what am I looking at if I wanted to check the drive shaft? how can that be check or fixed...

 

[JPX]

Shaft can be removed once the pump body is off. Put it on a granite countertop, glass table or something super flat. Roll it and look to see if it is bent - should roll smoothly if not bent, will roll unevenly if it is.

Also check the condition of the splines on both ends.

 

[derek]

but first, pull the pump. when it is in your hand, it will be a lot easier to understand what we are saying.

 

[JPX]

Visual aids to help you see what everything looks like as you remove the pump - Photo 1 is pump, venturi/nozzle. Photo 2 is the shaft with the pump removed. Photo 3 is the "front" of the pump.

 

[motoracer11]

I'm having the same problem as 97GTS. i put a brand new wear ring in the boat and when trying to pull up and skier it just cavitates, it will also do this when coming out of a turn hard. need help fast!! im at the river now!!

 

[derek]

i am getting a lot of cav with my speedster aftewr R&R-ing the pumps. maybe they do need sealer around the ring.