97 sportster help

[sportster97]

this is my second year with this boat and im still having the same issue, some days it works fine and some days it doesn't
its definetly a cavitation issue that im having, i have already changed the carbon ring, seal carrier, o rings, accordion boot , clamps, and wear ring, impeller is fine, what else can i try? i also get water in the hull, sometimes allot of water, sometimes next to no water,
could it be the engine is no longer aligned?
or since the boat is so old could the engine have moved to the point where theres not enough pressure between the carbon ring and seal carrier ?

anyone have a idea i can try

thanks

 

[Albysure]

Could be because its not aligned but you could see the offset in the carbon ring and bellow from the driveshaft out of line...when putting your pump housing back on did you install the neoprene seal between the housing and plate?....maybe try to fill your hull up and see where it leaks but your probably gonna need to check it in the water...keep it on the trailer and back it in and see where it's coming in at...but it sounds like your having a driveshaft issue if your getting cavitation and water in hull... You said someday its fine and other days its not.....is that when you pump grease in the pto boot..?

 

[sportster97]

yeah when i put the pump back on i made sure i put a new neoprene seal, when i pump grease in the pto it seems to help but most of the time i play around with 2 hose clamps that are on the bellow, 1 at the thru hull fitting and the one at the carbon ring, when i changed the carbon ring the old one did have a egg shape interior, i guess that pretty well answers my question haha, is there a easy way of aligning the motor without the tool, and while i have the motor mounts loose should i try and push it as far back as possible?

 

[Albysure]

No sure way to align it with out tool.....but there is a correct distance the motor should be sitting at...should be here in the treads somewhere....I have the 1998 sportster 1800...there is 3 spots to move the c clip so the carbon seal and bellow can be pushed back...some aftermarket bellows are cheap and not that strong.....see if you have multiple c clip spots...

 

[sportster97]

I do have multiple c clip spots I put the clip in the slot closest to the rear of the boat and I also noticed that my bellow isn't sitting straight. It looks like it squeezes in the middle more to one side

 

[Albysure]

Yea you never know what somebody did before you...see if you can get the engine alignment tool..