HELP! 97 Seadoo XP Bombadier question...

[SeaDooGood]

HELP! 97 Seadoo XP cavitation issue and whistling noise question...

I just bought a used 97 Seadoo XP in overall really good shape. Tested it and ran good. Then brought it out to the lake this weekend and rode it and during the second day of riding it I noticed it started making this weird distinct whistling noise only when pressing the throttle down and accelerating. It would do it almost all the time. Then I started to notice that it seemed as though the impeller was spinning but taking a while to "catch" for the jet ski to get out of the water and on step. Once it got on step it would run fine and top out around 55mph, but it would still be making that whistling noise. This is the first jet ski I've ever owned so I'm a novice at this. I've did a lot of researching and wanted to get some more professional opinions on here. My first thought is to take the jet pump out and check the oil in the cone and check the bearings. Would bad/worn out bearings cause this problem? Do I need to take the driveshaft out to? What color should the oil be in the cone? Just trying to figure out what I need to mainly be looking for. My second thought is that the splines on the drive shaft might be worn out and that is why it isn't "catching." Any thoughts on what's y'all think is the problem and what I should do or check first? Thanks!

 

[Coastiejoe]

Take a look at the shaft and impeller. Sounds like you are cavitation to me. Could be as simple as a small line wrapped up.


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[SeaDooGood]

Take a look at the shaft and impeller. Sounds like you are cavitation to me. Could be as simple as a small line wrapped up.


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Hey thanks for the response! I'm not too familiar with all the terms for a jet ski yet. What do you mean by cavitation? Also, what lines would you be referring to? I plan on taking the jet pump out soon, will I need any special tools to take out the driveshaft and impeller? Or will the impeller just pull out? Crazy thing is that the ski was garage kept and very well maintained. Nothing is rusted in the engine bay. All hoses, clamps, etc look good. So overall it was very well taken care of and it starts with no problems and the engine runs great. Hopefully it isn't something major.

 

[SeaDooGood]

Also, what do you make of this distinct whistling noise when pressing the throttle and accelerating? Sometimes it seems to do it louder when I was getting some air underneath the jet ski over a wake. But mainly anytime I pressed the throttle and engine reved at high rpms.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ok. Cavitation is, when the impeller spins but the ski does not really take off. Think of it like a car. If you floor it and the tires spin, everything is doings its job but you really are not moving.

With a ski, you can get cavitation a few ways. A bad carbon seal ( sucks air from inside the ski hill and the impeller spins freely with the air). The wear ring gap is to big and the water basically goes around the impeller instead of being forced through it. Or, something wrapped around the shaft or the impeller itself. When I said line, I meant like a fishing line or small rope being wrapped up in there.

The whistle noise could be as simple as the impeller cavitation.

You will need special tools if you remove the impeller but not to remove the pump assembly itself.

I STRONGLY recommend you download a service manual as it will guide you with the service you want to do. Also, our HOW TO section will help you as well.

 

[SeaDooGood]

Ok. Cavitation is, when the impeller spins but the ski does not really take off. Think of it like a car. If you floor it and the tires spin, everything is doings its job but you really are not moving.

With a ski, you can get cavitation a few ways. A bad carbon seal ( sucks air from inside the ski hill and the impeller spins freely with the air). The wear ring gap is to big and the water basically goes around the impeller instead of being forced through it. Or, something wrapped around the shaft or the impeller itself. When I said line, I meant like a fishing line or small rope being wrapped up in there.

The whistle noise could be as simple as the impeller cavitation.

You will need special tools if you remove the impeller but not to remove the pump assembly itself.

I STRONGLY recommend you download a service manual as it will guide you with the service you want to do. Also, our HOW TO section will help you as well.

If I get the jet pump assembly off, will I be able to visualize the impeller to see if anything is wrapped around it or the shaft?

 

[Coastiejoe]

You can see into that area without removing the pump. Look up through the grate from the bottom and from the back of the ski trough the nozzle.

 

[SeaDooGood]

You can see into that area without removing the pump. Look up through the grate from the bottom and from the back of the ski trough the nozzle.

If I don't see anything wrapped up in the impeller or intake. What should my next step be? Take of the jet pump, impeller, and driveshaft and inspect? Also, where is the wear ring located and what should I be looking for?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Does the engine rev up high but the ski not take right off?


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[SeaDooGood]

Does the engine rev up high but the ski not take right off?


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Yes, the engine will rev up high no problem, but it's like the impeller is spinning and takes a lot longer to get on step then it finally "catches" and shoots out on step. Once it gets on step it runs good, but I just constantly hear that whistling noise. If I just give it a constant little gas, everything is fine and I don't hear any noises.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ok,, you are cavitating for sure,,,

So, first thing is to look at both sides of the impeller from the grate and the nozzle. Look for ANYTHING that may be stuck in there. A rock between the blades, sea weed, fishline, rope ect ect..

Second, what is the gap between the impeller edge and the wear ring? If it is wider than the width of a dime, the wear ring needs replaced (assuming the impeller is not bent).

If neither of the above items are bad, then you are likely sucking air through the Carbon Seal. We will get into that more later once you tell me what you find.

There is a chance the spline is bad on the drive shaft. It is not as common as the other potnetials, but it happens enough that it needs to be mentioned. This will be the LAST thing we look at as the pump must be removed and what not.

 

[SeaDooGood]

Ok,, you are cavitating for sure,,,

So, first thing is to look at both sides of the impeller from the grate and the nozzle. Look for ANYTHING that may be stuck in there. A rock between the blades, sea weed, fishline, rope ect ect..

Second, what is the gap between the impeller edge and the wear ring? If it is wider than the width of a dime, the wear ring needs replaced (assuming the impeller is not bent).

If neither of the above items are bad, then you are likely sucking air through the Carbon Seal. We will get into that more later once you tell me what you find.

There is a chance the spline is bad on the drive shaft. It is not as common as the other potnetials, but it happens enough that it needs to be mentioned. This will be the LAST thing we look at as the pump must be removed and what not.

Ok I will check in a the intake grate and rear of nozzle when I get home and report back. I'm hoping it is something relatively simple (maybe something stuck in there like you said) and easy fix.

Will I be able to visualize the gap between the impeller edge and wear ring without taking the jet pump assembly out? Also, when you say impeller edge and wear ring, is the wear ring like a black rubber ring? And the impeller edge is the edge that mounts towards the front of the jet ski?

 

[AdamXP800]

If the gap between the impeller and wear ring looks to be larger that the width of a dime you will have cavitation. From the sounds of it your cavitation is pretty bad, I'm better you will see a chewed up wear ring



96 XP800!
Keep the 2 strokes alive!

 

[tkarvelis]

If you look from the grate (use a camera) towards the rear of the ski you should see light around the propeller and the black ring. This area should be less than a dime. If it is much more, you need to replace the wear ring. It is not difficult. I just did mine, and I have no previous seadoo knowlege, not even riding one.

 

[Coastiejoe]

You REALLY need to download a maual..

The impeller is what looks like the prop on a boat. It is basically the same but is inside the pump as compared to like an outdrive motor where the prop is in the water, (not inside of the pump or tunnel). The wear ring is what the impeller sits inside of but does not touch, thought it is VERY close to.

To see the gap, you do NOT need to remove anything. As noted above, shine a light in from underneath through the grate, (have someone hold the light). And then you go to the back of the ski and look through the nozzle toward the impeller. See how big the gap is.

 

[SeaDooGood]

Ok I snapped some pics. Nothing tangled in grate, driveshaft, impeller, or nozzle. Impeller appears to be in good shape to me. I don't see any dents or nicks. What is the black ring? Also, is the white ring surrounding the impeller is what is referred to as the wear ring?

 

[SeaDooGood]

Ok here is a pic of from the back with a light shining through. To me, the gap of light from the impeller to the edge of the white ring does appear to be larger at the bottom than the surrounding edges. What do you guys think?

 

[SeaDooGood]

The gap along the bottom appears to be wider, more like a half dollar gap, as you can see in the last picture. But why all of a sudden would it start doing this. The first day I test drove it and the first day after that when I rode it, it was fine, no whistling noise nor cavitation. Then the second day of rising it, it started making that whistling noise and at the same time it started cavitating. What do you guys think from the pics? Any input will help....Thanks!

 

[CAVERJIM]

It looks like the splines are showing on the shaft at the nose seal on prop. That's pretty excessive play to me probably 1/4 inch or more. Don't know if that means anything.

 

[CAVERJIM]

Possibly the splines shot in prop from water.

 

[SeaDooGood]

It looks like the splines are showing on the shaft at the nose seal on prop. That's pretty excessive play to me probably 1/4 inch or more. Don't know if that means anything.

Like it should be inserted more in the impeller? Anybody have any other thoughts about the wear ring now after seeing these pics?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I think the wear ring is out of specs. The gap is to large for there to be good performance.

Officially, you do not need to pull the impeller to to a wear. In your case, since you do not know the history of the ski, I think you should pull the pump assembly and replace the wear ring as well as change the cone oil. If it were mine, I would pull the impeller and check out the bearings. They can whine when going bad but you do not normally hear them as they are in the water...

 

[SeaDooGood]

I think the wear ring is out of specs. The gap is to large for there to be good performance.

Officially, you do not need to pull the impeller to to a wear. In your case, since you do not know the history of the ski, I think you should pull the pump assembly and replace the wear ring as well as change the cone oil. If it were mine, I would pull the impeller and check out the bearings. They can whine when going bad but you do not normally hear them as they are in the water...

Ok so to start off I will:

1) Pull the pump assembly to change out the wear ring

Question: After I remove the nozzle, I can remove the pump by removing the 4 bolts correct? Will the impeller also come out with the pump assembly?

2) Once the impeller is out I can inspect the bearings (if bad I will need to replace).

3) Once I remove the 3 screws off the tail cone, I can break the seal to change out the oil correct? Should I use 75w-90 gear lube or grease to pack in the cone? Once the oil is replaced I can immediately put the cone back on and put the 3 screws back in correct?

Does that sound about right? Also, I'm not too familiar with ordering parts since this is my first jet ski. Will this wear ring work and is it a good replacement ring?

http://www.shopsbt.com/sea-1997-xp/sea-doo-wear-ring-gt-xp-gts-gtx-spi-spx-271000290.html

 

[Coastiejoe]

Here is a link for you,,,

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?30720-How-To-Changing-Your-Wear-Ring

 

[XP 787]

Make sure the air box cover is on correctly also. It may be pulling air from the sides giving you the whistling noise.