how to replace bottom gromit, and more....

[Jmonk]

I have noticed a slow annoying leak on the bottom of my oil tank on my 2000 challenger. I read in another post, Karl had said......

my 1997 Challenger jet boat, it dripped from the bottom gromit...after it was replaced no more problems.

Karl

Is this a hard thing to do. How do you get under there to even see to change it. Your help would be appreciated. Also my boat has been running great, no problems, and I want to KEEP it that way. What are things that I should be doing for maintenance?? Read somewhere about flushing after using? Is this neccessary?? How about lubricating??? Again.....thanks!! This site is so informational!!

 

[kustomkarl]

What I did was remove the oil injector tank when it got low with oil. I then tipped on its side and pulled the fitting out and the grommet out. Keep the oil lines up so the oil won't drain out and have any air bubbles after it is re-installed and cause a mess too. Then using injector oil to lube the new grommet and install it. Insert the elbow fitting, and reinstall the tank. Fill the oil to capacity and all done. I use "Purple Cleaner" to clean the hull of any oil left behind. The whole process took me like 15 minutes.


As far as flushing, it is only needed if you run in salt water.
Karl

 

[Jmonk]

Thanks Karl................you're a blessing!

Should I even worry about it if it is slight?? Thanks again!

 

[kustomkarl]

Nope, Oil just makes a mess...

Karl

 

[Jmonk]

I came back to reread this post. Another question.......have had my boat out at our kidss camp (giving tube rides) when I went was going to put the boat on the water I noticed that there was oil coming from both the top of the tank and bottom of oil tank. I am not positive that it is all coming from the bottom, or is it running from the top on that hose and dripping down to the bottom??? Is it common for the hoses or the fitting on the top of the oil reserve tank to link???

Thanks Sooooooo much!! THis boat has been so good......a blessing to so many people. Hasn't had problems. Drive it quite abit, is there something else that I should check out as far as maintanence. I hear allot about wear rings and impellers. How do you check this??

THank you....

Joyce

 

[vilord]

The top and bottom gaskets on my '97 challenger were leaking, the top one was worse for me. That one I didn't need to drain anything, did it with the tank mostly full of oil (makes a bit of a mess though).
The old gasket pulled off really easily, but putting on the new one was much harder, I had to really work it on and was worried I'd break the level float. Then once I tried to put the top piece back in it wouldn't go.

You have to put the gasket *mostly* on, but not around the top part, then put the gasket into the tank opening, and press the fitting into the gasket. If the gasket goes on the fitting first, it won't fit into the tank.

 

[Jmonk]

Thanks Vilord,

When you refer to the gaskets, is it the same as "grommets" I picked up a grommet at the seadoo dealer for both the top and the bottom. Did you drain your tank for the bottom one? Sounds alittle more challenging than A B C. I am willing to give it a whirl. Thanks for your help!

Jmonk

 

[scary]

If your going to park the boat for a week oe so wouldnt hurt to pull the plags and spay some bombairder lube in the plug holes and turn over a few time then reinstall plugs. Least thats what the manual says

 

[kustomkarl]

To change out either "grommet", I waited till the oil level was low, then unbolted the tank and tipped it on it's side to remove the bottom grommet. Then use some oil as a lubricant as I squeezed the grommet together and it slid right in, added the plastic fitting and done. It took like 15 minutes for both of them. I kept a rag under the tank just in case of a little spillage.

Karl

 

[vilord]

I haven't done the bottom ones yet, so definately follow Karl's advice on that.

I was referring to the top grommet, since it isn't under the tank, the tank doesn't have to be removed or emptied. It was a very tight fit, but shouldn't take too long, I replaced it in the dealer's parking lot in 5 minutes.

 

[Jmonk]

thanks Guys........this is all helpful, and feel much more confident to tackle. Today I sprayed the "purple cleaner" that Karl referred to clean out the oil. Looking clean now, and it is not leaking. I have NO clue why it decides to link once in awhile, and then for awhile not at all????

This challenger has been a great boat. Spent the past few weeks bringing it to our youth camp giving rides, and then to kids camp pulling young kids on tubes, and it was great. Just want it to run great for a LONG time without any expense (except gas of course) Soooo, anything that you can tell me to do to help maintain it will be greatly appreciated.

I do have a shop manual, but that can be alittle overwhelming at times.

Thanks so much for your kindness.........greatly appreciated.

jmonk

 

[Jmonk]

oh scary........you said "If your going to park the boat for a week oe so wouldnt hurt to pull the plags and spay some bombairder lube in the plug holes and turn over a few time then reinstall plugs. Least thats what the manual says"

Do you know why we do this???

inqiring mind wonders.

 

[scary]

Kinda but i use mine in salt water so i flush it and lube it every time take 5 mins to do. little 2 sec squirt in the holes.

 

[scary]

Kinda but i use mine in salt water so i flush it and lube it every time take 5 mins to do. little 2 sec squirt in the holes.

keeps the cylinders and rings lubed and free is my guess.

 

[unclejay]

Also

On my 95, I can accomplish the same lube chore by spraying lube into the little hole in the airbox cover (it has a rubber plug) while cranking the engine. This lubes the carbs also. Plug wires have to be off and grounded to the orange tabs.

I dont think you need to do this every week of disuse, maybe a month or more.

I base this on 13 years in service !

I also put a couple ounces of regular sea-doo oil into each cylinder for winterization. It will make a lot of smoke on startup for a few seconds.

 

[scary]

If you run in salt water they say to spray hole in carbs and plugs i spray hole in carb to but to me seems like your coating the filter on it and to me just aint right. Spraying lube on a air filter sounds like something someone from WV would do :rofl: but it does state to do it in the manual

 

[vilord]

I do that every 6 months on my truck's air filter (K&N) The filter doesn't filter without the oil in it.