I got a Sea Doo GTI 2007 last fall (2023). It has run fine this summer. Pulls strong, revs to 7,000+ and gets to about 58mpg with just me (180lb/6') on it .... until:
- a few weeks ago I got it into a river backed up from the ramp and realized it wouldn't go forward (stays in reverse)
- by the time I got it out of water it took some water it. I rushed to drain it so I didn't capture the water level inside the engine compartment, but it wasn't far from a half full.
- I quickly found that the plastic nut that locks reverse cable was broken - that is why I got no forward and also why it took water in.
- I replaced the lock nut with a metal piece (apparently a common issue/repair) and FWD/REV cable now works fine.
- however, the ski now only gets to 38-ish mph and the engine (when in water) only revs to 6000rpm.
- The engine sounds fine (starts/runs as smooth as before), it revs/limits at about 7,500prm when out of water (which I only do for a few seconds), only when in water it is unable to spin past 6000rpm and it provides obviously reduced thrust.
- a few days ago I tried riding it like that for about 30 minutes to see if anything will change (to better or worse) but nothing changed
- at the end of that ride I tried once more to confirm that the engine will spin past 7000 when out of the water and it did, but I also noticed exhaust smoke to be white
- I have checked/inspected the intake/impeller/nozzle (without taking anything apart) and nothing seems to be obstructed/deformed.
- The fact that I get 38-ish mph with 6000rpm also suggest that (to me, at least, but please comment) the jet pump works fine - only it doesn't get spun fast enough for normal top speed
All of this leads me to think that the reason for low thrust is engine related (white smoke and inability to rev up under load) and caused by taking in water.
Any suggestions of how to trouble shoot/fix?
- a few weeks ago I got it into a river backed up from the ramp and realized it wouldn't go forward (stays in reverse)
- by the time I got it out of water it took some water it. I rushed to drain it so I didn't capture the water level inside the engine compartment, but it wasn't far from a half full.
- I quickly found that the plastic nut that locks reverse cable was broken - that is why I got no forward and also why it took water in.
- I replaced the lock nut with a metal piece (apparently a common issue/repair) and FWD/REV cable now works fine.
- however, the ski now only gets to 38-ish mph and the engine (when in water) only revs to 6000rpm.
- The engine sounds fine (starts/runs as smooth as before), it revs/limits at about 7,500prm when out of water (which I only do for a few seconds), only when in water it is unable to spin past 6000rpm and it provides obviously reduced thrust.
- a few days ago I tried riding it like that for about 30 minutes to see if anything will change (to better or worse) but nothing changed
- at the end of that ride I tried once more to confirm that the engine will spin past 7000 when out of the water and it did, but I also noticed exhaust smoke to be white
- I have checked/inspected the intake/impeller/nozzle (without taking anything apart) and nothing seems to be obstructed/deformed.
- The fact that I get 38-ish mph with 6000rpm also suggest that (to me, at least, but please comment) the jet pump works fine - only it doesn't get spun fast enough for normal top speed
All of this leads me to think that the reason for low thrust is engine related (white smoke and inability to rev up under load) and caused by taking in water.
Any suggestions of how to trouble shoot/fix?
