Sportster cavitation

[trinity123]

Hi guys,

Have an 06 Sportster 215hp. When you initially give it full throttle it goes no where, just revs to nearly 8000rpm... you have to gradually put the power down to get up on the plain... once on the plain you can give it full throttle and it will do 60mph no problems. But the cavitation is really bad off the line.

Wear ring and prop has a gap around it. If I put a lead light up the grate, I see a big gap between the prop and wear ring... (about 1mm gap).. also too.. the boat takes on water when you go for a 2 hour ride or so. About 3-4 litres would come out the drain plugs I think.

Whats the best plan of attack to fix this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KK40384]

Cavitation + taking on water = bad carbon seal most likely. One way to check, although not the safest but the easiest, is to back the boat and trailer in the water leaving the boat strapped down. Put the boat in N and give it some light throttle to put a load on motor and pump. Look down at the seal where the driveshaft passes through the hull and see if any water seeps past it. Be careful not to give it too much throttle because you could rip it off the trailer. I've never seen that happen but the possibility is there if you're careless.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I would also think the Carbon Seal is defective...

You could also have a wipe out wear ring.

The gap should be no bigger than the width of a dime from the wear ring to the impeller.

So,,, you will have to pull the shaft and what not to do the job. Might as well take a GOOD look at the wear ring and replace it at the same time if it is not within specs...

 

[KK40384]

Yes I forgot to mention the wear ring. Running with a bad carbon seal will usually cause a wear ring to fail prematurely. When you do the repair, do both at the same time to solve all your issues.

 

[trinity123]

Yes I forgot to mention the wear ring. Running with a bad carbon seal will usually cause a wear ring to fail prematurely. When you do the repair, do both at the same time to solve all your issues.

Ok thanks!!

I am going to start with my scoop grate. It is damaged quite badly. The problem I face is I have removed the rear 3 x
10mm bolts but the front 13mm bolt is just spinning. I have climbed into the engine bay and felt on the floor of the hull where the bolt is. It feels like there is a cone shaped rubber cap sticking up from the floor.. about the size of my little finger. Its very hard to get to obviously.

How am I going to get this 13mm bolt out???

 

[trinity123]

Ok thanks!!

I am going to start with my scoop grate. It is damaged quite badly. The problem I face is I have removed the rear 3 x
10mm bolts but the front 13mm bolt is just spinning. I have climbed into the engine bay and felt on the floor of the hull where the bolt is. It feels like there is a cone shaped rubber cap sticking up from the floor.. about the size of my little finger. Its very hard to get to obviously.

How am I going to get this 13mm bolt out???

With a bit of perseverance I got it out.

Does a Sportster 2006 share the same scoop grate as say an RXT 2006??

 

[KK40384]

I'm not sure if they do.