Terrible Screech !!!

[charlieenz]

Hi From New Zealand - Been a long time since i posted which means things have been good for a while.
My current problem happened when I was out recently in my 2007 C180. While returning to shore I went thru a small area of floating debris and sucked up a stick or two. I tried to avoid it but too late -A few seconds after running over it I get this incredible screaming noise so throttled off and after a couple more revs and screams idled bck to the ramp.

I had a look in the intake grill and could see a tiny stick about and inch or 2 long on one prop blade and managed to pry it out, with a blunt hook on a rod, but now when I run up the motor at home, with the hose on (and under revs) the excruciating screech is still there. Just idling and low revs its not bad but give it throttle and yikes!!! The whole neighborhood can hear it.

Next problem - The front intake grate bolt seems just to spin in its thread and wont wind out so I cant get the grate off. not sure if the RTV is holding it up or its just spinning in the thread housing but it won't unwind so I am stumped as to what to do next.

Everything was running fine until the stick sucked in and I had a complete intake overhaul 2 seasons back so figured seals etc should be ok.

Not sure whether to drill the head off the front bolt and pry the grate off or if its a repair shop job?

Any ideas as had planned the annual boating holiday for next week!!!

Cheers

Charlie in NZ

 

[Eclipse1701d]

It is possible that there is still blockage in the jet pump. I would remove and inspect. My boat let out a very high pitched noise that scared the heck out of me and sent everyone at the marina running over to see what happened. It turned out to be a zip lock bag that was sucked through my pump...

 

[pete63]

remove pump, then you can check everything properly. most likely a stick stuck between impeller and wear ring, causing the screech. having said that 2 years is a long time without pump/bearing inspection. grease can dry out....

 

[charlieenz]

Hi guys
Took the boat to the city dealer and turns out a bush in the drive between the shaft and the anti-@fouling pipe had corrosion around it so they cleaned it all up and the noise is gone.
They also rebuilt the supercharger, replaced the shaft bearing and did an annual service so got a $1900 bill to boot.
Now I have a new issue!!! Serious cavitation under load.
5 onboard and it won't get out of the water and just revs out to max rpm .
Wouldn't be 25 hrs since the wear ring was replaced so thinking maybe prop wear and clearance? The new shaft bearing also feels a little lumpy which is worrying
after only 2 days.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Look for something in the impeller area. A tiny twig can easily cause the issue. If all is clear, then I would take a good look at the Carbon Seal. If it is not right enough you will suck air from inside the hull and cavitate.

 

[xintersecty]

Man, I would have taken that back to the dealer and said deal with it. The carbon ring bellows does not go bad that fast. They properly got something out of alignment or you had damaged on the wear ring and they did not replace it.

 

[XP 787]

Man, I would have taken that back to the dealer and said deal with it. The carbon ring bellows does not go bad that fast. They properly got something out of alignment or you had damaged on the wear ring and they did not replace it.

I agree, after all that work they should have replaced the wear ring while it was accessible.

 

[rcguy]

$1900 and the boat can't get get out of its own way...definitely bring it back to the dealer.

 

[charlieenz]

Thanks Guys,

When you say carbon seal, which seal exactly do you mean? Is that the one on the hull itslef or the rubber one on the pump ???
I'm home now after 2 weeks of bugger all boating and have removed the pump once again and will post some pics.- The bearing in the cone is definitely gone and the shop guys have told me that wasn't the one they swapped, rather the bearing at the motor end of the impeller shaft, so I guess I can't blame them for that.

The rubber seal on the end of the pump doesn't look bad although it did have some sand under it which indicates to me it might have been sucking a little, so I'm going to send the pump back to the shop and get them to replace the rubber seal, check the wear ring and maybe upgrade the impeller to a new Solas unit as they sound quite good. I'm picking another big bill but I guess that's the way it goes.

The mechanic has suggested removing the anti-foul pipe as he said none of the ski's have them and he reckons that could reduce performance - What do you think of this idea. Mine is one of about only 5 Seadoo boats in New Zealand but there are thousands of ski's.
I also took a torch out at night when the pump was in place to see if I could see any light getting between the hull and pump (which would also mean air) but i guess with no pressure on this probably proved nothing.
Cavitation is no fun!!!

Cheers

Charlie

 

[JPass]

I'm surprised your dealer didn't replace all the pump bearings since they had it apart,especially for $1900. I'd be beyond pissed.

The carbon seal is the seal where the driveshaft comes through the hull into the engine compartment. Here's a pic. Ignore the writing. I'm simply using the pic as a reference for you. The seal is in front of the pink outlined part.

 

[xintersecty]

Well, they did not they did not have the pump apart however they should have looked it over carefully and it should have not failed that quickly. So I am thinking they replaced the wrong bearing. Did they indicate why they choose to replace the bearing?

So what's an anti-foul pipe? I never heard of one.

Now you have the pump out, post pictures. The engine alignment to the pump is important and that could cause cavatation.

 

[James.Moon]

Dealer mechanics have been a nightmare to me since day one - it is a long story but I encountered major cavitation after only 8 hours on new boat (180 SE 2009) after taking it 500 kms for repairs & 10 hour inspection and 500 KMs back to the lake it still cavitated - the local marina mechanic pulls a stick out and test drove it at over 50 mph. I have had several "fixes" under warrantee where the mechanic in turn screwed up something else. That is a longer story. One problem is that they never put it into the water to test the repairs. Also they don't seem to have much experience - they seem just like you or me reading a shop manual and having a go at it.
I am now glad the warrantee period is over so I can use a local mechanic who actually knows what he is doing.
Sorry, this is not much help for your situation, other than moral support.

 

[charlieenz]

Cheers guys - New impeller and new wear ring and it seems to have fixed the issue. Well it did for 1 day and the new horse power sucked up 4 stones into the intake and bang there goes my new impeller!!! Lucky only minor dings so hopefully will run ok.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Wow, sorry for all your repairs. Just be sure to start the motor in at least 3 feet of water....never close to shore.
you can file some small dings off to make it somewhat smooth edge again.....just don't file much off.

 

[Nosnibor]

Wow, sucking up stones? How shallow are you operating?