16 replies to this topic

[wayne99]

I ran 4 rocks into my impeller. 3 were easy to take out but the 4th one I had to knock out from the rear of the jet with a metal rodas my impeller was seized. Now when I take off I've lost lots of jam and it revs high. I have to ease into the throttle to get on plane. Once I'm on plain I can still get my top end speed of 52 mph ? That part baffles me.
2000 Challenger 240 hp.

I also believe my spring is worn on my intake grate. Not sure if that would have anything to do with this.

Thanks,

Wayne

[Kevin Leclair]

How bad did your impeller get beat up?

[wayne99]

Does not look too bad being a PWC guy from before. I can't figure out why top end has not changed though. It is only from out of the hole. The only thing is the spring on the intake grate is not as springy as it used to be. It does not hod shut very hard anymore. Do you think a weak spring would do that ?

[capecoddoo]

I've experienced this too, if you jam the throttle, it cavitates, if you ease up, you can acheive top speed. Any idea why from the experts?

Does not look too bad being a PWC guy from before. I can't figure out why top end has not changed though. It is only from out of the hole. The only thing is the spring on the intake grate is not as springy as it used to be. It does not hod shut very hard anymore. Do you think a weak spring would do that ?

[dzpmantis]

By no way an expert here, but you probably damage the leading edge of the impeller. Which means that you are cavitating at lower speeds because it is having to pull and "cut" the water more with the leading edge of the impeller. I would suggest having the impeller looked at by a professional. Or at least, pull it out and "sharpen" the leading edge, and buff the rest of it to remove any little scratches. Good Luck

[wayne99]

By no way an expert here, but you probably damage the leading edge of the impeller. Which means that you are cavitating at lower speeds because it is having to pull and "cut" the water more with the leading edge of the impeller. I would suggest having the impeller looked at by a professional. Or at least, pull it out and "sharpen" the leading edge, and buff the rest of it to remove any little scratches. Good Luck

OK I've pulled off many a pumps off of PWC's but never on a jetboat. Has anyone out there done this before ? Do I need any special tools ? Do I need to order parts like seals ?

Thanks,

Wayne

[rodder77]

Wayne,

What the heck are you doing still using the stock "hydro-surge" grate? You should defineltly replace that as soon as possible with a fixed grate (6 tine). The hydro-surge ("hydro-suck" as it is called on some forums) (OEM) grate is very prone to break off the tines and then they get sucked into the prop and will cause major major $$$$$$ damage.

[wayne99]

First Seadoo boat this year. Prior to this boat I've owned Outboards and several PWC's. Can't say I am overly impressed with a jet on a boat except for parking. What about the 11 tine stainless steel intake ? Which one is better ? On of my tines is broken off. I am betting I will have to buy a housing and an impeller when I take it apart. Has anyone taken a pump off of a Seadoo Boat ??? Is it difficult ?

Thanks,

Wayne

Wayne,

What the heck are you doing still using the stock "hydro-surge" grate? You should defineltly replace that as soon as possible with a fixed grate (6 tine). The hydro-surge ("hydro-suck" as it is called on some forums) (OEM) grate is very prone to break off the tines and then they get sucked into the prop and will cause major major $$$$$$ damage.

[wayne99]

I checked it out this evening with a flashlight. The housing looks very good and nice and tight to the impeller. The impeller on the other hand is all chewed up on the inside edges. From the front in looks like that black turbine piece is also chewed up on the edges closest to the impeller. Looks like this jet has eaten a lot of rocks. Has anyone just filed their impeller down ? How hard is that baby to get out ? It looks like it is attached directed to the drive shaft. Does it unscrew right off of the drive shaft ?

Do I dare tackle this or take it to a dealer ? I would love to be able to buy a Solas and do this job myself. You kill a prop on an I/O and in 10 minutes you can install a new one. This is frustrating but also a learning experience on these stupid hydro weed eating grates ! They don't even eat weeds anyways !

Thanks,

Wayne

[rodder77]

I checked it out this evening with a flashlight. The housing looks very good and nice and tight to the impeller. The impeller on the other hand is all chewed up on the inside edges. From the front in looks like that black turbine piece is also chewed up on the edges closest to the impeller. Looks like this jet has eaten a lot of rocks. Has anyone just filed their impeller down ? How hard is that baby to get out ? It looks like it is attached directed to the drive shaft. Does it unscrew right off of the drive shaft ?

Do I dare tackle this or take it to a dealer ? I would love to be able to buy a Solas and do this job myself. You kill a prop on an I/O and in 10 minutes you can install a new one. This is frustrating but also a learning experience on these stupid hydro weed eating grates ! They don't even eat weeds anyways !

Thanks,

Wayne

Wayne,

It's Matt! the 6 tine fixed is what I hear/read most people using (that is what i went with when i got the boat). From what I have read the 11 is strictly for running in "rocky" areas. An only if you always run the boat in weedless environments. If you go in to the weeds they would really jam up and 11 tine one fast and restrict the flow of water. Check the sites for changing the prop/jet process. Doesn't seem to involved (also check/replace the wear ring while you are in there if it is chewed up), and if you can't get it then take it to a dealer.

[wayne99]

Hey guys,

Here is an update:

Changed over my grate to a 6 tine. Took the old hinged grate and gave it a boot to the garbage can ! While I had it off I filed the edges of my impeller fairly smooth. Looks like a few rocks have gone through it in it's day. The housing had one minor scratch but nothing major at all. I tried it out the other day and it did not help at all. My hole shot is horrible but I still have top end. Again this all happened when I ate some rocks and had to wedge one out of the impeller this summer. After the rock came out I lost hole shot power big time.

I pulled apart my pump today and I can move my impeller quite a bit within the housing yet the housing appears to be fine with no gouges. At this point I am wondering if it just an impeller ? Looks like it takes one hell of a socket to get it off ! Also the pump itself had excellent oil that was still green so I am guessing the bearings are fine. But the edges of the turbine on the pump itself (Stator I think is the name) are banged up a fair amount.

Maybe what I should do is post a video of everthing so you can help me so I know what to order. Everything I look at seems to be not too bad as I have a lot of exp. with pumps on PWC's. The only thing I did not like was the play between the housing and the impeller and of course you can't buy a wear ring for $40.


Thanks,

Wayne

[Brian]

Hey guys,

Here is an update:

Changed over my grate to a 6 tine. Took the old hinged grate and gave it a boot to the garbage can ! While I had it off I filed the edges of my impeller fairly smooth. Looks like a few rocks have gone through it in it's day. The housing had one minor scratch but nothing major at all. I tried it out the other day and it did not help at all. My hole shot is horrible but I still have top end. Again this all happened when I ate some rocks and had to wedge one out of the impeller this summer. After the rock came out I lost hole shot power big time.

I pulled apart my pump today and I can move my impeller quite a bit within the housing yet the housing appears to be fine with no gouges. At this point I am wondering if it just an impeller ? Looks like it takes one hell of a socket to get it off ! Also the pump itself had excellent oil that was still green so I am guessing the bearings are fine. But the edges of the turbine on the pump itself (Stator I think is the name) are banged up a fair amount.

Maybe what I should do is post a video of everthing so you can help me so I know what to order. Everything I look at seems to be not too bad as I have a lot of exp. with pumps on PWC's. The only thing I did not like was the play between the housing and the impeller and of course you can't buy a wear ring for $40.


Thanks,

Wayne

Wayne,

I sent a good set of pump maintenance and removal instructions to your email I came across on one of the forums which should help you with your impeller. Brian

[wayne99]

Update:

It's been a slow go. Thanks for everyone's help.

Got the 6 tine grate. Filed the banged up leading edge of the impeller and tried it out. No change.

I then ordered a Solas impeller and purchased the expensive removal tool which cost be about $100 with shipping and US conversion ! Took the jet apart. It is actually very easy to remove. The steering nozzle and reverse gate come off in one piece. I originally thought that all had to come apart ! One problem though... My bolts were very hard to take off because the previous owner used the boat primarily in salt water. Anyways one of the long bolts that goes into the wear ring housing broke off ! I had to drill it out which sucks because now I have to tap out a larger hole and use a larger bolt. The wear ring has 2 small gouges but other then that it looks pretty decent. There was about 0.013 gap on the old impeller when I lifted the impeller to one side. (It had some play) The new Solas impeller is much tighter and there is not much play. It appears that my old impeller was shaved away evenly?? I was expecting more dings considering it was rocks that went through and caused my sudden loss of power.

One more thing I should mention is my stator was dinged up huge ! I've filed down all of the edges and it looks much better now. I'm wondering if that was more my problem all along. It makes sense to me because the water has to be pushed through it and if it was slow on the take off and still hit my top end I think those dings had a play in my performance. This is my first Merc Jet so I don't know what to look for. I am a PWC guy and 90% of the time you simply replaced a plastic wear ring.

I hope to try it out soon before our lakes freeze up here ! If it still gives me trouble I will buy a new stator. I have a feeling it is going to work fine. I would have no trouble doing this job again now that I've done it once. One suggestion I have is if you have a nasty coroded bolt use a torch and heat it up so you don't have the headache of having to drill out a bolt. Do not apply huge pressure because the sucker will break and you will be cussing !

Wayne

[SeadooMike]

Did you ever get it fixed? I had a similar problem. My stator assembly was all chewed up. I found a bearly used one on ebay. I plan to put it on in the next week or so. I think it caused soemm cavitaion because my seadoo would not turn right. I had a bent ride plate on my boat, which is that bleack plate that the stator bolts too. i am waiting on that part to put it all back together...I can't imagine how it got so chewed up. I took a picture of it, and uploaded here somewhere..??

Attached Files

•  IMG00014.jpg   606.77KB   75 downloads

[SeadooMike]

That was the plate, this is the image of the stator.

Attached Files

•  IMG00015.jpg   537.91KB   75 downloads

[shawncoker]

Wayne.... Have you had the oppty to try out the changes you've made? I am going through the exact same scenario and have not been able to determine the issue. But before I start droppin alot of dollars on things that are not necessary, I would like to know whats working and whats not. I have my stator removed already. Do you think that filing down the edges is enough, or should I replace?

[Bill C]

Wayne,

I sent a good set of pump maintenance and removal instructions to your email I came across on one of the forums which should help you with your impeller. Brian

Brian,

I am having the same problem. Can I get a copy of the pump maintenace and removal instructions? The shop manual I have does not contain these instructions.

Thanks!
-Bill-