runs out of water, but not in it?!?!

[Jgothing]

hi there!
Im super new to the whole boating scene, so dont have much experience working on them, so what ever help i can get would be much appreciated! I have a 94 Sea Ray Sport Jet 90.. and it runs great!! I had to put a new battery and ignition in it to make it run which was no biggie. This past weekend i took the wife and daughter out, and got everything loaded up. Went to fire it up and it wouldnt start....finally after messing with the carb linkage it fired up but ran like garbage. it wouldn't idle on its own with out me holding the linkage.. so 3 hours later after waiting for my turn to load up with the trailer, we pulled it back out of the water...got it all tied up, and for shits a grins i tried to fire it up, and go figure it fired back up and ran like champ...?!? my question is why would it not run in water, but on the trailer? could it have something to do with the impeller? or fuel delivery? i have no clue!! please help!!!

 

[Faztbullet]

Check spark as could only be running on 2 cylinders....

 

[Jgothing]

thanks!. ill double check the spark. but i did install a new switch box..(i did burn up the old one on accident big uh oh) :grumpy:

 

[bruceb58]

Was the boat angled on the trailer when you tried to start it and it then it would start when the boat was level?

 

[Jgothing]

the boat was completely off the trailer, and tied up floating level to the dock.

 

[Jgothing]

passed the float test tho, dose not take on water :lol: first time ive had it in the water since i got it.

 

[bruceb58]

the boat was completely off the trailer, and tied up floating level to the dock.

OK...was just wondering if it was a fuel pickup issue.

 

[Jgothing]

i thought the same at first, until it fired back up on the trailer when we pulled it out off the water...

 

[Jgothing]

riddle me this, if the pump. or the impeller are jammed up, could the exhaust just flow past them and still run off the trailer,? but the water blocks it causing it not to run?

 

[bruceb58]

riddle me this, if the pump. or the impeller are jammed up, could the exhaust just flow past them and still run off the trailer,? but the water blocks it causing it not to run?

Nope.

BTW...not sure if you used muffs when you started the boat up on the trailer. If you didn't, you should now change your impeller.

 

[Jgothing]

i did not used muffs, from what i understand this boat has a different set up for the water hose that dosent use muffs?!? or did i miss understand that... being it has a jet drive.., but every time i would start it, it would be for maybe 5 seconds. is that even enough to smoke the impeller? rookie mistake i quess :facepalm:

 

[bruceb58]

You may be right about that...missed the part about it being a jet. It may not even have a rubber impeller.

 

[Jgothing]

well i guess ill have to drop the jet drive and take a gander and see whats up. but my ultimate question is can the impeller, or the pump cause the motor not to run in the water if they are bad, and be able to run on the trailer...cuz theres no load on them, aka the water?!?

 

[bruceb58]

Do you own a service manual? I would be looking in that before you drop anything.

 

[racerone]

That would be a 3 cylinder " force " powerhead.---If you just bought it then a compression test should be done.

 

[MI_Pirate]

i thought the same at first, until it fired back up on the trailer when we pulled it out off the water...

I think you may have missed the point of his question. If you have some water in the fuel tank, and if the fuel pickup is towards the front of the tank, it might pick up fuel while it is sitting on the trailer (if the bow is raised above level), and pick up water when the boat is floating (and therefore level). You might just want to go ahead and drain the entire tank and replace it with fresh fuel before you knock yourself out troubleshooting. Remember to check the fuel filter(s) for water, too.

 

[Jgothing]

I am goin to order one tonight after work (online PDF download), and take a gander at it and see whats up. and racerone, im going to check the compression on it tomorrow when i bring it to work with me, and ill compare the psi to the service manual. thanks guys

 

[Jgothing]

checked the compression. 100 PSI

 

[Jgothing]

I have also read that some one had that same issue with their jet ski, would run on the trailer and not in the water, they found that their lower jug gasket was bad and the motor was taking on water when launched, not starting.... what is the jug??

 

[Faztbullet]

my ultimate question is can the impeller, or the pump cause the motor not to run in the water if they are bad, and be able to run on the trailer

No as if damaged or locked up the motor would not turn over.The impeller turns with engine running and gate blocks water flow for direction. Sounds like a ignition or carb problem....