1990 Square Nose taking on water

[schmo]

I picked up a 1990 650 Super Jet on Wed. Took it to the lake last night and it ran like a champ. Clean ski with a rebuilt motor (exchange thru SBT) 2 seasons ago, dual cooling, added bilge. I did 2 short loops, maybe 15 minutes each, flopped over on it's side (just to cool off) at the end of each loop, but other than that it wasn't submerged. I did not run the aux bilge pump as I wanted to get a base line. When I got home I noticed more water than expected in the hull, pumped a bit out with the bilge to make sure it was working well, and then vacuumed out what I would estimate to be about a gallon. I noticed on the back of the hood (toward the rider) the lip of the seal seems to be folded over a bit (1.5" section) on each side . . . trying to stretch it back out with a wedge, clamp and some heat, but seemed like a lot of water to squeeze thru there. Checked the lines and everything seems to be connected and tight (I did notice the flush hose had come off the nipple, but I reattached before the lake . . . also for some reason the end of the flush is male so I have to buy a female o female hose fitting to connect it . . . seems weird they wouldn't just use a female fitting). I've heard the hoods on these years are notorious for leaking but wanted to get thoughts on other things I should check, other than the position of the bilge pump switch!!!

 

[Hagan]

Does it still have the factory bilge? If you ride your jet ski you are bound to get water in it. First thing I'd check is to see if a rock got stuck in the factory bilge suction pump. Not sure if that's the official name but it's mounted at the back of the ski next to the nozzle and bolted to the ride plate. Should have 2 hoses attached to it. Mine has clogged numerous times.

If not you could always fill the ski with water to see it it leaks out. Or run it at the dock with the hood off and see if you can spot a leak. I've forgotten a cooling line before that filled up my ski quickly.

Good luck!

 

[schmo]

Got back from the lake and it is filling up when sitting at the beach. Doesn't seem to filling up when running, but sitting at the beach for a couple of minutes and a good amount will come out of the aux bilge pump when I kick it on. It could just be tricking me, but it seems to take on the water more at the beach, when the nose is pulled up onto the sand. I was BS with a guy standing in the water with the ski floating and didn't seem to be taking water on at least not as fast as I was at the beach.

I checked the stock bilge, it only has one hose going to the little box with the holes on the bottom (no place for another hose). The hose from the box connects into the T connecter up high by the cover lip..

I noticed a black grommet around the impeller shaft . . . it was just sitting toward the back. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to go in the little gap on the front of the prop or if it is supposed to go somewhere else and perhaps is leading to the issue???

 

[Barbieri972]

Sounds like yor stock bilge hose isn't elevated and water is syphoning in through that

 

[BIG JOHNSON]

When I got my 1990 the midshaft was grenaded and let on a fid amount of water. There were no bearings left and previous owner kept adding bilge pumps.

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[schmo]

Sounds like yor stock bilge hose isn't elevated and water is syphoning in through that

The stock bilge hose is connected all the way at the top of the engine bay on the side rail before going down into the box with the holes in it. But I do wonder if water might be syphoning in somehow as it does seem like the water is coming in from that area. That or maybe the seal to the pump. Hoping it might be the bilge as that would seem like an easier fix.

 

[schmo]

When I got my 1990 the midshaft was grenaded and let on a fid amount of water. There were no bearings left and previous owner kept adding bilge pumps.

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Wouldn't that make it leak more when it's running? Mine isn't leaking when I'm riding, but rather when it's sitting at the beach.

 

[schmo]

Does it still have the factory bilge? If you ride your jet ski you are bound to get water in it. First thing I'd check is to see if a rock got stuck in the factory bilge suction pump. Not sure if that's the official name but it's mounted at the back of the ski next to the nozzle and bolted to the ride plate. Should have 2 hoses attached to it. Mine has clogged numerous times.

If not you could always fill the ski with water to see it it leaks out. Or run it at the dock with the hood off and see if you can spot a leak. I've forgotten a cooling line before that filled up my ski quickly.

Good luck!

Yes it still has the factory bilge. I pulled the small hose and blew air thru the line . . . I could hear the air coming out where the box is inside the engine bay. Pulled the larger diameter short curved tube and tried blowing air up in there as well hoping to dislodge anything that could be stuck in there. I think I may just pinch off the stock bilge hose tomorrow and see if that stops the flow.

 

[Hagan]

Yes it still has the factory bilge. I pulled the small hose and blew air thru the line . . . I could hear the air coming out where the box is inside the engine bay. Pulled the larger diameter short curved tube and tried blowing air up in there as well hoping to dislodge anything that could be stuck in there. I think I may just pinch off the stock bilge hose tomorrow and see if that stops the flow.

Is the stock bilge still mounted in the factory location?

I physically removed the plastic bilge thing on the ride plate and it had a small rock jammed in it. I'd remove it.

My midshaft took a crap last year and didn't leak. May or may not be the case.

Edit: Realized you said it leaks when sitting. Disregard what I said if that's the case.

 

[BIG JOHNSON]

Wouldn't that make it leak more when it's running? Mine isn't leaking when I'm riding, but rather when it's sitting at the beach.

Well when you're riding it your factory bilge is doing it's job. If you're not practicing subs you've got a hole in it or maybe it's leaking at the midshaft.

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[schmo]

Is the stock bilge still mounted in the factory location?

I physically removed the plastic bilge thing on the ride plate and it had a small rock jammed in it. I'd remove it.

My midshaft took a crap last year and didn't leak. May or may not be the case.

Edit: Realized you said it leaks when sitting. Disregard what I said if that's the case.

I think the stock bilge is mounted in the factory location . . . at least from what I can tell. Yes, the water is coming in at the beach when sitting. As BJ mentioned, could just be the stock bilge is working when its running and then it fills up when not running???

What is the best way to see where it's leaking? Fill the ski up with water and see where it leaks???

 

[schmo]

Now I'm really confused . . . Filled the ski up with water . . . well above where the level had ever been while at the lake, and not so much as a drip. Had the Aux bilge completely submerged . . . pretty impressed by how quickly it pumped all the water out. Other than blowing air thru the stock bilge lines last night, I haven't done anything. Gonna hit the lake here in a bit and see if I might have got lucky with something just being plugged up in the stock bilge, but that doesn't really make much sense to me.

Any other ideas?

 

[BIG JOHNSON]

You'd have to fill the waterline above your driveshaft in the hull to diagnose the midshaft.

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[schmo]

Getting more and more confused. Took it to the lake and got all excited as it wasn't taking on water sitting on the beach . . . took it for a spin came back and the water started flowing in again. Here's something odd . . . after letting it sit for a good long while where it was really full and took a good 20 seconds for the bilge to pump the water out (like water out of the end of a garden hose), it would stop leaking in after that, but then after the next run, it would be leaking in again. I filled it up again, this time almost to the top of the cover where the entire driveshaft was submerged and still not even a drop.

 

[schmo]

HELP!!! Getting more confused by the minute!!! After more searching, I had pretty much convinced myself that the issue was a leak from the mid shaft, probably the seal, before ordering parts and tearing into it, I hit the lake again. Started off on the trailer, not leaking with the engine off, started it and reved it a few times, still nothing . . . took it off the trailer and again nothing. Went for a ride and bingo when I got back it was leaking, but I couldn't see from where. I removed the shaft cover where I could get a good look at the bearing and shaft and couldn't see any leaks. I decided just to rule it out to pull the stock bilge box from the bottom of the hull and as soon as I did the water stopped leaking in . . . so now I'm thinking it has something to do with the Stock Bilge. BUT, I put the bilge box back at the bottom of the hull so I could get it to leak and then stop leaking by pulling out the stock bilge, but couldn't get it to leak again. Rode it 3 different times, came back to shore, but it's not leaking now.

What in the world is going on here???

 

[BrightE's]

Leaky midshaft is my guess. My 650 midshaft delaminated and leaks like a sieve. Going to get a used one this winter and just run the bildge often now.

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[schmo]

So I've narrowed the culprit down to the stock bilge syphoning. Went back to the lake, got to it leak again and once again as soon as I pulled the bilge line, the leaking stopped. Put a bolt in the hose and tied it off and no more leaks. I like running the stock bilge though as it does a good job when the ski is running. I've ordered a new strainer box and am thinking if I buy a longer hose and add a loop, it might prevent it from syphoning back in.

Any suggestions?

 

[mbrick]

The factory bilge is good because it's constantly pulling water out. I would not eliminate it to solve the problem.

Also, the strainer box does nothing other than strain debris from clogging the line so I doubt that is the issue. If water is coming in through the bilge it must not have the correct routing.

What is the routing of the bilge line? Starting from the strainer box to the pump. It should come up to the top of the engine bay, through a plastic elbow, back down, thru the rear wall, and into the rear part of the pump.

If it is routed incorrectly without the high loop it may siphon water in (or even pump water in if on the wrong side of the pump).

This fiche helps explain:

 

[schmo]

That's what I don't understand, it's routed correctly, all the way up to the top of the bay and then all the way down to strainer box. It's the oddest thing . . . seems like once the line is clear of water, then it'll stop leaking until the ride or two. Wondering if maybe the swell when I pull into shore or swells from other boats flowing into the back of the ski is enough to push it up and then create a syphon. I'm hoping by adding a loop in the line it may prevent it from flowing backwards, but worry it might prevent the bilge from working, unless the suction is pretty strong.

 

[mbrick]

That doesn't seem very likely, or most of us would be having the same problem.

Have you removed and inspected the plastic elbow at the top? It has a tiny hole in the side to break the siphon. Maybe it is clogged or damaged?

When you say once the line is clear of water it is fine, which would lead me to believe the tiny hole is clogged and is allowing it to siphon.