So I just bought my first stand up, it's a pretty clean 78 440. I had the guy run it when I bought it and hooked water up to and it ran perfect. Went to the lake this weekend and dropped it in and it fired right up. It wouldn't consistently fire so I pulled the gas tank and drained the old crap and started fresh, after the old gas ran through it ran awesome, however I had tipped over a few times and water got in through the stupid air inlet and through the not so awesome seals. I didn't think it was a lot of water and I eventually got the ski to plane off but when I hit a decent size wave it would bog and not run like usual. After that I could never get it to plane off again. Is this just because of the water that got in the hull and it was just to much weight to plane off? Also if mupy understanding is correct these have a built in bilge pump but mine didn't pump any water out and I can't find a drain plug? PLEASE HELP!!!
300/440/550 78 440 bogging problem
- Thread starter 78js440
- Start date
screaming440
The Old Skool Professor
- Location
- KC/Lake of The Ozarks
there is no drain just find some way to pump it out or use an old carwash sponge.
it should have a suction bilge. it is just a plastic screen under the drive shaft with a hose on it. they don't work great but they work.
if you getting that much water in to it i'd check it for leaks. with it siting in the water look at the back of the engine compartment for water coming in. common leaks are at the bulk head where the drive shaft bolts in the hull can crack there or the drive may just need to be unbolted and resealed. also the bilge can let water in if the hose is not routed right.
if it runs good when there is no water in the hull i'd guess that is you bogging problem. if that is not you problem ALLWAYS put a new set of NGK plugs in it and check the gap on the new plugs before you do anything else. this will fix most of your driveability problems.
it should have a suction bilge. it is just a plastic screen under the drive shaft with a hose on it. they don't work great but they work.
if you getting that much water in to it i'd check it for leaks. with it siting in the water look at the back of the engine compartment for water coming in. common leaks are at the bulk head where the drive shaft bolts in the hull can crack there or the drive may just need to be unbolted and resealed. also the bilge can let water in if the hose is not routed right.
if it runs good when there is no water in the hull i'd guess that is you bogging problem. if that is not you problem ALLWAYS put a new set of NGK plugs in it and check the gap on the new plugs before you do anything else. this will fix most of your driveability problems.
cookn
Kamikaze
- Location
- where you live
Put and electric bilge pump on there to get the water out. Your 78 440 is prolly running just as it should. they were not fast or powerful in stock form by any means. we had one in all stock form and it ran like a turd. the motors are really choked up with all the stock garbage on there and need a better pipe and carb to put some life in them.
Ok I found a 600gph bilge pump which is pretty small but I cant get it to fit anywhere in the bottom of the hull is their anyway to run a hose off the bottom of it so the pump itself is actually submerged? The lowest spot is right under the drive shaft from the motor to the impeller and I can't fit the pump under their. Any advice is appreciated
cookn
Kamikaze
- Location
- where you live
Depending on the type of K&N you have that could have been the reason for the bog. The old style had gauze in them and once they got wet had next to no flow. I have a 800 gph bilge in my ski and it is more then enough. I have it screwed to the bulkhead right next to the drive shaft. It doesn't sit right on the bottom of the hull but gets most of the water out. If your stock siphon bilge is hooked up correctly it will take care of the rest.
The k&n I have is kind of a long oval shape with chrome on the top, its got a metal-ish feel in the mesh/filter material. What is the best kind to get? I took it off and ran it in my garage just to see down the carb and now that you say it, it actually started easier and idled better.
cookn
Kamikaze
- Location
- where you live
yup those are the kind with gauze in them. All of the new aftermarket flame arrestors are just made of wire mesh, no material inside. I would look for one of these or put the stock back on if you have it.