SXR Wet Pipe Blown Coupler Question

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sxrmike420

Location
STL
I was riding my ski today and it just lost all power and died in the middle of a WOT run... Smoke was pouring out of the hood so I popped it open and discovered that the coupler on my wet pipe was blown. I just had the jetworks flow control valve installed recently too and this was the first ride since it was on. I am wondering if that valve could have caused the coupler to fail (Keeping too much water out) or if it is normal for the coupler to fail and cause things to melt. My gas tank is melted in the corner now and the foam surrounding the exhaust where it exits the water box and runs to the rear of the ski got melted. Attached is a pic of how the valve is installed:
ski.jpgski2.jpgski3.jpg

Also the pipe changed colors where the coupler broke and it looks kind of a brown color now...
 
Cannibal

Cannibal

Tasty Human
Location
Summit Lake, WA
Nah, Jetworks valve is installed down exhaust far enough to not effect the temp of that coupler.

If you just installed the pipe, I'd say you just didn't have the pipe tuned cool enough and it over heated.

If it has never been a problem in the past, then my guess (if you haven't changed anything else) is that something changed effecting your exhaust temp. Either you have a plugged water injection hole making your exhaust too hot, something wrong with your cooling and your engine is getting too hot or not supplying enough water to your head pipe, or you have an issue such as a lean condition causing your exhaust temp to go up.

Those pipes turn brown when they get over heated. You'll have to dig in and see what's up. I'd probably pull the head pipe, fill the jacket with water and see if the ones you have open are pissing.

You may have to pull your head and check the piston wash/signs of detonation. Most of the country is in a heat wave (not here, it's 60), and hot air contributes to detonation. If you didn't have it tuned just right, it can cause excessive heat.
 
Cannibal

Cannibal

Tasty Human
Location
Summit Lake, WA
That's a good question. Everything wears, most of the failures are from overheating though. I couldn't tell you how many gallons or hours were to be expected out of a coupler.

Take a look at yours, see how the red is visible on the chamber side and the orangish residue on the clamp, that one got too hot. Couple that with the discolored chamber, classic overheat.

I see you have the head pipe fed off of head, so you are putting hot water through there already, the fix might just be as easy as opening a screw a little more to make up for your hot weather.
 
djkorn1

djkorn1

kidkornfilms
Site Supporter
Location
Cleveland Ohio
Been running the same Wetpipe coupler since 2005...and Big Kahuna ran it before me. Shouldn't wear out for a loooooooong time.
 
jetskidude1113

jetskidude1113

have
Location
West Hartford, CT
1, they do wear from heat and vibrations. 2, make sure your head pipe and expansion chamber are as close as possible, less coupler exposure to the exhaust. 3, I use to sell the orange HD coupler on this and PWCToday site but I can't get them anymore. they were for HD Industreal Diesel aplications, more expensive but will last forever on the wet pipe. I'll see if I can fine some old pics of my 04SXR setup. And last.. you might be running too dry.
 

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S

sxrmike420

Location
STL
Ok so the general consensus is that I was running the pipe too hot... With that being said, is the hotter the pipe the more power? or how do you know when you making peak performance power? Is it just a ride it and feel it thing or is there a way to read the tach or anything that will physically tell you when you are tuned correctly? I understand you can tune the power to different RPM ranges but how do you know when you are making peak power for your desired rpm range?

Any other thoughts or suggestions? I am thinking I just need to replace the coupler and drop it in the water while on the trailer and try to readjust the jet screws on the manifold of the pipe to cool it down. I need to figure something out with the gas tank too because now the pipe has melted itself to the gas tank and before it used to have a 1/4" clearance there.
 
S

sxrmike420

Location
STL
I am honestly not sure... I had a friend of mine do the install. Is that something that comes with the installation kit from Factory Pipe? I got the pipe installed 2.5 years ago and never had an issue until now
 
Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
It comes with a un-restricted fitting, The OEM fitting is basically restricted to control water flow. I would add you a second water line, you already have the thru hull water line from the stock bypass. Just tap the pump and install the fitting. Run a split system. one line to the motor (Exhaust Manifold) and then dump 1-2 lines overboard from the head. and one line to the head pipe and out to stinger and overboard. The SXR runs really good when you can keep the engine bay cool. I ran this routing on my stock race SXR. It really made a difference in the heat!
 
S

sxrmike420

Location
STL
Yeah I bought the dual cooling kit from blowsion for like $30 but I havent installed it yet. Do you have any pics or something that you can draw up for me to run the dual cooling? Sorry, I am just a visual guy, its hard for me to envision things like this and I dont want to guess wrong
 
S

sxrmike420

Location
STL
Also, looking back at my above question:

is the hotter the pipe the more power? or how do you know when you making peak performance power? Is it just a ride it and feel it thing or is there a way to read the tach or anything that will physically tell you when you are tuned correctly? I understand you can tune the power to different RPM ranges but how do you know when you are making peak power for your desired rpm range?
 
jetskidude1113

jetskidude1113

have
Location
West Hartford, CT
more water=better bottom end, less water=better top end. to a point of course!!! untill you melt your coupler.lol!! guess that's why the freeride/freestyle riders don't melt their couplers often. and go get your self some heat insulation sheets and stick it on the pipe where it sometimes touches the tank.
 
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Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
jetskidude1113 said:
more water=better bottom end, less water=better top end. to a point of course!!! untill you melt your coupler.lol!! go get your self some heat insulation sheets and stick it on the pipe where it sometimes touches the tank.
Click to expand...

That only refers to the amount of water that you are allowing into the exhaust. Nothing to do with the cooling aspect of the pipe.

Mike, I will try and come up with something.
 
S

sxrmike420

Location
STL
Are there different ways to run dual cooling? Does anyone have any suggestions for the ultimate dual cool setup? Please provide me with a pictoral diagram if you could. Thank You
 
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