Raw water intake blockage

[rkgdmd]

Hi All,

My port engine over heated so I shut it down to remove clean out plug. Nothing. I get my mask on, jump into the water to inspect underneath and to my horror I see the intake screen and cover are gone! The tops to all the bolts are missing leaving 4 "studs". WTF???? I try to reach in to see if I can reach anything, but nothing. Call dealer and he says time to pull the motor. OMG...Really. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

BTW...2015 Limited S

 

[Zonie]

Don't panic yet. Most of us have had overheat warnings for one reason or another and as long as it's shut down quickly you shouldn't have engine damage.

It sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of how your boat works but if not, watch this video. It's not the same engine you have but similar enough. If something got sucked in, it likely (hopefully) stopped at the first connection or elbow it encountered. Hopefully you can disconnect the cooling lines near the engine and use your compressor (or even a hose) to blow the obstruction BACKWARDS out of the pump.

 

[Scottintexas]

Pull the motor ???? hopefully he just didn't understand your problem.

is the intake grate under the boat missing or the water cooling inlet screen in the jet nozzle ?

either way we can probably give you some good advice once we know for sure, can you pull the boat out of the water and get us a couple of pictures.

 

[Scottintexas]

you've got some bad boat luck going, I just noticed you had a 2013 with a blown engine, is this the same dealer that said the engine would have to be pulled?

 

[rkgdmd]

you've got some bad boat luck going, I just noticed you had a 2013 with a blown engine, is this the same dealer that said the engine would have to be pulled?

I was thinking the same thing @Scottintexas. Same dealer.

I will try and get my GoPro and get a picture or two. The intake grate is fine and clear of obstructions. All four heads of the bolts that retain the raw water screen are GONE. Its like they just popped off which allowed the screen and backing plate to fly off the now four "studs". The thing is, I have never had those screens or backing plates off, so if they were over torqued, it wasn't by me. I seriously doubt I could have hit something due to the fact it's pretty tucked away. Also, the remaining shafts of all the bolts are perfectly straight. I'd imagine hitting something hard enough to dislodge all four bolts head would have left some at least slightly mangled. It's almost as if the bolts were defective. Even over torqueing seems more likely to strip the soft aluminum threads of the pump than to damage the bolt itself.

 

[Jgorm]

I'd start by probing with weed eater line and back flushing everything. I can't see how pulling the engine would help unclog anything.

 

[Scottintexas]

how recently had your boat been working properly? 1st trip of the year? you were out for 5 hours yesterday? or high speed runs that day?

We're talking about #15 ?? this is from 2007 so yours may be slightly different,

 

[Scottintexas]

I'd start by probing with weed eater line and back flushing everything. I can't see how pulling the engine would help unclog anything.

agree, if it is the intake screen missing, watch bucks video (your engine is very similar in cooling water flow) and disconnect a couple of fittings to make sure flow to engine is not blocked, maybe run it on the hose to help diagnose it,

Do you have a YDS?

I wonder if just not having the screen in place somehow diverted cooling water into the passage??

 

[rkgdmd]

agree, if it is the intake screen missing, watch bucks video (your engine is very similar in cooling water flow) and disconnect a couple of fittings to make sure flow to engine is not blocked, maybe run it on the hose to help diagnose it,

Do you have a YDS?

I wonder if just not having the screen in place somehow diverted cooling water into the passage??

That is brilliant! Without the backing plate there would be no way for the jet to build pressure and force water in. Now I need to find that assembly and give that a shot.

 

[swatski]

That is brilliant! Without the backing plate there would be no way for the jet to build pressure and force water in. Now I need to find that assembly and give that a shot.

Absolutely.

--

 

[Zonie]

agree, if it is the intake screen missing, watch bucks video (your engine is very similar in cooling water flow) and disconnect a couple of fittings to make sure flow to engine is not blocked, maybe run it on the hose to help diagnose it,

Do you have a YDS?

I wonder if just not having the screen in place somehow diverted cooling water into the passage??

That is brilliant. Of course!

 

[Julian]

Yeah....how the heck would all 4 bolts on that screen have the heads break off all of them???? That is freaking bizarre. I could see one being defective....but not all 4. Makes me wonder if the last person to service it over torqued all 4 at the same time, sheering the heads off or nearly so....then the water pressure pushed off the head?

 

[rkgdmd]

Here's the best pic for now guys. That's as far as I could get the gopro in without losing Wi-Fi. You can see all four bolts are perfectly straight...just without the heads. Bizzare...since I'm the only one who touches my boat.

Thank you all so much for the help. I went to Riva Yamaha but they did not have the parts in stock. As soon as I get the new ones bolted on, I will report back. You guys probably saved me thousands of dollars and needless hassle. You guys rock!

Rob

 

[buckbuck]

Weird.

 

[Scottintexas]

a pwc shop may have your part, I would probably even use a used one from an old ski,

 

[Beachbummer]

Maybe a weird impact? On reverse? They look like studs...

Maybe something got in and busted out open from the inside?

That is extremely strange!!! If there is a silver lining is that hopefully everything returns to normal upon reinstall of the missing cover.

Anything else missing?

 

[rkgdmd]

a pwc shop may have your part, I would probably even use a used one from an old ski,

PWC parts are not always easy to find here in the Keys. I asked if they had an old ski they could take the part off of...or take it off a new ski or boat...they have lots of inventory...but they said nope. I only bought two boats and a golf cart from them. Wonder what you have to do to be loyal customer. Lol.

 

[rkgdmd]

Maybe a weird impact? On reverse? They look like studs...

Maybe something got in and busted out open from the inside?

That is extremely strange!!! If there is a silver lining is that hopefully everything returns to normal upon reinstall of the missing cover.

Anything else missing?

I really have no idea. I suppose something could have broken the filter/screen from the inside, but would that blow the heads off the bolts? Don't think so. I'll just be a happy guy if it works with the new parts!

 

[Julian]

Does your boat sit where people could freely mess with it?

 

[Scottintexas]

I wonder about an independent shop like this,
http://keywest-jetski.com/repairs/