Rope sucked up now terrible cavitation

[ssjd2000]

Alright so third time out with my new to me boat sx190 2013. Kids let the rope get sucked up at barely an idle once it wrapped a few times it killed the engine and we didn't start it back up again.

Got a tow back to the dock. Took the pump apart got the rope out without an issue didn't even fray the rope. Put it back together ran fine for about ten minutes stopped got the tube and kids out and went to take off again and nothing but cavitation. Engine will rev but barley moves maybe 5 mph.

Got it back home again looked it over again this time I added some rtv silicone between the pumps like the factory had. Took it back out today ran fine for ten minutes stopped shut the engine off got the kids on the tube and started again wouldn't go over 5 mph.

Feels like nothing but cavitation. I'm at a loss anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Dixie Highway]

Sounds like the issue shows itself when the additional load of pulling a tube is encountered. I’d definitely check and make sure the impeller to housing clearance is ok, and that there aren’t any bent fins.

 

[ssjd2000]

I had it out twice never saw anything glaring. The rope never even made it to the fins.

 

[Mike Cardillo]

Bent shaft?

 

[ssjd2000]

Guess a bent shaft is possible...it doesn't vibrate at all just won't go. Even when we aren't trying to pull the tube it continues to not go anywhere it never even tries to pull the tube. Seems whenever we stop for the first time something changes or happens causing it to cavitate?

 

[jcyamaharider]

Are you sure your cleanout plugs were seated correctly?

Also I notice in your picture that you took the bracket off of the top of the gate, you do know that is a quick connect/disconnect right below that right? You pull the outer sleeve back and a ball sits in there.

 

[ssjd2000]

Cleanout plugs? Not sure what those are to be honest. Guessing the hole on the left side of the pump?

I did not realize that was a quick connect I watched a video and they said to take the two bolts out so that is what I did thanks for the info there!

 

[swatski]

Looks like the impeller and wear ting are not involved. Worst case - the “cocoon” of rope cracked the (Fiberglas, FRP) tunnel and the pump is sucking air from the bilge when under increased load, best case it’s something with the cleanup plug not seating right.

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[jcyamaharider]

Cleanout plugs? Not sure what those are to be honest. Guessing the hole on the left side of the pump?

I did not realize that was a quick connect I watched a video and they said to take the two bolts out so that is what I did thanks for the info there!

No under your hatch on the transom is a cleanout port. In case you suck up some debris you can pop the plug out and put your hand down there to get any thing that is causing cavatition. I suspect this came dislodged.

 

[swatski]

Cleanout plugs? Not sure what those are to be honest. Guessing the hole on the left side of the pump?

I did not realize that was a quick connect I watched a video and they said to take the two bolts out so that is what I did thanks for the info there!

You definitely want to look up the cleanout plug, that could be the simplest solution if they don’t lock and might have been have been damaged by the rope “cocoon” popping up there.

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[swatski]

No under your hatch on the transom is a cleanout port. In case you suck up some debris you can pop the plug out and put your hand down there to get any thing that is causing cavatition. I suspect this came dislodged.

I bet that’s it!

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[zipper]

I agree with @jcyamaharider and @swatski . Looking at your picture...looks like something (black) hanging from cleanout port.

 

[ssjd2000]

That black piece is one of the grates under the boat.

I did remove the cleanout plug and felt like I had it back in there correctly but I guess that is certainly a possibility will look at it again. Thanks

 

[zipper]

That black piece is one of the grates under the boat.

I did remove the cleanout plug and felt like I had it back in there correctly but I guess that is certainly a possibility will look at it again. Thanks

Appologies, I stand corrected. I was looking at my screen shot upside down. It is the grate, not the top of the tunnel.

 

[tdonoughue]

That's okay. @zipper is frequently upside down and backward <ducking and running>.

Seriously, I want to go back to the OP on this one. You faulted the kids for sucking up the rope. I have run over plenty of rope. Each time, it has been my fault. I am the captain. Either the person I put in charge of that was not properly instructed (by me) or was not selected right (by me) or was not looked after properly (by me) or were too young (and improperly selected by me). I learn from that each time. And I still make mistakes. But it is my vessel, I am the captain, and it is my fault.

We will fix this issue with the cavitation. Unfortunately I don't have another idea beyond what those prior have suggested (though I have been d@mn sure I got everything, only to put things together, only to have more cavitation... only to pull it apart again and find one more thing). But let's get to the root cause here, accept your trophy (there is one of those for running over a rope), and resolve to do better next time.

 

[ssjd2000]

Thanks boomer......I try to hold my kids accountable so they do not make the same mistake twice. Had they been paying attention and doing as instructed, instead of playing with the warm water that was coming out of the side of the boat all would of been well. But I do get where you are coming from I will not make the same mistake and assume they are paying attention from now on....

 

[tdonoughue]

Idea: Have you looked for non-rope junk in the blades or around the shaft?

I keep coming back to how clean that rope looks wrapped there and how you said it was not even frayed anywhere. I have had a chunk of plastic shopping bag (like the ones from the grocery) wrapped around my shaft and you would have thought I sucked up a boulder. It may be that in the focus on the rope you missed something else around the shaft or in the blades (seaweed, string, wood chunk, etc.)?

 

[Matt Phillips]

Couple of thoughts come to mind...noting that any small thing in that tunnel before the impeller can cause cavitation. I like the idea above of looking for small strings on the shaft before the impeller...try running an exact blade down the shaft as if there's some clear filament on the shaft, it will be cut off.

Also get down under the boat and check the grates really close and make sure nothing is dangling in there. I'm thinking maybe you could also have something small like fishing line down here that takes a while to get sucked up toward the impeller.

The ideas no making sure the clean out plug is seated correct are good too. Also make sure when the boat is out of the water, the clean out plug is not seated completely (as they have a tendency to swell and get stuck)

 

[ssjd2000]

I looked at the clean out plug again today and it didn't look seated all the way down in properly. I am pretty sure I was able to get it all the way down in and locked in place going to test again at the lake hopefully tomorrow. Thanks for all the help will report back with an update.

 

[Scottintexas]

Thanks boomer......I try to hold my kids accountable so they do not make the same mistake twice. Had they been paying attention and doing as instructed, instead of playing with the warm water that was coming out of the side of the boat all would of been well. But I do get where you are coming from I will not make the same mistake and assume they are paying attention from now on....

Who's boomer and what are you thanking him for?