New Owner

Morfoot wrote: No one adressed your speedo problem so first thing to do is check to make sure the pitots aren't clogged up. That's usually the culprit so I remove the rubber tubing from the top of the pick up (Pitot) use a syringe with rubber tubing filled with water connect it to the pitot and force the obstruction out. If you don't have the means to do this a small fish hook usually works to dig out the trash partially blocking the hole.

Just to add some visual to this as I had forgotten that I had these pictures saved for future reference and stumbled across them.

Syringe tool I keep in the boat for back flushing the pitot if I have one clogged while out in the water. Works 95% of the time unless I really have an obstruction in there. The other pic is where your obstruction will be if speedos are slow to respond.

I'm gonna try to address the hose issue this evening if time allows and might take a look at the prop some more.

8122pbrainard wrote: Ross, The prop is not soft brass. It's Nibral and harder than you think. Try it if you want but I feel you will end up doing more damage. Sent it to a prop shop and have them do the job on it. Then you'll have a good spare prop for when you get the new one.

Gotta disagree with you there, Pete.

The old school hand finished props perform pretty poorly on these larger ski boats, as compared to the new CNC wheels with big, accurate blades. Night and day performance difference... which is why that old prop, even in mint condition, is only worth around $100 (maybe less if its been repaired). He'd have more into it than its worth if he got it fixed. I suspect that a few minutes spent with a hammer and a file will get it back into very useable shape. Probably no perceptible performance difference either.

Id save the $100 repair costs and put it towards a new prop instead! Or, if you dont care enough about the boats performance to justify spending $350 on a new prop, put that repair money into the gas tank. Either way, its not worth investing a dime into a professional repair on that prop, IMHO.

I would pull the fitting out of the case & re-seal those threads, it looks to me that it is leaking there. Fluid usually doesn't run uphill. I had a similar leak, I think I used teflon tape, be careful not to let fragments of tape get inside the case.

I think it's leaking at the end connected to the tranny and running down to the cooler before dripping down. Would that end be a double wrench job as well?

Thank God!!! I think I've found the problem... you guys are great. So I had time to dig around this evening and it looks like its the tranny fluid cooling lines leaking. Not sure if the hose is bad or if it just needs to be tightened up...does it have an o-ring inside the fitting? Anyway here is the pics of what I saw. You can see the outer cloth on the hose is wet with fluid, some under the wire for the temp sensor "i'm guessing that's what that is" and some in the threads were the hose connects to the cooler.

Ross,
The prop is not soft brass. It's Nibral and harder than you think. Try it if you want but I feel you will end up doing more damage. Sent it to a prop shop and have them do the job on it. Then you'll have a good spare prop for when you get the new one.

If the prop has been properly installed, you will need a puller to get it off.

When you get the new prop, there's a thread on how to lap it to the shaft. I'll see if I can find it for you.

well, it is only a problem if spectators are around.
On the tranny leak you could get a paper towel and start checking underneath the bell housing, round cooler, shaft tail.
Pete is pretty sharp on his advice so the 10% thing is most likely the way it is supposed to be, I have an older trailer and moved the bow stops back so That I can lift the tongue if needed. Granted I have to take a few breaths and will not be holding it up for very long.
Thanks Mike

lakedog55 wrote: My problem comes from getting off in shallow water

Sorry Mike, that one was just too obvious not to post!

I'd check the trans cooler lines as well. I've seen several split at the cooler and dump fluid into the bilge. If this is the case, you may not see them leaking while running because the fluid has to travel down the line and then the bell housing to get to the bilge.

Nice boat,
Not sure on your trailer if you can move the front stop back, but if you can that would prevent from driving to far forward. My problem comes from getting off in to shallow of water, The boat will pull to one side, If this happens bump it into forward and straighten before it gets over to the side.
Good look Mike

One other easy thing to check would be the transmission fluid cooler, which is mounted externally to the transmission. The cooling water intake line runs through it.

8122pbrainard wrote: See if you can slide a piece of cardboard under the engine to see where the leak is coming from. Yes, it's trans fluid. The most likely spot it the front seal on the trans and that will leak out of the bell housing.

I agree, however, you also might check the shift lever input.   My gaskets were leaking, and it costs about $4.00 to fix.   One good reason to do some checking, clean everything really well, do the cardboard trick, and maybe even check with the engine running, and a flash light and mirror to see if you can find the leak.   BTW, your bilge looks pretty clean,   this leak has to be pretty new, or you'd see a nice oil slick in there

See if you can slide a piece of cardboard under the engine to see where the leak is coming from. Yes, it's trans fluid. The most likely spot it the front seal on the trans and that will leak out of the bell housing.

okay so this is the fuel gauge issue that appears to be an easy repair and then what I think in transmission fluid at the drain which is really scaring me at the moment. I took the boat out saturday and sunday. I noticed a little of the fluid before I went out sunday so I cleaned it up and checked the fluid levels in the tranny before going out. Ran the boat for about 1-1.5 hours and didn't see the fluid when I pulled the drain plug but in was there today on lunch...now I didn't notice the prop damage until this morning but I guess I might have did it saturday when unloading which might be the reason I saw it there sunday when prepping to go out again. Do you think that the little prop ding could be causing the leak or not and why would it only show up after the boat sits over night.

okay I found that it might be the flange nut washer leaking....and that's located????
Hey I'm an IT Director, but I can learn and love my boat even with the problems.