Did I kill my motor???

[Rogue Fisher67]

What did I do? My sportjet won't start. I checked the battery and the starter. I pulled the plugs out and a bunch of rusty water poured out of the cylinder. So now what. Is it dead. Should I wish it was dead? I'm really frustrated now. There is only 180hrs on the motor and I just got the boat last summer. Everything seemed fine and then one day (Oct 27) it wouldn't start. Thought it was a bad starter so I've been trying to save up the money for a new one but now I'm worried that I'm gonna miss springers. Any ideas?? Thanks in advance:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[hydrascott]

Sounds like a blowen head gasket or a cracked head.

[Coastalfisherman]

:eek: you better save a bit more money!!!:sick:

[fishkisser]

Could very well have been hydrolocked from water entering the cylinders via the exahust manifolds ... blow the water out with compressed air and squirt some ATF into the spark plug holes and let it soak for a day or so .With any luck you can put a wrench on the crank pully and turn it over without cracking any rings ... Good Luck Fishkisser:twocents:

[Rogue Fisher67]

:yay: Well a quick update: I was able to manually turn it over and blow all the water out. Put the plugs in and gave her the fire. She started right up (well as quick as a sportjet will). Gonna do a compression test on it tommorow then hopefully take it out for a run next weekend.

[Wet-Net]

I suggest that you change the oil & oil filter justin case any of the water made it past the rings. Maybe even more than once. You don't want to circulate a oil & water mixture through out your engine block. It's a sure way to burn up bearings.

[fishkisser]

Good luck Rogue Fisher, Sounds like it wants to go fishn . Oil change probably wouldn't hurt if it seems contaminated . Oil is cheaper than a rebuild ya know

Sincerly Fishkisser:smash: :smash:

[icbig1s]

I thought the sportjets are inboard 2 strokes. Do they still have a oil filled crankcase? Someone enlighten me please, my friend is starting to look into buying a sportjet equipped boat and we would like to know of any downsides to them.

[GSD]

What did I do? My sportjet won't start. I checked the battery and the starter. I pulled the plugs out and a bunch of rusty water poured out of the cylinder. So now what. Is it dead. Should I wish it was dead? I'm really frustrated now. There is only 180hrs on the motor and I just got the boat last summer. Everything seemed fine and then one day (Oct 27) it wouldn't start. Thought it was a bad starter so I've been trying to save up the money for a new one but now I'm worried that I'm gonna miss springers. Any ideas?? Thanks in advance:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

If this is a 175 Sportjet, here's some tips from the owner's manual:

4. WATER HYDRAULICS
Under certain conditions the 175 Sportjet engines can hydraulic or siphon water into the lower cylinders. These are:
When launching the boat, backing the boat quickly and deeply into the water, thereby forcing water back through the tunnel and up the exhaust. Experienced jet boaters generally back the boat into the water a minimal distance and float or gently push the boat off. One does not have to go very deep as there is no prop leg to worry about.
If a quick unloading procedure is deemed necessary, start the engine as the boat enters the water.
Trolling, particularly on 18o vee/deadrise boats. If trolling, see "Overloading" below.
Overloading the stern of the boat AND the boat is at rest OR the engine is not started. When the boat is at rest, the top of the exhaust manifold must be 8" or more above the waterline.

[Rogue Fisher67]

icbig1s: You are correct the sportjet is basiclly just the outboard powerhead put inboard. I've had the boat since the start of summer and really enjoyed it. The motor has tons of power and up until I had this problem it worked great. My trolling motor (T8) is mounted in the center of the boat so I'm wondering if the last time I got snagged and threw it in reverse if that could have pushed the water into the motor. I still need to do a compression test but I'm really hoping that it just siphoned it in.

[Chrome Bumper]

Ask boat Doc, you may want to do the new engine break in procedure. Rusty water means something, like rings cylinders and bearings got corroded. The Doc might suggest pulling the heads to take a peak, new rings and a hone job might be cheaper than a new powerhead.

Get the water out and extra oil in for now. I hope your last trip was in freshwater.

[icbig1s]

Thanks, Rogue Fisher. Why hasn't anyone designed an exhaust baffle on these sportjets if they're prone to getting water pushed up in them when backing down a ramp or backing up with a kicker? Sounds like it would be easy to design, much like a exhaust top flapper on a tractor.