Sudden Speed Loss

[usabas2]

2021 212XE. 155hrs
Eastern Oklahoma, Lake Eufaula
Noticed last season we had some power and speed loss. Did some reading so religiously avoid shallow waters and beaching.
Current symptoms and they just happened all of sudden…..
Day 1.
Boats running great we are scooting across the water 45mph top speed…did some tubing and wakeboarding no problems. Had 5 ppl onboard including myself.
Day 2.
Ran great all day same as above just outside marina no wake zone. Shut it down for final swim be loading out. Once back on board we took off and the boat would not go over 13 mph, nor plane, even as I worked to full throttle…no change but throwing massive wake…..thought to myself what in the world….just at that moment hit the no wake zone and shut it down.
Day 3
5 folks on board and it did the same thing out of the gate. Churning some serious wake, full throttle. Had everyone move to the front and the boat began to plane out and we finally sped up to 30mph. I stopped and pulled my clean out ports and checked the thrust gates with no findings. Checked my ballasts and they are empty. Eased on over to the swim beach let the kids out to swim, no tubing today. On the way back top speed 24mph and throwing some serious wake…lots of seadoos just going back and forth.
Day 4
Visually checked impellers, no dents or dings on either end. Pulled plug, some water did come out but not a worry some amount. Oil levels are spot and and the plugs had just been changed 4 weeks ago.

So now I am thinking wear rings. I can reach in and feel with my fingers scoring, but visibly it looks like some sand paper markings.

Questions….

1. What are actual the clearances that should be present between the wear ring and impeller?

2. Visibly the impellers have not dents or dings. If I do the wear rings should I just replace the impeller as well?

3. Is there something else I am missing?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

2021 212XE. 155hrs
Eastern Oklahoma, Lake Eufaula
Noticed last season we had some power and speed loss. Did some reading so religiously avoid shallow waters and beaching.
Current symptoms and they just happened all of sudden…..
Day 1.
Boats running great we are scooting across the water 45mph top speed…did some tubing and wakeboarding no problems. Had 5 ppl onboard including myself.
Day 2.
Ran great all day same as above just outside marina no wake zone. Shut it down for final swim be loading out. Once back on board we took off and the boat would not go over 13 mph, nor plane, even as I worked to full throttle…no change but throwing massive wake…..thought to myself what in the world….just at that moment hit the no wake zone and shut it down.
Day 3
5 folks on board and it did the same thing out of the gate. Churning some serious wake, full throttle. Had everyone move to the front and the boat began to plane out and we finally sped up to 30mph. I stopped and pulled my clean out ports and checked the thrust gates with no findings. Checked my ballasts and they are empty. Eased on over to the swim beach let the kids out to swim, no tubing today. On the way back top speed 24mph and throwing some serious wake…lots of seadoos just going back and forth.
Day 4
Visually checked impellers, no dents or dings on either end. Pulled plug, some water did come out but not a worry some amount. Oil levels are spot and and the plugs had just been changed 4 weeks ago.

So now I am thinking wear rings. I can reach in and feel with my fingers scoring, but visibly it looks like some sand paper markings.

Questions….

1. What are actual the clearances that should be present between the wear ring and impeller?

2. Visibly the impellers have not dents or dings. If I do the wear rings should I just replace the impeller as well?

3. Is there something else I am missing?

First big question is.. what were the rpm’s of the engines when going 45 and then when going slower.. if you’re not making the rpm that is where you need to start. Does your boat have the SVHO engines or the normally aspirated 1.8L’s?

If you have excessive impeller to wear ring clearance the engines will be maxed out on rpm. That clearance is .014” to .0177” by the way.

Again, start with the rpm of the engines..

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Also, check the oil level in your engines. Also check the air filter elements for oil saturation.

 

[usabas2]

Thank you for the quick reply. Yes the engines are hitting full rpm’s. One is a couple hundred less than the other. It’s wild to hear the engines singing like that and only going 13 mph.

We are about to pack up and head home but I will bring my long feeler gauges back and check the clearances.

I know I am all over the wear rings and it may be to a fault.

I am not ordering any parts until after next weekend (July 4th). I told the kids we would at least get out anchor watch the fireworks blah blah blah. So on that outing I will double check all forum recommendations and post results.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

So if you are at full rpm, then there is no power loss.
Sorry, I see that you checked the oil level in the engines in your first post.

So, at full rpms and the boat not moving, tells me air induction into the jet pumps. Did you check the clean out plugs and the seal condition ? There is a member here who has a 210 FSH and he had something similar happen to him, his clean out seals were bad. He replaced them and all was good.

It’s odd that it ran good one day, then the next day after stopping out in the water it started acting up… and it’s not just one engine right? It’s both? Hmmmm. Have a look up in your pumps from the intake grate side from under the boat with a strong light. I can’t see anything stuck on your impeller blades, but, you should check.

 

[usabas2]

So I edited the title to remove power. The motors run and sound strong with no hesitation.