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Topic: ...jet out of water, Qs & A's

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slingingsmoke Male

Boatless

Granada Hills, CA
Posts: 5
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Post Rank: 409
1995 22' Marlin Sleekcraft/A

Posted: May 05 2005,1:56 pm

Post # 1

hey folks, just wondering if its ok to start up a jetboat out of the water? and if so, for how long?
Will it grenade the pump?

Thanks, JON.

| Member # 1370 | Joined: 4-27-2005 |

MrCord

Libra
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Irvine Ca
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28' Magic H-Deck

Posted: May 05 2005,2:57 pm

Post # 2

I wouldnt without hooking it up to a hose. I could be wrong but I believe that depending on the pump, some pumps have water lubricated bearings and it is a bad idea to run it without water...

That could be completely wrong... But I still dont run myne without a hose hooked up... Plus you are going to build a lot of heat quickly if you are running it for more than a minute...

Never Trust Anyone That Talks Too Fast.... They are hoping you miss something!

| Member # 1117 | Joined: 3-01-2005 |

AZKC

Leo
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Tucson
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1979 20ft Hawaiian Moonraker

Posted: May 05 2005,3:22 pm

Post # 3

In the big picture the perfect answer is never start a jet out of water unless its unhooked from the motor. Heat builds on the seals real quick. From what I remember it wears the wear ring out also.

Some guys have built elaborate systems to get water in the pump and others buy jet-a-ways which allows you to disconnect the motor from the pump.

But you still see guys starting them all the time in garages, on the ramps, where ever and they still go down the lake, it seems. Its all kinda what you've got in your pump and what you expect out of it. In the days before I rebuilt my pump I'd run it quite abit on the trailer, but after putting $1800 into it, no more.

Thats my .02

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AUTO SAFETY HOUSE

| Member # 29 | Joined: 12-18-2002 |

slingingsmoke Male

Boatless

Granada Hills, CA
Posts: 5
APPD 0.00
Post Rank: 409
1995 22' Marlin Sleekcraft/A

Posted: May 05 2005,5:39 pm

Post # 4

Thanks, AZKC, you answered my question.
Ive also heard that you should plug the intake so all the road debris doesn't get inside the pump. I never really thought of that before. Makes alot of sense though.

JON

| Member # 1370 | Joined: 4-27-2005 |

GoFastRacer Male

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Big River, Ca
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Posted: May 05 2005,7:58 pm

Post # 5

Well the water issue has been solved, as far as the intake goes it's a good idea to plug it up, back in the 80's when I raced NJBA, a lot of guys I knew plugged them up, it's as bad as towing with a prop on, too much garbage on the road!..

| Member # 101 | Joined: 3-03-2003 |

AZKC

Leo
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Posted: May 06 2005,7:49 am

Post # 6

Quote (slingingsmoke @ May 05 2005,5:39 pm)

Again its all in what your trying to protect. Covering the jet intake is something I just heard about. I've towed for years to Apache lake here in AZ and its about 9 miles or more of dirt road and never had any problems. But I can see the reasoning behind it. If I had 4 grand in a tricked out pump I think I'd try to protect it any way I could.

God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy......

AUTO SAFETY HOUSE

| Member # 29 | Joined: 12-18-2002 |

slingingsmoke Male

Boatless

Granada Hills, CA
Posts: 5
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Post Rank: 409
1995 22' Marlin Sleekcraft/A

Posted: May 07 2005,12:23 am

Post # 7

will the seals and wear ring still heat up if the pump is not engaged? For example, when its in neutral??

| Member # 1370 | Joined: 4-27-2005 |

AZKC

Leo
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Posted: May 07 2005,7:03 am

Post # 8

yep, the shafts are still turning.

God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy......

AUTO SAFETY HOUSE

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GoFastRacer Male

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Posted: May 07 2005,7:47 am

Post # 9

Quote (slingingsmoke @ May 07 2005,1:23 am)

will the seals and wear ring still heat up if the pump is not engaged? For example, when its in neutral??

There is no neutral the pump is always connected unless you undo the shaft!.. What seems like F/N/R is just water direction, when in "neutral" the water is directed both fore and aft which keeps you from moving either way!.. If you run it in the driveway hook the hose up to it. When you come out of the water and run it the pump still has water around the seals and bearings so it don't harm it for a few seconds, but if it's been sitting in a garage for a while everything is dry and if you run it, you fry things up real quick!.. :eek

| Member # 101 | Joined: 3-03-2003 |

JetBoatMike Male

Taurus

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Beach In New Mexico
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20' Southwind old school jet

Posted: May 07 2005,12:44 pm

Post # 10

I never start my jet out of water. I have to much $$$$ invested in my pump, Berkley 12jg. I have always covered the intake grate when out of the water. I have fabbed up a carbon fiber cover that fits like a glove. Learned the hard way not to start a jet pump dry, with a panther well that was the problem also.

Old School Jets

| Member # 1333 | Joined: 4-20-2005 |

slingingsmoke Male

Boatless

Granada Hills, CA
Posts: 5
APPD 0.00
Post Rank: 409
1995 22' Marlin Sleekcraft/A

Posted: May 07 2005,8:15 pm

Post # 11

excellent replies, Thanks.

| Member # 1370 | Joined: 4-27-2005 |

AZKC

Leo
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1979 20ft Hawaiian Moonraker

Posted: May 07 2005,9:24 pm

Post # 12

Quote (JetBoatMike @ May 07 2005,12:44 pm)

I never start my jet out of water. I have to much Ã‚Â $$$$ invested in my pump, Berkley 12jg. I have always covered the intake grate when out of the water. I have fabbed up a carbon fiber cover that fits like a glove. Learned the hard way not to start a jet pump dry, with a panther well that was the problem also.

Panther

The Ultimate Stern Drive :beer

God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy......

AUTO SAFETY HOUSE

| Member # 29 | Joined: 12-18-2002 |

11 replies since May 05 2005,1:56 pm

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