Installed hooker...now cavitating?

Don 79 TA

Still Fat....
i'm interested to see how it works for you
i run some serious compression on my setup, big bore protec nozzle and wet wolf cone, and i get no cavitation, i'm sure if i whack the throttle wide open on initial start i'll spin the prop, but usually never feel cavitation unless i come right up behind her ski and get into the washy water so to speak
i also have the JD deep intake grate too, but the worx/RD should be comparable

keep us posted

i don't have silicone on the pump anywhere, i just use the packing ring and set the pump in
 

Matt_E

steals hub caps from cars
Site Supporter
Location
at peace
It wasn't but is now.

I have been swapping out ride plates and when I installed this protec ride plate(which is from my old squarenose) I noticed there is a decent gap...probably 1/16th of an inch. I filled it in earlier and also sealed around the other gaps.

Why do you ask?

Because I had a similar cavitation issue. It would cavitate right off the very bottom after I came off some speed. The problem was the ride plate sealed too well to the pump shoe. The hull and plate were on top of the water and the pump area had air in it.
I removed the sealer and made sure there was a gap. That solved my problem.
 
i'm interested to see how it works for you
i run some serious compression on my setup, big bore protec nozzle and wet wolf cone, and i get no cavitation, i'm sure if i whack the throttle wide open on initial start i'll spin the prop, but usually never feel cavitation unless i come right up behind her ski and get into the washy water so to speak
i also have the JD deep intake grate too, but the worx/RD should be comparable

keep us posted

i don't have silicone on the pump anywhere, i just use the packing ring and set the pump in

If I was using a new seal I may consider not using anything but my seal is old and needs replaced...just couldn't get a new one before the weekend.

I will let you know how it works out for me. It will get a good workout this weekend again! Heading to the lake here in an hour to do some work on my lot...then going to cool off in the water for a bit...then ride the rest of the weekend till monday evening.

Because I had a similar cavitation issue. It would cavitate right off the very bottom after I came off some speed. The problem was the ride plate sealed too well to the pump shoe. The hull and plate were on top of the water and the pump area had air in it.
I removed the sealer and made sure there was a gap. That solved my problem.

Interesting. I had never sealed that area up before and never had issues...However I figured I would try it this time to see. I will take a knife to remove the silicone if needed. Thanks for the heads up.
 

starter kill

aka LUFA-make some WAKE!!
Location
knoxville tn
i just installed a hooker 9/15

here is my setup

ADA head 35 cc domes
ported cases
ported cylinders
factory pipe/lmt chamber
stock airbox
dual 38s
riva intake grate
stock ride plate w/ D' cut
CATS trim system
shortie cone (from blowsion)
hooker 9/15 prop


haven't gotten to run it yet with the prop, will sunday. i'll get back with the results
 
Well...I put around 16 gallons through the Superjet this weekend.

Still cavitating but not nearly as bad now. I am going to try Matt E's advice on clearing out the silicone from the gap between the ride plate and pump shoe. I also found out that I have a cracked pump shoe..but it looks to be sealed pretty good..previous owner has epoxied it up.

I am also going to take my old ride plate along with me next time(R pot carbon fiber) and swap it out to see if it helps. I doubt it but you never know.
 
almost forgot to reply to this. mine ran excellent. no cavatation. very pleased

Interesting. I am going to the lake this weekend again and will do more tinkering. I need to pull the silicone that matt e was talking about...going to run it for a bit like that and if its still doing it im going to swap back to my old ride plate.

I am running a protec ride plate from my old Squarenose.
 

starter kill

aka LUFA-make some WAKE!!
Location
knoxville tn
easy test....put ski in water without it running, and look to see if it's leaking from the midshaft houseing....if it is...you could be sucking air into your pump. my HX did this. air+pump=bad
 
easy test....put ski in water without it running, and look to see if it's leaking from the midshaft houseing....if it is...you could be sucking air into your pump. my HX did this. air+pump=bad

I will play around more this weekend or the next and see. It seems like its something associated with the mods I have done however since it didn't cavitate before I changed the impeller.

Who knows though. Im getting my other RN build up and am going to get it reliable...at that point I will be hacking into my current RN to do some thrust footholds and fix a cracked tray(along with refoam). I will probably pull the pump shoe at that time and replace with an aluminum one...will get more of a chance to check things out then.
 
Last edited:
Location
dfw
Make sure the grate bolts have not poked through the shoe. This will cause vibration and make the pump seals leak over time.
 
Make sure the grate bolts have not poked through the shoe. This will cause vibration and make the pump seals leak over time.


Seriously?

Because They have. They are sticking out maybe 1/16th of an inch. I was thinking about that when I was reinstalling everything and noticed that but figured it was no big deal.

When I installed that hooker and put the pump in, I noticed the intake grate was loose so I tightened it up..thats when I noticed the bolts were sticking through a bit...however I figured thats the way it had been for a while. Now im thinking maybe someone had backed the bolts off so they wouldn't be sticking through?

I will definitely fix that by installing some shorter bolts today and see what happens. Thanks!
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Funny thing, I have cavitation issues now. Did not have them last year, all 3-4 times I rode. Believe my packing is loose and or shot. going to order a new one today or tomorrow. It has been getting worse and worse.
 
Funny thing, I have cavitation issues now. Did not have them last year, all 3-4 times I rode. Believe my packing is loose and or shot. going to order a new one today or tomorrow. It has been getting worse and worse.

Mine could use replacing, but its definitely usable. I sealed it up pretty good.

Ski ran great for most of the weekend..then started running like crap. Pulled the hood and noticed the main fuel line going to the carb was leaking gas pretty bad...Im hoping that is the only issue. Going to replace all fuel lines, filters and also throw some new plugs on it.
 
Location
orlando
i was about to say check the bolts at the rear of the intake grate. mine busted through and caused minor cavitation which in the surf and white wash its a PITA. pumps and everything around them are way more sensitive than you think till little silly things like this make you realize
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Mine could use replacing, but its definitely usable. I sealed it up pretty good.

Ski ran great for most of the weekend..then started running like crap. Pulled the hood and noticed the main fuel line going to the carb was leaking gas pretty bad...Im hoping that is the only issue. Going to replace all fuel lines, filters and also throw some new plugs on it.

Well, I went to pull the pump to put a new packing seal in there, and for the life of me I do not know what I was thinking, but the last time I pulled the grate I must have grabbed the wrong bolts. Both were pushed up through the shoe. Replaced them with shorter, sealed the packing. No cavitation. Just blew a piston 10 minutes later.
 

Don 79 TA

Still Fat....
Well, I went to pull the pump to put a new packing seal in there, and for the life of me I do not know what I was thinking, but the last time I pulled the grate I must have grabbed the wrong bolts. Both were pushed up through the shoe. Replaced them with shorter, sealed the packing. No cavitation. Just blew a piston 10 minutes later.

guess maybe the cavitation was better????

that sucks

but excuse now to buy a nice Lamey/DASA Cyl :)
 
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