Clutch question, I think it went? help

[Griff350]

05 rxt 25hrs

I warmed up the ski for 5 min's, took off to 8000, ran good for 20 seconds and it instantly droped to 6500. Then it ran like crap on the way back to the dock, surging. I tried to give it some gas and it surged really bad, it jumped form 4000 to 7300 to 5000, at that point i idled back to the dock.

The gas was half, 3 months old high test(5 gal.), and half fresh high test(5 gal.).

4 questions...

The ski idled good for the first 5 minutes and took off good. Will bad gas put the ski in limp mode?

If the clutch went, would the ski surge like that, I assume it would run like a N/A.

If the clutch is gone, will you get the whistle at idle?

I assume the next thing is to pull the SC and take a look?

Thanks in advance,
Griff

[Green Hulk]

Pull the SC off and have a look.

[Water4fire]

With all the aditives in the gas now a days you can go for 6months to even a year and the gas will still be ok. So I doubt it very seriously it is your gas.
As Hulk said pull the SC'er! Sorry to here it.

Let us know.

[Big Red Monster]

Pull the inlet tube off the charger and stick your finger into the the impeller. Try to spin it. If you can turn it with your finger you know the clutch is gone.

[Griff350]

what about if water condensated in the tank?

could a little bit of water feel like that?

[tgstk]

if your ski wont pass 6500 rpms regardless your clutch went. I bs'd about it for 4 weeks before i finally gave up and admitted it was the clutch. Less then 7000rpms=no supercharger clutch

[Green Hulk]

I really think your clutch is out Griff

[Griff350]

The clutch looks OK! Pictures for reference. Now for a fresh set of spark plugs and swap out the fuel.

Last questions, (THANKS for the learning curve help!!!)

The 04 shop manual says to use superlube on the orings for the SC, superlube is clear, and the grease on the SC is blue? Is there something new for the 05's to use?

I scraped up the manifold were it meets the exhaust pipe flange when I was trying to pull the opposite end out of the water box. (Before removing it from the manifold). Is this ok? See picture.

How strong is the stainless steel bellow? I did wiggle it trying the dumb way.

Thanks,
Griff

[PAINKILLER]

clutch looks ok to me. the washer closest to the gear looks a little thin. your lucky when my clutch went it took all those teeth on the gear with it.

[Big Red Monster]

Looking at the clutch will not tell you anything.
You need to load test it. Hold the gear with a rag and see if you can spin the impeller with your finger. Like I said to try before you removed it.