Please Help with SX192 Engine Problem

[LTM1964]

Today, I was cruising at around 30 MPH when the boat suddenly lost most of it's power. I pulled the throttle back to neutral. The engine began making clicking sounds similar to valves badly out of adjustment. I stopped the motor, waited a few minutes and checked the oil. The oil level was OK. When I restarted the engine, the clicking sounds continued. I headed toward the ramp in no-wake mode. The engine was not smoking. After about five minutes, the clicking sound stopped. I gave it some throttle but it didn't have enough power to get on plane. I put it back in no-wake and continued toward the ramp with no unusual noises or smoke. I didn't get any warnings on the instruments.

I stopped within view of the ramp and spent four hours with the engine off. Before re-starting, I checked the oil again. When I re-started, there was no clicking noise. I proceeded toward the ramp in no-wake mode. After about a five minute warm-up, I gave it some throttle and it still didn't have enough power to get on plane. I then put the boat on the trailer.

If anyone is familiar with that exact situation, I would be glad to hear how it was resolved.

If there is no exact reply, I have a few questions about this.

Is it likely that this is related to the timing chain problems that I have read about? Obviously, the chain isn't broken or it wouldn't run, but could a failing chain cause this?

Is there a limp-home mode on these engines? The reason I ask is because the noise stopped but the engine power did not come back.

The dealer is closed on Monday so I can't take the boat in until Tuesday so I would like any information about what to expect.

 

[Speedling]

Probably sucked something up or have a rope around the impeller. Check it out!

 

[SamCF]

Pull the intake boot off of the supercharger. Spin the charger wheel both ways. It should spin freely one way, and lock the other way. If it spins both ways, your supercharger clutch is bad.

 

[Speedling]

Pull the intake boot off of the supercharger. Spin the charger wheel both ways. It should spin freely one way, and lock the other way. If it spins both ways, your supercharger clutch is bad.

Didn't think of that! Check that too. Looking into the pump is a quick and easy thing to eliminate before you even hop into the boat with tools. Forget about those superchargers at times. Probably jealous i don't have two bolted to my motors is all....

 

[LTM1964]

Probably sucked something up or have a rope around the impeller. Check it out!

I should have mentioned that I checked the impeller on the water with the clean-out plug and again out of the water. There is nothing there. I am looking forward to checking the supercharger tonight. Thanks.

 

[Scottintexas]

here is a link from our FAQ about how to inspect your timing chain,
https://jetboaters.net/faq/how-to-inspect-2015-and-older-1-8-l-engine-timing-chain-issues.148/

be sure to look at the intake grates from underneath just to make sure there's no debris in there,

the engine does have a safe mode that limits rpms but that is usually from overheating, I don't know if other things will initiate it,

 

[LTM1964]

Pull the intake boot off of the supercharger. Spin the charger wheel both ways. It should spin freely one way, and lock the other way. If it spins both ways, your supercharger clutch is bad.

I think you were correct. The charger wheel spins freely both ways. I think it started going bad weekend before last. I was on a lake that has more debris than I am used to. Twice, I lost power and then it returned to normal. I thought I had sucked something up and it cleared itself. I think the clutch was failing then and finally let go this last weekend. I will be taking it to the dealer in the morning and will let them know about the supercharger wheel spinning both ways.

 

[swatski]

If this is it - very impressive @SamCF !

 

[SamCF]

If this is it - very impressive @SamCF !

I think the same thing happened to someone on this forum last summer.