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Sparks Prone To Stuff Being Sucked In The Intake / Clogging / Doing Damage?

11808 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Wakeskatr72
I've heard from several sources that the Sparks seem to be prone to seaweed , stones, shells, etc. being sucked in the intake and clogging / doing damage. I guess when this happens if you accelerate it reves but you don't go anywhere. As per page 70 in the manual it gives a tip of how to clear it while in the water but I'd like to prevent it getting clogged in the first place.

I asked my sales guy and he said just don't accelerate near seaweed / stones or when you are in less than 5 feet of water. (Idle all the way out)

1) is there an after market grate / screen cap or something that can hep prevent this issue?

2) is there an after market cap / grate / screen type deal that can be added for extra protection ?

3) is there any sort of grate / protection on it right now that it comes with

thanks
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It has a grate on it already...all skis have them. You just have to pay attention to your surroundings.
So i take it that an aftermarket grate is out of the question?
Water still has to go up and thru. You will not stop everything.
So i take it that an aftermarket grate is out of the question?
Aftermarket grates I've seen for the Spark are for performance. I have never seen a aftermarket grate for increased debris protection. Just be really careful which is good practice for any watercraft. But stuff happens...like birds flying into jet engines.
You might want to consider a stainless steal wear ring, they seem to be a bit fragile there have been a few on the site that went already. however there has been some speculation it was just a bad batch...
There is also a thread where using a Stainless wear ring transferred damage to the impeller.

Just go take it for a spin. assess your water conditions and apply damage avoidance procedures and damage control when applicable. :D
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Is this a problem with the Spark or just making sure you don't ride through a field of sea weed, as you should with any PWC? I'm not convinced that it is a problem specific to the Spark, or that it is a fault with the Spark.
Is this a problem with the Spark or just making sure you don't ride through a field of sea weed, as you should with any PWC? I'm not convinced that it is a problem specific to the Spark, or that it is a fault with the Spark.
No, it seems like people who have never ridden a PWC before are getting Sparks without having any understanding of them, and riding through crap and damaging them. If you ride any PWC through a field of sea weed you will suck it up- aftermarket grate or not.
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I guess my Spark trip through the Sargasso Sea is canceled.
Just be aware of your surroundings, yes it will suck something up if you ride over it. I'd assume you wouldnt normally drive your car over a large batch of nails so don't ride the ski over something fishy. Its a water jet it sucks water and everything else up and through it, I work on large water jets for yachts and ferries and you wouldnt belive the things they manage to suck up (grocery carts, tractor tires etc)
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