No Reading on Speedometer

[Debt-icated]

Finally got the boat out for the first time this spring... Everything went very well the weather was awesome for early spring. The only issue i have is that i am not getting any sort of reading from my speedometer. Does anybody have any suggestions on where to start? If it is something simple i would like to fix it myself so I do not have to lug it down to the dealership. Boat is has 350 MAG, I do not have DTS...

Thanks,

 

[jg300da]

On the lower unit of the outdrive, facing forward, just below the cavitation plate, is a small notch. This is the inlet for the pitot (sp) tube that is connected to the speedometer. Most times some seagrass or dirt gets caught in there, just make sure it's clear. The other reason could be that the tube itself came loose from the barbed fitting on the outdrive. It's a little tough to reach but you can reconnect it if it has fallen off.

 

[Quint4]

You either have a flip down pitot tube mounted to the bottom of transom that is linked to the speedo or a small hole on the outdrive that does the same thing. Check for these and see if blocked .

 

[wish2fish]

to add to JG300da response. I have had the same problem. found the hole he is talking about and took a sharp drill bit in my fingers and turned it while putting into the hole. it removed the wood that was blocking the opening.

 

[gerryb]

to add to JG300da response. I have had the same problem. found the hole he is talking about and took a sharp drill bit in my fingers and turned it while putting into the hole. it removed the wood that was blocking the opening.

Same problem on my BIIIs from when I purchased the boat. (Have a GPS for speed so gauge not that important anyway.) Only thing that would work to unclog the mud/wood/sand that was in the pitot was a drill bit. The drill bit ended-up joining the party going on in there.
We'll see what I can do this spring to clean-out that mess, hopefully without breaking the bit this time.

 

[Luckydogs]

Check the hose connection at the back of the speedo as well; if it was loose or fell off you should know by the water dripping down.

 

[Debt-icated]

thanks guys, I will mess around with it tonight.

 

[unlvrebel]

Same problem on my BIIIs from when I purchased the boat. (Have a GPS for speed so gauge not that important anyway.) Only thing that would work to unclog the mud/wood/sand that was in the pitot was a drill bit. The drill bit ended-up joining the party going on in there.
We'll see what I can do this spring to clean-out that mess, hopefully without breaking the bit this time.

Couldn't you disconnect the pitot tube either at the speedo or somewhere along the run on the boat and push compressed air through the line and blow it out?:huh: Just a thought...

 

[VTSeaRay]

mine's plugged up a couple times in the summer from algae on the surface, and I've used a paper clip on the front of the outdrive to clear it out.

-Garth

 

[First Born]

to add to JG300da response. I have had the same problem. found the hole he is talking about and took a sharp drill bit in my fingers and turned it while putting into the hole. it removed the wood that was blocking the opening.

This will take care of your problem, it happens about once a year for us.

 

[HudsonHauler]

Hi.

I guess I am late to the party. Where is this on the Bravo 3 outdrive? Can one do this while the boat is in the water?

Thanks,
Gregg

 

[Mustangous]

Couldn't you disconnect the pitot tube either at the speedo or somewhere along the run on the boat and push compressed air through the line and blow it out?:huh: Just a thought...

This question wasnt answered, Just put my boat in the water and no speedometer reading... I am wondering if i could blow air through it so i dont have to pull the boat out of the water. Is there anything from the speedo back that can damaged by the compressed air?

 

[skolbe]

You should be able to find the notch in the water and remove the gunk or wood.

 

[Lazy Daze]

This question wasnt answered, Just put my boat in the water and no speedometer reading... I am wondering if i could blow air through it so i dont have to pull the boat out of the water. Is there anything from the speedo back that can damaged by the compressed air?

I wouldn't use compressed air for that. Stick with the safe method of using a small drill bit... BY HAND. Other than getting wet, the drill bit method will be much faster, anyways.

 

[Mustangous]

I wouldn't use compressed air for that. Stick with the safe method of using a small drill bit... BY HAND. Other than getting wet, the drill bit method will be much faster, anyways.

Ill probably have to pull the boat for that. I dont even know where this hole is and to look for it under the water would be pretty comical for other people.... :smt021 How big is this hole anyway? what size drill bit?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Ill probably have to pull the boat for that. I dont even know where this hole is and to look for it under the water would be pretty comical for other people.... :smt021 How big is this hole anyway? what size drill bit?

If you don't mind getting wet (it's been hot lately, anyway!) I don't think you'll have much trouble finding it. It's on the leading edge (forward) of the drive, just a few inches above the gear housing (the "torpedo" looking thing in front of the props). Put your fingers on the nose of the torpedo and start sliding them up - you'll feel an indentation in the normally smooth/crisp leading edge.

I'm not sure what size the hole is - I usually jsut grab a bit that looks right, if it's not, I grab a different one. However, I doubt a bit larger than about 1/8" would work.

The hole goes in about an inch or two... you'll feel the bit bottom out. Don't worry, you won't damage anything doing it by hand. All-in-all, it'll take you longer to dry off and change back to dry clothes than it will take to fix it. It also took me longer to type this than it will take to fix it... but then again, watching me type isn't all that pretty! :smt001

 

[dlarsen_1999]

Thanks guys... I have the same issue and reading these post's worked for me! Thanks for the input!