troubleshooting spedometer
- Thread starter jeffruby
- Start date
mwph
Well-Known Member
- Jul 8, 2008
- 3,229
- Boat Info
- 1998 250 DA
- Engines
- 7.4L, B3
I've read previous threads that suggest cleaning the pitot tube from the gauge with compressed air and, with the boat out of the water, using a small drill bit to manually clean debris from the hole in the bottom of the out drive.
ps...That cover looks really nice on the front of your boat. Careful with those prop poles though!
ps...That cover looks really nice on the front of your boat. Careful with those prop poles though!
surfinjoe
New Member
Just a quick note. My spedometer hole got packed with debris and I tried to clean the hole with a small drill bit....and of course the bit broke off. So, i tried to dig the broken bit out and couldn't....so I got a bigger bit and tried to drill the hole a bit larger so I could get the broken bit out. Of course, the second bit broke. Now I had two bit tips in there. So out came the die grinder. Long story short, I now have a 'C' instead of a hole. Anyhow, I got the bits out with a magnetic pick set and went to the lake to test out my work.
At first, the spedo didn't work. Then, little by little it started to slowly register my speed. Finally, the damn thing worked. I was so happy. Then I started to notice that at slower speeds, the new larger 'C' cutout is much more accurate at slow speeds. Before (when I had the small hole) I wouldn't even see a speed until I was up on plane. This made it difficult to know how fast I was really going in no wake zones. Anyhow, the spedo now registers 1 mph, 3 mph, 5 mph and so on....and doesn't even seem to be less accurate (same top speed). I am very happy with this simple mistake
At first, the spedo didn't work. Then, little by little it started to slowly register my speed. Finally, the damn thing worked. I was so happy. Then I started to notice that at slower speeds, the new larger 'C' cutout is much more accurate at slow speeds. Before (when I had the small hole) I wouldn't even see a speed until I was up on plane. This made it difficult to know how fast I was really going in no wake zones. Anyhow, the spedo now registers 1 mph, 3 mph, 5 mph and so on....and doesn't even seem to be less accurate (same top speed). I am very happy with this simple mistake
- Oct 4, 2006
- 2,335
- Boat Info
- 2003 280DA and 1995 Sea Ray 175
- Engines
- Twin 4.3l and 3.0l, all w/ AlphaI GenII drives
Cool, a year old thread resurrected!
To add, the best way to fix this problem is to disconnect the tubing from the back of the speedometer and then, using compressed air, blow it out. This will push the debris back out where it came from easily.
I've used the drill bit method too, but the boat needs to be out of the water, and you can only get so far in, and you have to be careful to not push the debris in further. And of course, you have to be careful so you don't break a bit!!
To add, the best way to fix this problem is to disconnect the tubing from the back of the speedometer and then, using compressed air, blow it out. This will push the debris back out where it came from easily.
I've used the drill bit method too, but the boat needs to be out of the water, and you can only get so far in, and you have to be careful to not push the debris in further. And of course, you have to be careful so you don't break a bit!!
