2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

[teejay1963]

i have a 2004 ranger 185vs bassboat with a 2004 mercury 150 xrs outboard. the speedometer has quit working. i have no idea on the workings of the speedometer infact i dont even know where the so called pickup unit is on this boat or even if it has one??? any suggestions on what possibly may be wrong would be greatly appreciated before i have to take it to a boat repair shop and get charged 100 bucks an hour for what may be a minor repair? at firs the speedo was working on/0ff then it just stopped all together. also the temp guage for my indash mounted garmin fishfindger quit about the same time. are they possibly related? so far the other guages like the tach, and the tilt and water pressure guages are operational. any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you and happy fishing!!!!!!!!

 

[j_martin]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

i have a 2004 ranger 185vs bassboat with a 2004 mercury 150 xrs outboard. the speedometer has quit working. i have no idea on the workings of the speedometer infact i dont even know where the so called pickup unit is on this boat or even if it has one??? any suggestions on what possibly may be wrong would be greatly appreciated before i have to take it to a boat repair shop and get charged 100 bucks an hour for what may be a minor repair? at firs the speedo was working on/0ff then it just stopped all together. also the temp guage for my indash mounted garmin fishfindger quit about the same time. are they possibly related? so far the other guages like the tach, and the tilt and water pressure guages are operational. any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you and happy fishing!!!!!!!!

It should be on the leading edge of the LU. A hose comes up past the shift rod and joins a host that goes to the speedometer.

A little bit of junk in the pitot hole will stop the speedo. so will a parted hose.

hope it helps
John

 

[teejay1963]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

thanks john! do i need to disassemble the lower unit to clean out hose as you mentioned?

 

[DTL504]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

I had the same problem! U do not have to take the lower unit apart yet unless its stopped up pretty bad. Take some compress air hose into the pitot or get a small wire to un jam the sand/trash inside the pitot. Check the back of lower unit to see if the tube is not frayed or cut. I can post a picture if needed.

 

[teejay1963]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

yes please post a picture if you can it would be very helpful. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!:::

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

Actually I would remove the hose from the engine as DTL mentioned and remove the hose from the rear of the speedometer. Then blow air through the total length of hose.

Then I'd get the air on the fitting that the hose on the engine was connected to and blow air back through the engine and out the water pickup hole paying attention to air exiting, hence the location of the water pickup.

Then put it back together and with your compressed air, blow through the water pickup hole and watch the speedo. It should deflect somewhat. Any deflection pretty much insures you got er fixed.

HTH

Mark

 

[j_martin]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

Actually I would remove the hose from the engine as DTL mentioned and remove the hose from the rear of the speedometer. Then blow air through the total length of hose.

Then I'd get the air on the fitting that the hose on the engine was connected to and blow air back through the engine and out the water pickup hole paying attention to air exiting, hence the location of the water pickup.

Then put it back together and with your compressed air, blow through the water pickup hole and watch the speedo. It should deflect somewhat. Any deflection pretty much insures you got er fixed.

HTH

Mark

Be careful. If you hit it with compressed air, you'll blow the speedo. I forget just how much pressure it takes, but it isn't much. Look at how small the pickup hole is.

John

 

[teejay1963]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

ok if i do take the hose off the back of the speedo, there is a special factory fitting that holds the hose on the back of the speedo. cani buy thos fittings somewhere and if not what can i use as a substitute? i have never seen hose clamps that small. how much pressure is on this hose? thanks for all of your help. again i wish i had a visual reverance to go buy anyone have picks of where this hole is on my lower unit??

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

The water pickup is below the antivent plate and above the gearbox and should be at the very front of the lower unit. It won't be but 1/8" roughly in diameter.

It has to be at the front to get ram water forced into it head on. There are other drain holes in the lower unit but they are not at the very front.

And on the compressed air and the speedo, I do it carefully and just do it to observe any deflection at all. Reducing the regulator on your compressor may be the thing for you to do if you are concerned. I don't have the number but ram water pressure at 40 mph probably is on the order of 10-15 psig. I have done it many times.

Mark

 

[Dukedog]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

Looks more like a "DENT" than a hole. Right square on tha LEADING edge of tha gearcase right above tha front of tha bullet. Tube at speedo either just pushes on to a bib or uses a ferrel fitting. If it just pushes on you can secure it with a very small ty-rap (zip-ty)...................

 

[teejay1963]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

thanks to all of you that posted to help. this all makes sense now about the hole being in the front of the L/U so that h20 will be forced through it. i had been checking all over the place for any holes. i will now concentrate on the front of the L/U and hopefully find this hole. i will do as suggested and regulated my air pressure to about 25psig so as not to harm the speedo in any way. i will repost if and when i get it working. you all have been very helpful. thanks!!!!!!

 

[teejay1963]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

OK UPDATE. I found the small indentation you all were refering to and i blew compressed air through it numerous times. i still cant get the speedo to move one bit. what now???????

 

[j_martin]

Re: 2004 mercury 150 xrs speedometer problem

OK UPDATE. I found the small indentation you all were refering to and i blew compressed air through it numerous times. i still cant get the speedo to move one bit. what now???????

Did you follow the plastic line to the speedometer? This ain't rocket science.