Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

[thehemi]

We hit a small piece of wood and apparently it jammed some wood
into the hole used by the speedo. While wet and dry we've tried to
use stiff wire, air pressure, etc to clear out the gunk. Some of it has
come out, but there's clearly more inside.

Is there an easy trick to cleaning out this sensor?

 

[Don S]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

Assuming it's a Merc drive with a pitot pickup hole in it, just use a small drill bit by hand to ream out the hole.

PS: You have a private message.

 

[thehemi]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

Assuming it's a Merc drive with a pitot pickup hole in it, just use a small drill bit by hand to ream out the hole.

Yes, we did try that and it did remove some material.
It seems like the hole eventually must curve? Or else
what we think is a curve is actually just more material.

Sorry, yes, it's a Merc 4.3.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

It seems like the hole eventually must curve?

Ayuh,... It turns Up...

 

[Don S]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

The small hole goes into a large cavity. What drive do you have? The hole isn't in your engine.

 

[wilyesteve]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

I have always liked using guitar strings to clean out jets and other small holes.... they go from about .008" on up...

 

[thehemi]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

The small hole goes into a large cavity. What drive do you have? The hole isn't in your engine.

Not sure what drive; I would need to go check.
It's a Bayliner, so I don't think it's a fancy one.

 

[thehemi]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

I have always liked using guitar strings to clean out jets and other small holes.... they go from about .008" on up...

Interesting idea. I wonder if there's any kind of fluid that
I could squeeze into the hole to help tear apart the wood?

 

[emilsr]

Re: Cleaning clogged speedo sensor?

There's no easy trick, just have to keep after it (carefully) until you get it clear.

I've had pretty good luck raising the drive, disconnecting the speedo tube from the lower, then blowing compressed air down into the drive from where the speedo hose was connected (don't use compressed air going in the direction of the speedo). That helps clean it out once you open up the hole with a drill bit....if it's really bad I have to go back and forth between the bit and the air a couple of times before it gets cleaned out good.

The guitar string sounds like a good idea; will try that next time.

Seems like every spring I'm having to do this. :facepalm: