I need to unclog my speedometer intake

[jamesgreen]

How can I do this? have used water, air, and a small pice of wire. What about acid?

 

[mrdelgado]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

Why don't you just put that money you're putting towards chemicals and put it towards a new $10 petit. I don't mean to sound like a smartass, but the only time I have to use my boat is on the weekends and the last thing I would want to be doing is wasting my time unclogging tube that's $.20 a foot and a petit that's $10. I'd rather be fishing

 

[flashback]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

first thing I would do is determine where it is clogged up. dis-connect the tubing at both ends and try to blow thru it. if you can then the clog is in the pitot in which case, you should be able to clear it with a piece of wire or as delgado said, replace it.. good luck ......

 

[AaronG]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

If James has a newer mercrusier outdrive, the petit is built into the leg, so its not a matter of replacing a ten dollar part. <br /><br />Running at high speed tends to get mine working again when its clogged up.

 

[jamesgreen]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

Prob. should have told a little more about it. It's a 95 Alph one. The pick up is in the lower unit. Air travels through the line from the disconnect to the dish. The lower unit is where the problem is. Had the boat as fast as it would go that does not seem to work. Replacing it is not really an option. What ever is in there is got it gloged pretty good. So I was wondering if Drano or something like it would work or would damage the lower unit.

 

[Pst76]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

I'd try using a pressure washer and direct jet from the speedo side of the pickup if you can get to it. A couple good blast should push back out the direction it came in unless a pebble is jammed in the hole.

 

[jurasicjet]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

JamesTN:<br /><br />I have a '92 Alpha One. When I bought the boat (used a year ago), the speedo did not work. I thought Great, another problem. Turns out it is one of the easier things to fix. <br />After inspecting mine closely, I found out that there was a piece of wood (sliver really) wedged DEEP in the pick-up hole. I tried some of the things that you have tried. What finially worked though was a drill bit (7/64") which is slightly undersized. I used drilled in (BY HAND with a vise grips attached) and cleaned out the hole. Extracted the wood that way (I'm assuming the previous owner hit a floating log or something). Also, DO NOT DRILL IN ANY FARTHER THAN 1-3/4", because that is where the intake makes the 90 degree bend to go vertical. If all that doesn't work, take the speedo hose off the lower unit and blow air in reverse out the hole. If it blows well, then the problem is in the speedo or tube leading to the speedo.<br />Hope this helps.

 

[djruggeri]

Re: I need to unclog my speedometer intake

Can you just blow it out with compressed air from the opposite side?