Speedometer Not Working

[lintmann]

This boat is I believe a 99, regardless its an Alpha 1, Gen 2 drive. I've just replaced the bellows and water supply hose and was about to hook up the speedometer hose and figured I'd blow into it to make sure the speedometer moved, it didn't. Then I disconnected the tube to it under the dash and tried to blow back through it, I couldn't.

Is it kind of odd that this tube/hose between the leg and speedometer would plug or does it happen? I'm wanting to try a shot of shop air blowing from front to back but I'm concerned that it may rupture the tube... Any ideas on where or how to clear this out.

FYI, I bought this boat from a friend about 3 years ago and I'm just now having time to make it seaworthy. I feel that I should have checked this before I reinstalled the bellhousing and hoping that it's a fairly simple fix.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pitot tubes plug all the time

Worst case, that $5 tube ruptured and you spend $5 for a 25' section

 

[kenny nunez]

The hose between the drive and the speedometer may have been rodent food. That happened on a boat I bought that had been laid up for some time.

 

[airshot]

Find a different speedo, those pressure units are very inaccurate below 20 mph. Replace the Speedo with a more useful gage to fill the space then use or buy a sonar unit with GPS. Your speed will be very accurate from 1 mph on up to infinity....even if you get it unclogged or replaced, it will stop working soon.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Or you could get an app on your phone, cheap and easy.

 

[Earl Cordova]

On mine the pitot hole in the front of the lower drive got plugged.
The mechanic at the dealership told me to go buy a 1/8" x 12" drill bit at
the Ace hardware store down the street.
They had asked Ace to stock them just for that purpose and then sent
people there to purchase them.

Just turning the drill bit by hand was enough to clean it out.

 

[Jeff J]

I have never been on a body of water that required me to know how fast I am going. The choices have always been “no wake” or do what you want. I use the GPS on my phone or other handheld GPS unit on the rare occasion I get curious.