speedometer

[jlsmith]

I bought a used bought and have been getting it ready for the water. The speedometer lights up but when i spin the paddle wheel the needle does not move any ideas how to fix it..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: speedometer

Ummmm -- better make sure you have a paddle wheel speedometer. Stick you head under the console and look at the back of the speedo head. If you see a plastic tube in the center that tube runs to the back of the boat and connects to a speedometer pickup called a pitot or it connects to the lower unit on the engine which has a built-in pitot. The paddle wheel is probably for the speed indication on the fish finder. If there is another plastic pitot on the transom that sticks down slightly below the bottom of the boat, that tube connects to it.

 

[jlsmith]

Re: speedometer

Yeah i can feel the tube on the back of the speedometer can't see it. It goes to the center of the speedometer. So you think the paddle wheel goes to the fish finder?????

 

[jlsmith]

Re: speedometer

I just went out to the garage and turned the fish finder on and spun the wheel and it registered on the fish finder the there is a tube that goes into the lower unit of the motor from the back of the boat but not into the water would that be for the spedometer

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: speedometer

yep

 

[tschmidty]

Re: speedometer

Yep, you found it. Probably gunked up somewhere. Try running a needle or small wire in the pickup part on the lower unit.

 

[JimS123]

Re: speedometer

Yep, you found it. Probably gunked up somewhere. Try running a needle or small wire in the pickup part on the lower unit.

Oh, don't do that. The holes are calibrated and even a slight enlargement will throw the speed off. Its probably a brass fitting, or if an old cheap one it may even be plastic. Soak it in soap, then blow it out.

When we were kids and weren't satisfied with our boats cause they only went 30 mph, we could easily get her up to 50 by making the hole bigger. It impressed our girlfriends anyway.....LOL.

 

[rallyart]

Re: speedometer

Speedometers on boats work almost as well as fuel gauges on boats. I like JIMS123's solution to adding performance.

 

[Fed]

Re: speedometer

The holes are calibrated and even a slight enlargement will throw the speed off.

I don't think that's right Jim.