Speedometer cuts out

[Btflmutant]

I have a 2001 bayliner 192 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. The speedometer works intermittantly. I've read that you just undo the airline from behind the speedometer and blow out the sand or whatever is in there and it will work fine. I found the airline and it seems to end in a cluster of wires under some electrical tape. I'm hesitant to undo the tape as I tend to screw up anything electrical. Any hints?

 

[trebor0301]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

You can try going to the back of your boat and cleaning the pito tube.It should be a small plastic thingy with a tube connected to it.P.s-your speedo should only have electric for a lightbulb in your gauge.

 

[skicat]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

the small hole on the front of your leg could also be clogged.

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

skicat - Huh?

 

[navigator336]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Skicat is referring to the pitot tube, which is the pick-up mounted on the transom that the air hose is attached to. The pitot tube has a "calibrated" hole in it which is usually protected by one or two tiny plastic fingers. This is usually what gets clogged.

 

[skicat]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

If your outdrive is an alpha 1 gen 2 the hole for the speedometer is located on the front of the outdrive leg. It can get clogged and would need to be cleaned out. A small wire will work or you can use a small drill bit by hand.

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Thanks for the help - I'll go try that right now.

 

[hullofalottatrouble]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

btfl.. if you want to test the gauge or perhaps if there is a clog somewhere you can actually just blow into the tube at the transon and you should see the gauge move.. it an easy way to test it out after you think you have the clog fixed..

 

[trebor0301]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Your best bet would be to go under the dash and locate the tube(it is hollow)NOT a wire.It will go directly into the back of the speedo gauge.If as you say there is a cluster of wires to untape thats ok.Just be careful while your locating the tube.Next.Take one of those cheap air pumps they give with air mattresses and tubes and blow thru the tube from front to outback and thru the pito tube.I Share the water with lots of vegetation and actually have to do this a couple times a summer.

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

trebor,<br />The hollow tube does not actually go into the back of the gauge. It stops in a cluster of wires. I've also noticed that the tach sticks in one spot sometimes and seems to be related to the speedometer problem.

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

could also be a loose wire to/from fuses and/or guages. I had a similar problem on mine, where I had a loose connector going into the instrument panel fuse, so sometimes when I'd hit a big bump it'd stop connecting, and my panel would freeze. I just had to jiggle the connector back on the post a few times until I could get another one installed and not it's fine. I'd check the connectors, especially if the tach and speedo share the same fuse, but this may not be it if the speedo works only by air tube, as then electrical connections wouldn't affect its operation...

 

[trebor0301]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Look at the back of the speedo gauge.Is there some sort of nipple back there?Anything the tube could possibly connect to? Is there an electrical wire going to a small light bulb going into the speedometer?Is there anything at all connected to the speedometer?

 

[Don S]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Do you have a seperate tachometer and speedometer, or do you have the all in one gauge.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

The hollow tube does not actually go into the back of the gauge. It stops in a cluster of wires.

Impossible,.................<br /><br />If the Tube isn't connected to the gauge,... It Won't Work,..... At All.........

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Bondo,<br /><br />That's what it looks like to me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

I'm hesitant to undo the tape as I tend to screw up anything electrical. Any hints?

Well,......... I'll Apologize even Before I post This,............ <br /><br />There's Already some Very Good "Hints" in this thread,......<br /><br />And,... It's been Explained How the speedo works,......<br />And,... These forums are a Great Place to exchange Great Info,.... For a Great Price,.... Free.......<br /><br />iboats.com's forums are Blessed with some Great Experts in these forums,.. Along with some real Bull$h!tters like Me,... <br />And some others that have some Pretty Handy Tips.............<br /><br />But,..... If You Can't/ Don't/ Won't attempt the Repairs, or even the Diagnosis,......<br />Then All the folks here are Just Wasting Our Time................<br />At This point,.... You Can't/ Won't/ Haven't even Identified the Back of the Speedo,.. Or Where the tube Attaches,..........<br /><br />If there's No Action on Your part,........<br />All this 1 fingered typing on My part is Pretty Much a Waste of My,+ Everybody Elses Time............<br /><br />Unfortunately,.........There are No Electronic Elves that I can send over to Your boat,+ Fix it,............<br /><br />Only YOU can do that..........<br /><br />Take Your Time,.....Find the Back of the Speedo,.... Find the End of the Tube,.....<br />Then continue with All the "Hints" that these Fine Folks have posted..................<br />

Thanks for the help - I'll go try that right now.

Did you Find That End,.. That Skicat explained,..????<br />Was there any Crud in the Pitot Hole,..???

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Bondo,<br />Dude, lighten up. I'm sorry I'm wasting your time. One suggestion would be not to type out a long lecture.<br />I guess it was my fault for not reporting to you that I had tried what Trebor had suggested with no success. My fault. <br />I thought a forum was a place to exchange ideas. I think I made it pretty clear that I'm no mechanical genius in my first post; I was trying to see if there was anyone that had a similar problem before I jumped in and screwed my boat up worse than before. I had searched the forum and found no problems exactly like mine. I was also trying to see if it's possible that a speedometer really doesn't have the tube go directly into the back of it.<br />Basically what I'm saying is if someone doesn't have your level of expertise in some subject and it frustrates you - move on and don't waste your own time by typing. I did get some good info from others - nothing but attitude from you.<br />I think most of us here are grown ups here- I know that I certainly don't need smart *** comments from some stranger on a forum. I would tell you where I would like to send those electronic elves, but I'm trying to remain polite.<br />To the others: thanks for the tips - I'm still working on it as it's an intermittant problem and I don't get the boat out as much as I would like.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

I apologized, Before I was So Blunt,... I Won't again,......<br />This forum is a 2 way street,....... If You don't respond to the Questions Asked by the people who Do know,.......<br />Ayuh,.... It's Real Frustrating......<br />As I stated,... It's been said Exactly How,.. Where,+ What to look for,.......<br />If You Can't,.. Won't,.. Don't use the info presented to You,...........<br />So be it,..........<br /><br />Good Luck,+ Good Bye...........

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Bondo,<br />Sorry you're saying goodbye.............<br />You've been a huge help...........

 

[Destin]

Re: Speedometer cuts out

Troubleshooting Gauges:<br /><br /> http://www.tflx.com/tech.html <br /><br />How your speedometer works:<br /><br /> http://www.tflx.com/pdf/marspd~1.pdf