How many of you guys' boats speedometer's become plugged???

Jmass03 · Outlaw Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: OrLaNdO

I was just wondering because I've had my boat for nearly 3 weeks and it just happened, and I don't have a clue what to do, and I was wondering if its normal or not? It's a 2000 Mastercraft Xstar. I've tried the gunning in reverse, doesnt work for very long. What else can I do??

needmoreair · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 4:53 am Post subject:

Not sure what you mean by plugged - but on my mercruiser 5 liter - when I go to trim up the motor a little at high speed -- the speedo gauge often goes dead. There is a small tube underneath the outdrive that gets disconnected by the rushing water when the engine gets trimmed a bit. It's pretty easy to reconnect - not sure if this is your prob though.

paige · Newbie Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 32 City: Oklahoma City

if you don't have stuff in the tube that needmoreair is talking about, you may have a small kink or hole in it. Just follow the tube (from the outside of the boat, up to the speedometer). You should be able to find where the problem is, if not-you're shop should be able to fix it for $30-$40.

6more · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 26 City: Upstate, SC

If needmoreaire doesn't realize that a MC doesn't have a trim setting, don't listen to his advice. Paige - you are right but JMass is just trying to figure out how to unclog the tube, not do a full systems check.

Jmass - you might have seen my other post, but I'll repeat it here in case you didn't. Your pitot tube (those two plastic thing that hang down behind the boat) is simply clogged. Most people use a bent paperclip or small drill bit to get them unclogged. Just keep it on the boat because this will happen quite often.

Here is a picture of a pitot tube (yours is probably black, and may not be 100% exactly like this one).

There is a small opening on the front of the pitot about a finger width up from the bottom. This hole does not go all the way through the pitot which is why it clogs so easily. If you look at the picture, you will see a small round mark on the side of the pitot at the bottom. Look at the front edge by the mark, and you will see a small indention. This is where the hole is. It is actually bigger than the picture makes it look, but the picture is from the back, so it doesn't show the front edge very well. You need to gently push your paperclip into this hole. It will go in maybe 1/4". The problem with doing this on the water isn't finding the hole, it's getting the paperclip to fit in the hole. The paperclip must go in at the exact angle, so you might have to fumble around with different angles before the thing will fit in.

On some boats, the pitots are close enough to the starboard and port sides that you can reach them from the platform while on the water. Reach around the side of the platform to get to them. On other boats, they are to far into the center and you can't reach them from the platform. In this case, you'll have to swim while doing this. Just feel for the hole with your finger, and them try to slip the paperclip in. Again, it might take some trial and error before the darn thing will fit it.

Once it fits in, push it all the way in (don't force it) and then pull it out. That's all it takes. You won't see what was clogging it, but it will work fine now. Good luck.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

I've had this problem many times & what I always end up having to do is to take the tubing off of the pitot & either use a pipe cleaner in the pitot from the top or to blow a little compressed air into the pitot from the top. If it's really bad, then I need to go farther up the line & blow the compressed air out that open line. Remember, if you do this, never blow the air toward the speedometer, you'll just be blowing the junk farther up the line. I realize that you have your boat in the water, but I think to solve this you're going to just have to put it up on a trailer to get at the places that we're talking about. Some people swear by paperclips, but in my case it always ends up shoving the stuff farther into the pitot.

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

Guys, we're missing the point. Those pick ups are old tech. Get a paddle wheel sending unit. Those pick ups will ALWAYS clog. That's why top boats have two. 'Cause one is always screwwed up. What a joke. Get a paddle wheel, drill a big hole in the bottom of your boat, and live forever with the correct speed showing on your speedo. No clogs, no BS. Any manufacturer using pickups should not be considered when making a purchase decision.

6more · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 26 City: Upstate, SC

I agree RanMan, but the problem is that the Paddle wheel isn't compatable with the older systems. So either you have to get PP (which isn't a bad idea) or upgrade all your gauges to the electronic guages. Eitherway, you are looking at some serious $$. I think PP would be cheaper and more useful.

Dave W · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 11:00 am Post subject:

Wow, as much as my speedo seems to be dead more than it's working, I've never had a serious clog of any part of the system. Usually it goes dead for a while and then a little while later it kicks back on. And I have dual speedometers. How often does everyone get serious clogs in their pich ups? It's news to me that you would actually have to clean it out. Not that it sounds unfeasable, but I've just never had any serious problems with it. Since I've gotten PP it's not really that big a deal though.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

For us it depends on where we go. There is one lake that is relatively dirty & I can always count on a clog, but then there is another (a high mountain, cold, cold lake) that is so clean that I have yet to get a clog there in 4 years of boating there. Am thinking of PP, though.

Jmass03 · Outlaw Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: OrLaNdO

6more thanks so much for your help, I tried doing it on my boat, It went well, but I have yet to take the boat out for a spin and see if the speedo's are working fine. Wish me luck!

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Mine are always getting clogged. In fact they are currently clogged.

gvb · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 2:48 pm Post subject:

How tough is it to get at the gauge end of the speedo line on an 89' MC PS190 so I can blow it out from that side? I havn't looked yet, but neither of mine work (they did for the first hour or so I had it in the water).

-gvb

Jmass03 · Outlaw Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: OrLaNdO

For those of you who have two speedometers, do they vary at times, like the one on the right might say 20 mph while the one on the left might be reading 22 mph?? It seems like this happens quite often. When going straight, I've noticed they read at the same, but when turning left or right, they vary.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

that's why you have 2 of them... So one works when turning. You can recalibrate them when driving straight. I use a GPS to calibrate the gauges.

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

Just go paddlewheel. Those pickups are a pre 1970's era joke...

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 8:49 pm Post subject:

It happens to me all the time too. Usually one or the other will work on/off again, occasionally I lose both. There's so much crap in our lake it's unbelievable. My tach works intermitently too. I become the master boat driver lately can now drive goog by the sound of the engine and how the wake looks.

gryffin · Criminal Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 89 City: SoCal

Mine clog pretty often and it causes some problems when pulling people, you just have to get used to how fast your boat goes. If you can, then yeah the paddle-wheel is great, but expensive. The paper clip trick works pretty good, so you might want to try that, if it still clogs use compressed air. Good luck!

6more · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 26 City: Upstate, SC

Jmass - look at my post onthe other thread if you haven't seen it yet. It talks about the Venturi Pickups which you can switch to if you get really tired of clogged pitot pickups.

And I've been driving inboard boats for 12+ years (I've even been a ski instructor). I've NEVER had a clog that didn't come out with the paperclip method. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never experienced it myself.

graphik · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 727 City: miller lake

w o w , now I know... I have 2 speedo's and one of em has never wokred. Now I know how to fix.

thanks guys.
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