Counsel Speedomoter not Working

[Fishook]

My counsel speedometer is not working for some reason. I have checked the water tube connection and that looks OK. I am not a mechanical whizz by any means so am looking for suggestions as to what I need to look for. Can this be an electrical problem? Boat is a Alumacraft Tournament Sport.

[BobT]

Some are different but on the back of my boat there is a sensor tube that protrudes into the water. The air tube from the speedometer connects to this sensor tube. The way it works is as you move forward the water pressing on the front side of the tube forces the air inside to the tube to build pressure and that's what moves your speedometer. If you hit something such as weeds or lake bottom or someone bumpts the sensor tube it can be flipped up so it is no longer protrucing down into the water correctly. Check to make sure it is not flipped up. Also could check to be sure it isn't plugged.

Here's a picture of how it looks. It is hinged so it can flip up if you hit something so make sure it is down as shown here.

[fish stalker]

I dont know what brand of motor you have but on my mercury there is a little hole on the leading edge of the lower unit that the water goes through to the speedometer. make sure that the hole is not plugged.

[Fishook]

Thanks for the replys. BobT - I do not have the probe like your picture shows. Mine appears to be half-moon shaped cap which covers the sensor. The motor is a Yamaha 150. I will look at the intake to the motor and I will also take a look to make sure I do not have weeds or anything blocking the sensor. Thanks againg for the help. If anyone else has a thought on this, I am all ears.

[BobT]

Thanks for the replys. BobT - I do not have the probe like your picture shows. Mine appears to be half-moon shaped cap which covers the sensor. The motor is a Yamaha 150. I will look at the intake to the motor and I will also take a look to make sure I do not have weeds or anything blocking the sensor. Thanks againg for the help. If anyone else has a thought on this, I am all ears.

If your sensor is on the motor then it sounds like yours might be more similar to fish stalker's example.

[solbes]

My old boat had one similar to the picture. On my Yamaha 75 it's incorporated into the motor and much more subtle. Little black hose that goes inside the lower unit assembly.

Could you disconnect at the console gauge barb fitting, and the blow lower pressure air through there (say 30-40 psi?) Wouldn't want to damage the tube with high pressure, but I would think it could handle that.

[harvey lee]

If your motor is like the Merc's, there is a very small tube on the back side of the lower unit. I have had a small piece of crud hang up in there and then the speedo would not work.

I used a small wire and cleaned all the crud out and it then worked fine.

[Fishook]

Well, you guys nailed my problem! I found the small hole for the speedometer water intake and noticed the rubber "V" on my transom saver was leaving small rubber particles that plugged the water intake. I simply poked that opening with a paper clip end and everything is working fine. Now, when I trailer the boat, I put a piece of duct tape over the opening so no rubber residue can enter and remove it when I remove the transom saver. Thanks for the help and the education.