Hey guys, I'm new to the board here...great to finally be a member. Anyways, I have a question about my speedo. I have a 97 Boss Hammer that I just bought...only 112 hours and I've only put it in the water twice. The speedo does not work...everything else does. Some people have mentioned to check the cable on the outdrive to see if it has come loose.....I'm not sure exactly where the cable is or what I should be checking. If any of you have any suggestions or anything please let me know because I'm clueless and I'd like to get it fixed ASAP.

Thanks

Get used to it...

I have had the Bravo pickup clog all the time, I switched to a gaffrig external pickup, and that clogs all the time - usually with wood. You have to be sure that there's nothing in the pitot. Other than than, I disconnect at the speedo and blow through with compressed air.I found the external a little eaiser to clean out.

BossHammer

Acouple of places to check and look are where the hose connects to the drive. This is on the front of the drive up near the exhaust bellows. Hose attaches with a pinch type clamp and will sometimes come off if not tight. Also check the pitot opening in the lower leading edge just above the propshaft torpedo. Most likely this is cloged with wood and debris. Use a long drill bit or a piece of coat hanger cut to 5-6 inches to clear the tube out. It will clog frequently. You may also check on the inner transom assembly (inside the engine compartment) where the speedo hose attaches there. It attaches with the same type pinch clamp. If it comes loose there you will fill your boat with water as you travel and have a slow leak at a stand still. I know this from experence. It was early in the year with a lot of debris in the water. When speedo quit I just figured I had hit something pluging the pitot. Several hours later after sitting around and doing some running also I had noticed the boat did not feel right. I raised the engine hatch to find a bilge full of water to the point it was up on the engine. This was also when I learned that the auto bilge pump did not work from the factory. Corrected both problems and had no more problems.

Good Luck & Enjoy
Mark

That hole is pretty deep, if I remember correctly, its about 7 inches, so the wire will work much better. Bend the wire like a cork-screw and when you get most of it out, you can disconnect the fitting where it connects into the lower unit and blow air or water through it to clean it totally out..

Be careful with a drill bit,, the initial hole is larger and is very short, then it narrows down, use the smaller of the two...

Chris has some good points about drilling.

Be very careful...I've heard too many times that someone has busted a drill bit up inside the outdrive to never get it back out.

Ok so the place I should check are up by the exhaust bellows on the outside of the boat.....then look for a small tube by the outdrive torpedo.....then in the engine compartment right? I'm confused as to which of these you guys are saying to use a coat hanger with? Sorry, but this is new to me and I'm trying to learn.

I think Gettin'Bye meant to say pilot hole above the torpedo.

Start here first.. you know where your boat drain plug is right? well if you look towards the outdrive from the drain plug side (front) you'll notice the 'torpedo', it's kinda shaped like a womans breast. Okay look for a small diamond shaped hole right above the torpedo. First just try to see if there is any obvious blockage in the hole, weeds, wood ect... Then if you don't see anything try poking a small piece of wire in the hole and up the tubing to try to unblock it.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, just trying to make it clear what we are talking about.

Now if that doesn't work, trace the tubing back through the bellows and through the engine compartment. Your speedometer
works by forcing water through the little hole in the outdrive, up the tubing, to the dash.

Hope this helps, let us know if you find it.

Cool, I'll do that and see what I can come up with. I've been looking all over the place and I guess I'm just overlooking stuff hehe. I appreciate all the help and I'll let you guys know soon.

Thanks

Ok dudes, last night I located the little hole right above the torpedo...right after that I called it a night HAHA. Seriously...I found the hole and got a coat hanger and shoved it in there...didn't really see anything clogging it up. Today I'm gonna open the engine cover and see if I can trace the wire in there....where should I be looking for this?