MPH guage bouncing back and forth!

stigar905 · Post by **stigar905** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:07 am

2008 Champion 210 w/Verado 250 everything works good except MPH guage. Works on graph but not dash, just bounces back and forth. Does anybody have any clue what it is or how to trouble shoot?

scott h · Post by **scott h** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:42 am

Check your pitot intake on the front of your lower unit it may be clogged with debri which is very common,if it is clogged use a drill bit slightly smaller than the pitot opening and by hand gently rotate the bit to releive the debris then under the dash at the back if the gauge find the hose goin into the speedo gauge disconect it and blow air through it that should clear the hose.if the problem persist check out veradoownersclub.com. hope this helps.Tight lines Scott Head.

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:48 am

Personally, I think MPH gauges on boats are a waste. Most don't work and if they don't aren't anywhere near being accurate on what's it's supposed to be gauging. RPM is what I watch and if I need to know my speed I generally get that from GPS and it'll be closer to accurate.

sTony

nipples · Post by **nipples** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:33 pm

I use a straightened out hook to clear the pitot intake... The barb on the hook catches onto any wood plugging the hole... And yes, The speedo gauge on the boat is not all that accurate, but the bouncing needle is obnoxious.

Jeff C. · Post by **Jeff C.** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:14 pm

sTony wrote:Personally, I think MPH gauges on boats are a waste. Most don't work and if they don't aren't anywhere near being accurate on what's it's supposed to be gauging. RPM is what I watch and if I need to know my speed I generally get that from GPS and it'll be closer to accurate.

sTony

Ditto. After mine was clogged for about the fourth time I just ignored it. Just use your GPS, which is a lot more accurate anyway.

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:45 am

sTony wrote:Personally, I think MPH gauges on boats are a waste. Most don't work and if they don't aren't anywhere near being accurate on what's it's supposed to be gauging. RPM is what I watch and if I need to know my speed I generally get that from GPS and it'll be closer to accurate.

sTony

Yup, the tach and water pressure are the important gauges on my boat, the speedos are junk - just go off of the GPS and forget about your boats speedo.

Ribbit · Post by **Ribbit** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:06 am

The bouncing is probably caused by a slug of water somewhere in the tube that is changing the pressure to the speedo. Remove the tube from the pickup and from the speedo and gently blow through the tube from the speedo end. You might want to follow the tubing to see if there is an obvious low spot where water could have collected, most likely in the back somewhere.