Speedometer problem

[Taliesin]

I have a Mercury Optimax 200.

The hole in the front of the lower unit for the speedometer is plugged.

The normal method of clearing it is with a 3/32" drill bit turned by hand.

Problem is, it got jammed too deep for the drill bit to reach. Those drill bits are only about 3 or 4" long, and it's about an inch past that.

Anyone have any ideas about how to get the wood out of that hole? I have looked, but I haven't been able to find a longer drill bit in that size. I found them in 1/8", but that's just a hair too big.

[Cajun1977]

id leave it plugged  its just a speedo.   try a place like home depot and see if they got anything that diameter, or try blowing an airnozzle to it.

[cart7t]

The biggest waste of dash space in a boat, the speedometer and a trim gauge.  

[Long Mike]

If you have a GPS unit it will give you speed if you are unable to get the debris out of the motor.  My GPS unit is mounted directly in front of my console-mounted speedo.  On a side note, my GPS and speedo agree with each other very closely.  That's very surprising, because the speedo is 17 years old.

[Taliesin]

The biggest waste of dash space in a boat, the speedometer and a trim gauge.

I agree somewhat...

The speedo is just a "fun to have", but I do use the trim indicater at times. Partly because I am a fairly new boat owner. It does help me aout some. I can get by without it, but I do find some use for it.

[kybassangler]

Try to find a piece of wire same diameter could do the trick or push it deeper and would be cheap.  I got mine cleared then found a buch of wires and aint figured out where they go yet. 2nd hand learning! Good luck

[Glenn]

Pull the cowling off, then pull the hose off that attaches to the speedo.  Shoot about 90psi of compressed air into it.  Caution!  Make sure nobody is within "line-of-site", as that wad of junk comes firing out at good clip!  

[The Next KVD]

I agree that it is a complete waste of space.  My father just installed a new one on his boat a month ago and its already stopped working.  I'm replaceing mine w/ a Indash Vexilar FL-10.

[skunked_again]

If you have a GPS unit it will give you speed if you are unable to get the debris out of the motor. My GPS unit is mounted directly in front of my console-mounted speedo. On a side note, my GPS and speedo agree with each other very closely. That's very surprising, because the speedo is 17 years old.

i told everyone i had the fastest 150 hp motor in the world till i got GPS.

[kybassangler]

I don't need a speedo when the wife is onboard, just look at her expression.

[fishing=life]

i hate not having a trim gauge. mine stopped workin last winter and it drives me crazy!