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How to connect a speedometer

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jbyers
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How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:01 pm

I am starting to look for a speedometer for my 58 cavalier. It looks like the original guages were Stewart Warner. I have seen some vintage ones online that work both by electricity and some sort of air tube. Is anyone familiar with how to connect the electric ones?

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:04 pm

Maybe the electrical wire is only to a light bulb??? Does the speedometer work through the tach connection on the bottom of the distributor???

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Bilge Rat
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Bilge Rat » Fri Aug 05, 2016 4:02 pm

For use on a boat, most speedometers used a pitot tube on the transom facing into the stream of water to sense pressure changes as the water moved over the calibrated hole in the tube. An air hose connected from the tube to the speedometer sent these pressure changes which were converted to MPH by the gauge as best as possible. Keeping the pitot tube in the water, not knocked loose or clogged with weeds was the challenge. I know a similar method is used on aircraft although that includes a heater to keep it from icing up. A small craft pilot is supposed to blow through the tube on his pre-flight walk around to ensure it isn't clogged.

The usual parts sources here can help and vintage ones come up on E-bay quite often.
Last edited by Bilge Rat on Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Fri Aug 05, 2016 5:22 pm

Thanks BR. I'm still having a problem envisioning the set up. Is the end of the tube submerged or just above the water line?

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drrot
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by drrot » Sat Aug 06, 2016 10:15 am

Here is one style.
Attachments
pitot front.jpg
pitot side.jpg
Jim Staib
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Sat Aug 06, 2016 9:17 pm

Thanks Jim..

So this goes just above the water line?

And where can I get one?

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Doug P
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Doug P » Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:43 pm

Cheaper and more accurate to buy a gps

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Sun Aug 07, 2016 8:13 pm

Yeah, I am not surprised Doug. I kind of like the original as much as possible. Of course that depends on price as well......

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Greg Wallace » Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:00 am

Smartphone.
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Doug P
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Doug P » Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:55 am

jbyers wrote:Yeah, I am not surprised Doug. I kind of like the original as much as possible. Of course that depends on price as well......
I don't believe a speedometer was original on that model.

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Mon Aug 08, 2016 9:04 am

I think you are right about that Doug...... I just want to to make it look faux correct....... :mrgreen:

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Doug P
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Doug P » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:37 am

[quote="jbyers" I just want to to make it look faux correct....... :mrgreen:[/quote]
What many people used was an Airguide speedometer that was correct within 20mph
airguide.jpg

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Mon Aug 08, 2016 12:55 pm

Yeah I see a lot of those on eBay. Also some Stewart Warner ones too. None I have seen so far have the sensor tube however that goes through the transom.

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Doug P
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by Doug P » Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:41 pm

jbyers wrote:Yeah I see a lot of those on eBay. Also some Stewart Warner ones too. None I have seen so far have the sensor tube however that goes through the transom.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CHROME- ... 2294848191

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:16 pm

Thanks Doug...........

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tkhersom
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by tkhersom » Tue Aug 09, 2016 4:19 pm

jbyers wrote:Thanks Jim..

So this goes just above the water line?

And where can I get one?
It needs to go below the water line to get the water pressure.

It looks like Jim has one, and I will bet that it is for sale.

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drrot
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by drrot » Tue Aug 09, 2016 7:44 pm

Mine mounts through the bottom of the boat. Just shown for reference. Not for sale.
tkhersom wrote:
jbyers wrote:Thanks Jim..

So this goes just above the water line?

And where can I get one?
It needs to go below the water line to get the water pressure.

It looks like Jim has one, and I will bet that it is for sale.

http://www.finewoodboats.com
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

jbyers
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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:17 pm

Thanks, if I get one I would want it mounted through the hull so as not to have the hose showing..........

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Re: How to connect a speedometer

Post by jbyers » Fri Aug 12, 2016 11:14 am

OK, case closed on this one. I got beat down and decided to go with as plain as looking GPS speedometer as I could find......... Thanks for all the suggestions though.

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