A question, And a story about the dumbest way to lose reverse on an Alpha one gen 2...

[frostystorm]

First the question, let's say I want to delete on the speedometer hose is there a plug I can put in the transom assembly from inside the boat? I have a GPS speedometer and would like to just delete this whole tube.

And here is the story of a man who finished up a transom refresh, after many long hours and many many wobble pops in the garage, and did the final step, adjusting the lower shift cable.

For some reason the brand new and otherwise smooth sliding lower shift cable would activate the ignition cutoff switch. Each time removing the drive, going over all the shift cable parts, putting it all back together, and having his wife upset she had to sit and rotate the prop back and forth for 10 minutes at a time until everything was working just right...

Then the next day, to the water, to listen to the engine die in reverse instantly... To go home and repeat the process.

Well, what was the problem, It was the speedometer pickup tube... disassembly, re-assembly, and calibration would move it out of the way enough to shift with ease. But after sitting overnight it would relax into a position right behind the shifter foot, where when shifting in reverse, this soft flexible plastic tube would provide just enough resistance to activate the ignition kill switch, despite the drive being able to shift firmly into reverse.

If you go through this, make sure this tube is in front of your shift foot, where it won't interfere

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,........ Never had that problem before,.....
Not heard of it either,....

You can plug off the fitting, on the onside of the transom,.....
Just follow the hose with yer hand to find it,.....

 

[dubs283]

Depending on vintage the speedometer pitot tube connects to the inside of the transom assy with a straight barb fitting or a quick disconnect fitting. Either way you can remove the pitot tube and plug the barb/male quick disconnect there

For the connector end you can just fold the tube over on itself kinking it and zip tie the end close to the tube clip just fwd of the bellhousing exhaust flange, remove excess end as needed

 

[frostystorm]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,........ Never had that problem before,.....
Not heard of it either,....

You can plug off the fitting, on the onside of the transom,.....
Just follow the hose with yer hand to find it,.....

I wouldn't even think of it being an issue, but there it was. I think I must have taken up some of the slack that's normally in speedo tube when I clipped it to the water hose, and for some reason it just wants to slowly rest against the port side now, and when you move the shifter into reverse, it rests just where the shift foot can grab it...

I was hoping maybe someone knew of a delete plug that was either factory, or aftermarket, or cleaner than my usual redneck DIY vacuum plug shenanigans (a screw with red RDV and a hose clamp).

If I go that route, i'll use 5200, because it's Marine.