Speed gauge tube repair - tube type?

Copinsay · 23 May 2014, 08:33

Hello folks

Any suggestions for the type of tube, connector and supplier for a section of tube to patch a damaged section of the "speedo" tube that goes from the lower unit of a Yamaha 60 hp FETO outboard please?

The existing tube has been squashed and repaired before using heat shrink (as you can see) but this time I'd rather do something neater.

I realise the accuracy of the air pressure speedo is rather derided, but do find it a useful backup if the navionics go down. Actually, between 5 and 30 knots I find it's pretty accurate for what it is, compared to the gps.

In particular, I was looking for a type of tube that worked well in those salt water and flexing conditions.

Many thanks for your help

Best wishes

Steve

jyasaki · 23 May 2014, 17:40

Just about any kind of tubing will work. Rubber, plastic, anything that doesn't balloon under the (very mild) pressure it contains. All you're doing is trapping the pressurized air in the tube and the gauge converts that to a speed.

jky

Copinsay · 27 May 2014, 10:52

Thanks for that jky - as I'm needing to get this by mail order, I was keen to see if there were any suppliers on here, or can quote the size of tubing and connectors to splice in a new section?

While as you say, not much pressure, I was also wondering if certain types of tubing were less prone to going brittle in salt water?

Or else any suggestsion of suppliers? Ideally there'd be a shop I could just go along to and look at the sizes, but that's not the case here, so need to mail order.

Suggestions and suppliers welcome please :o)

Many thanks for your help

Steve

jyasaki · 27 May 2014, 16:43

Don't really know. On my F-115 it appears to be pretty standard rubber tubing, approx. 1/4" to maybe 3/16" OD.

I doubt there's much pressure involved; regular auto vacuum hose should work fine. Salt water shouldn't affect it, and there shouldn't be much sun exposure (depending on your routing, of course.) If a section goes bad, you can always splice in a new section.

jky

Peter_C · 27 May 2014, 21:06

Hardware stores should have it. I thought it was more like 1/8" ID myself, but it would be best to measure the existing hose.