Sticky Airguide speedos

Discussion in 'Restoration Projects & Questions' started by DanielC, Oct 18, 2006.

  1. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

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    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    There is another way to hurt them and that is too much speed. These boats should be propped with 15 to 17 inch pitch props for water skiing. Those props will pull like a train and top out in the 40's. That is plenty fast for any water ski act.

    An 18 with 200+ hp propped up will probably go close to 70. If you do that, disconnect the speedos at the pickup to prevent hurting the airguides. 70 mph produces 70 psi in the pitot line.

    Better yet, get a speed boat. My mirage would turn a 28 pitch chopper prop close to 9000 rpm.

    jim
     
  2. HeavyT007

    HeavyT007 Hydrodyner

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    Boat Model and Year:
    1972 Hydrodyne Tournament Skier, Merc 160 I/O
    For what its worth, I have had good luck with substituting the Teledyne pitot tube for the original Airguide pitot. It works well but need to recalibrate. You can get the Teledyne pitot at just about any marine store, I got mine at West Marine.

    HeavyT
     
  3. ghind

    ghind Established Hydrodyner

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    May 17, 2007
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    Boat Model and Year:
    2007 Matrix Sorrento Outboard/225HO E-TEC
    Lots of info on my web site www.airguide.com.au

    There is lots of advice on the support page about making the best of your airguides.

    Greg
     
  4. 2MERCS

    2MERCS Administrator

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    Eastvale, Ca
    Boat Model and Year:
    1973 Hydrodyne 18 w/Twin 1150 Mercs
    I will get a link to this site on the front page and in the link section. This should be a good help to many people.

    Daniel
     
  5. ghind

    ghind Established Hydrodyner

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    Boat Model and Year:
    2007 Matrix Sorrento Outboard/225HO E-TEC
    Thanks Daniel that would be great.

    I was getting a lot of questions so have tried to update the site each time. Some things I can't help with, eg parts for older models. It is also good for people to know that they don't need those dampers (brass equalizers). I much prefer to run without them as they make the speedo too sluggish.
     
  6. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

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    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    I agree on the equalizers. I have run them side by side.

    The lag with the equalizer is not desirable.

    The only advantage I can see with the equalizer is that it helps prevent water from getting up in the tube. It is easy to blow it out and it should not happen at normal ski speeds.

    jim
     
  7. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

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    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    Here is a good substitute for the airguide pitot:

    http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=769B

    It looks about the same and is higher quality.

    I am thinking about removing the pitots from my boat and just use the motor pickup. It works much better, and the transom has a cleaner look.

    jim
     
  8. PJP

    PJP

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    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Greg Hind has new Air Guides available. He frequents this list I believe unless he is too busy right now.
     
  9. PJP

    PJP

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    Location:
    Wisconsin
    It would take an order for 1000's of speedometers for a company to even think about it. Back in the old days all the ski boat companies used the Air Guides so it was worth while to a company. We used to pay more than $100 for a gauge, equalizer tube. hose and pick up. $99 is reasonable in my opinion. I still like the GPS ones better though . . . .

    Unfortunately it seems like everything is being made in China so I would not hold my breath for finding someone to build new Air Guides so once they are gone they will likely never be available again.
     
  10. dyne74

    dyne74 Hydrodyner

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    Boat Model and Year:
    74 Hydrodyne I/O
    Anyone have used Airguide Speedometers for the Dyne's? My two have been giving me trouble for the last couple years, plus thier getting pretty old(1974). I found a couple places that restore them, but if I could find some one with a decent pair, maybe I can make a decent pair from 4 or more. I keep looking on ebay, but it seems all these old instruments are going by the way side in lew of new modern guages
     

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