locate the hole for the water intake for the speedometer should be dead center located on the lower unit front of motor get a small drill bit just big enough to fit in the hole now rub it back and forth between your fingers DO NOT USE A DRILL you should start to see wood appear out of the hole probably jammed a peice of wood up in the hole i used to get this problem all the time on the river TIP if you are fishing with alot of drift or in the river where you could get it plugged again or afraid to get it plugged just put a small peice of duct tape over the hole no speedometer but you wont have to do this again hope this helps jeff