Problem with Hour Meters

F

flabeachcomber

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Joined
Dec 25, 2003
Messages
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C Dory Year
2001
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Kestrel
I have two engines on my C-Dory. In mid 2004, both hour meters read the same +_.

Now I noticed the port engine reads 701 and the starboard engine reads 460. I know the 460 must be the correct number based on past log entries.

The only thing I can attribute it to is that for a few weeks (no more than 8 hours running time), the port engine was out of commission and I was running only on the one engine. The difference of 241 hours I can not explain!

Has anyone else had a similar problem?
 
No sir, I have not seen that problem. But here's something to look at. Does your haywire hour meter count up any time when the motor is not running? Those things take just miliamps to run, so there may be some leakage in a circuit allowing it to advance when it should be dead.

I sure hope it is not somehow connected to your master life clock. Could be a bad sign.
 
My hour meter runs whenever the ignition key is 'on'.

Did you leave the key in the 'on' position while the motor was not running?

Ten days of 'key on' would be 240 hours.
 
If you leave the key in the on position the hour meter will advance just as it will when the engine is running.( I also have twin Hondas and have done this) There is a way to reset the hours meters to zero by jumping across two of the terminals on the back of the meter. then you need to leave the key on again until the meter reaches the number you think it should be at. I however don't remember which of the terminals you jumper.
 
Thanks to all for the responses. I think maybe the key was on and I didn't notice.

If anyone has details on how to reset hour meter described by Anna Leigh, please let me know.

Thanks again all.
Pete
 
Pete, I just took a look at the back of the meters. There are four terminals. # 2 & 3 have the leads attached to them. There is a jumper from #3 to #1. And # 4 is empty. I am ALMOST certain that you just take a jumper wire and touch #4 and #3 and that resets the meter to 0. The rigger at C-Dory knows for sure. Give them a call. Then you just need to figure out how many hours you want back on it and leave the key on until you get there.
 
I checked the back of my hour meters today...only two terminals with spade connectors.

I will call C-Dory tomorrow and ask how to reset meter. I'll post a followup and let everyone know what I find out. Could be useful in the future....
 
Called C-Dory today re: hour meters.
It turns out that the two meters I have are analog meters which can not be reset. The digital (LCD) meters can be reset.
I ordered two Honda LCD hour meters ($25.89 ea) and will replace both meters...then, of course I will have to leave key(s) on for the correct number of hours to get back to where I was.
Rick from C-Dory riggers dept. assured me that the new meters would fit the same holes and have only two spade connectors just like the analog meters.
Wish me luck!
Pete
 
Pete --

These meters run on 12v. Set them before you install them! Much easier to supervise their settings if if they're sitting on your workbench than on the boat. I can just see something come up and you can't get to the boat...

-- Chuck
 
Chuck S":1qn9xkd5 said:
Pete --

These meters run on 12v. Set them before you install them! Much easier to supervise their settings if if they're sitting on your workbench than on the boat. I can just see something come up and you can't get to the boat...

-- Chuck
Click to expand...

You could set them by hooking them to a 12V supply attached to a programmable wall timer. Most timers aren't designed to go for days and days but it might be handy once you get close to where you want to be to use a cheap timer to run off the last 12 or so hours... A trickle charger and the timer you use for the XMAS tree would probably do the job..
 
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