Engine hour meter failing

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I feel his intent was to set new ones to elapsed hours the old ones read, with that feature.

So it only goes UP?

[sailsw00]

I don''t know; I think it may have been a VDO mechanical hour meter, but it was whatever was available in St. martin at the time.
-Steve

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

So it only goes UP?

It probably goes both ways. I wouldn't question his ethics and find no reason to. He sounds as if he just wants to log his hours.

[doublewide]

Meters on both of our Yanmars have failed. At first the failure to display was intermittent, but now they never display. I am glad to know that the hours log is still being kept internally somewhere. That may be useful someday when we want to sell our ship, but for now I log the hours manually.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

was stuck for a month at the Cat Club in Antigua

There are worse places to be stuck...for a month.
There's a bar at the shore end of the dock.

[aitch]

Peters, afraid Yanmar may be giving you the "never-heard-that-before" run-around.
Like you I have a Yanmar 3JH5E with the exact same problem. My vessel is Melbourne registered, but currently in Tasmania.
My problem is intermittent. Works on some occasions, not on others, and for no apparent reason.
Logging engine hours is part of my trip-planning and fuel calibration disciplines, so I long used my timepiece to back up the engine hour readings between blanks.
Not a new problem, and seems to have no solution.

[MC41]

Originally Posted by GordMay

From SailboatOwners

If you read this actual thread the creator of the document has stated that the fix did not work for him. Repeat, this does not work, and is not a lasting fix.

Our hour meters from 2006 (around 1600 hrs) display the same symptoms as yours. Installing an external hour meter seems to be the only reasonable solution, as far as I can tell. Lame.

[peterp]

Originally Posted by aitch

Peters, afraid Yanmar may be giving you the "never-heard-that-before" run-around.
Like you I have a Yanmar 3JH5E with the exact same problem. My vessel is Melbourne registered, but currently in Tasmania.
My problem is intermittent. Works on some occasions, not on others, and for no apparent reason.
Logging engine hours is part of my trip-planning and fuel calibration disciplines, so I long used my timepiece to back up the engine hour readings between blanks.
Not a new problem, and seems to have no solution.

Thanks Aitch, and all, what a great response, this seems to be a well known problem, I will talk to Yanmar this week see if they can repair mine, if not seems I will have to replace them.
Regards Peter

[colemj]

They are very expensive and will just go out again. Best fix is to buy an inexpensive hour meter and forget about the tach one.

Mark

[2Wind]

Originally Posted by peterp

I always log my engine hours on shutdown, recently the display was blank on one engine then a couple of hours later on arrival at our home marina the other display failed, the tacho's are working fine as is everything else, I checked the wires that go into the back of the tacho there is simply a removable plug with about four wires connected, I removed the plug checking for any loose wires or corrosion etc. all seems good, also noted that when I pushed the plug back in the light inside the tacho came back on so I know power is OK although I guess the hour meter could fail even though the light is on. Here is the odd bit the following week after a short run the hour meter came good all by itself with the correct hours displayed, I was pleased that whilst the display had failed the hours are being correctly accumulated. This weekend both hour meters have failed again. In summary I feel it is a connection problem but I think the connection is OK at the tacho end, I am unsure where the hours information comes from, my engines are 40 HP Yanmar 3JH5E about 230 hours total time Lagoon 400 about 4.5 years old, I did call Yanmar here in Australia they advised it would be rare for my problem. I would be most appreciative if anyone can help, or have experienced the same problem. Thanks in advance.
Regards Peter

I had mine repaired by www.sgesco.com.au here in Brisbane.
You could try vdo gauges tachometer smiths chronometric marine speedometer instrument repairs dials speed limiting in Melbourne or
Gauges, Instruments and Control Sales & Service - The Gauge Shop - NAMIISS in Sydney.

Otherwise search in google for VDO instrument repairs Melbourne and see what you get.

From memory, it was a $150 fix or there abouts - $250 including new quartz lens cover and new bulbs as well.

Hope this helps.

[peterp]

Thanks Mark, I imagine they are expensive, I will find out when I contact Yanmar tomorrow, and thanks 2wind I will indeed contact the Melbourne people should I need some one to repair mine. I must say I am really surprised some many hour meters have failed.
Regards Peter

[HKTim]

Am having the same problem with one of two hour meters on my cat. If u buy the mechanical hour meter can you spin foreword the hours on it when you install it to match the digital display hours. Or do you need to start at zero hours when you buy a new meter.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Wrong]

Have you checked your grounding wire for corrosion and or loose connections? Haven't seen you post anything suggesting you have ruled this possibility out.

[a64pilot]

If it's still keeping track of the hours, then it's the display

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Wrong

Have you checked your grounding wire for corrosion and or loose connections? Haven't seen you post anything suggesting you have ruled this possibility out.

That is a good idea. Checking the voltage with a meter only tells you have it to the meter ground. The display may require more than the clock?

More wire wiggling may be prudent before going for new equipment.