Onan hour meter

boybach

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2020
1,033
195
63
Noticed my hour meter seems stuck - pulled the panel, all looks good back there - any idea what would cause the meter to fail?

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
I recently decided I had nothing to lose on my seven year inop meter and got down inside the little case. A little squirt of silicone lube and a
little working of the mechanism and it came back to life. Went back together no worse for wear.

--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
 
Thanks mate, worth a try for sure!

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
Ok well I opened up the meter, it's like a railroad watch inside, very clean so now thinking maybe the thing is wired incorrectly? Anyone know the tap
to the hour meter from the start switch?

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
Mine had close to 2,000 hours on it when it quit. Being an electronics guy and not wanting to lose the OEM meter & reading, I decided to look inside.
Getting it apart was a task, had to cut it open. Inside was a badly burn't set of contacts that I assume provided power to a coil to mechanically
advance the counter digits. I soon gave up on reviving it.

I then installed a look-alike electronic LCD hour meter with an oil change reminder. This worked for about 8 years, but then I went to get the coach
from winter storage and it was dead. I assumed the internal battery that kept the memory alive had died. It had about 400hrs on it at that point. I
guess the designer of the unit assumed it was going on a machine that ran more often so there would be less load on the internal battery.

So the next meter I went back to the mechanical style. I think I got it from Newark.

The power to the hour meter comes from the main ignition power Pin 9 on the control board. It also powers the RUN light on the remote control board.
If the RUN light doesn't work either, check for a corroded connector in the remote control panel wire under the generator, its a common failure
point.

FYI, you can also use this same wire to send +12V back through a "Prime Switch" to operation the fuel pump to prime the pump and fill the carb before
you attempt to start the generator.

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
Thanks Bruce, the run light illuminates so I'll be checking if the hookup (which looks like PO work) is correct and the meter is getting power. When I
opened mine up there was even a little bag of silica gel in there and everything looked super clean. Gonna give it a contact cleaner spray today and
see if that helps. If not, well, replacement I guess.

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
Well after much spraying with contact cleaner and lubricating the mechanism with WD40, the meter is again working.

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
Pretty fascinating mechanism isn’t it? Glad it’s ticking
--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
 
Lots in the box, that's for sure!

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?

I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
> Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?
>
> I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
> wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.

I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do
the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.

Larry

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
You have to be kind of careful with WD40. It is more of a degreaser than a
lube. Some silicon spray after the WD40 would be better.

> > Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?
> >
> > I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it
> to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
> > wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.
>
> I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good
> cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do
> the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.
>
> Larry
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
I would avoid WD40 at all cost! It will gum up the works as it has cosmoleln(Spelling guess) in its makeup. It will gum up pistols and rifles. I would also avoid any oil that is silicone based also for instrument use also.

I would suggest an all mineral based oil such as a clock oil or 3 and 1 and 3 and 1 mineral based oil or small motor lubricating oil. When I supervised and instrument shop[ we used and instrument oil that was based on whale oil and I still have a small bottle of it.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/3-in-one-10135-3-oz-multi-purpose-oil/99910135.html?utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=99910135&utm_campaign=janitorial_supplies_connexity_pla

https://tinyurl.com/4rwmk85f

or

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/97135917?cid=ppc-bing-New%20-%20Lubricants,%20Coolants%20%26%20Fluids%20-%20PLA_MIUbue4L__be_74010925135934_c_&mkwid=MIUbue4L%7Cdc&pcrid=74010925135934&product_id=97135917&msclkid=0d4d1f872b4216f788597f4059d3863a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=New%20-%20Lubricants,%20Coolants%20%26%20Fluids%20-%20PLA&utm_term=4577610504246075&utm_content=Lubricants%20%26%20Lubrication%20Equipment%20Ad%20Group%20-%20Supplier

https://tinyurl.com/656at8zm

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> You have to be kind of careful with WD40. It is more of a degreaser than a
> lube. Some silicon spray after the WD40 would be better.
>

>

>>> Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?
>>>
>>> I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it
>> to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
>>> wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.
>>
>> I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good
>> cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do
>> the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> --
>> Larry - Victoria BC -
>>
>> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
>> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
>> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
>
> *John Phillips*
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
I agree that 3-in-1 type mineral oil is superior to WD (water displacement) -40 for lubricating gears, but I don't believe WD has Cosmoline in it.
Source? All I could find is that WD Is an excellent solvent for Cosmoline.
--
Christo Darsch
GMC Nor'easters
1977 Eleganza II - "The Komet"
3.50 Power Drive, Disc Brakes, Alcoas
Weymouth, MA
 
90% Stoddard Solvent. A couple percent of proprietary elements for water
repellent, and anti-corrosion inhibitors, rest is propellants. No
lubricants at all. Not it's intended design. Basically for nonferrous
metals like used in the aircraft industries. The solvents chase out all the
residues left from cleaning and polishing the metals, the corrosion
inhibitors are for the areas between like a rib and skin so corrosion
doesn't start there before coatings can be applied. The number WD-40 comes
for water displacement formula #40. Took that many tries before the
government and Boeing and Lockheed could all agree. Not for clocks, guns,
instruments, etc.
I used to have the M.S.D.S for that stuff, but it got lost over time.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> I agree that 3-in-1 type mineral oil is superior to WD (water
> displacement) -40 for lubricating gears, but I don't believe WD has
> Cosmoline in it.
> Source? All I could find is that WD Is an excellent solvent for Cosmoline.
> --
> Christo Darsch
> GMC Nor'easters
> 1977 Eleganza II - "The Komet"
> 3.50 Power Drive, Disc Brakes, Alcoas
> Weymouth, MA
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
Oh well, too bad, working for now so we'll see if it stays working.

100% improvement over not working BTW 8)

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
 
The running time meter has no user serviceable parts inside. The cost of a new repalcement is minimal.

See this site.

https://www.mpja.com/Running-Hour-Meter-12-36VDC-Xtal-Controlled/productinfo/32053+MI/

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> Oh well, too bad, working for now so we'll see if it stays working.
>
> 100% improvement over not working BTW 8)
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Excellent link - thanks for posting!

Larry

> The running time meter has no user serviceable parts inside. The cost of a new repalcement is minimal.
>
> See this site.
>
> https://www.mpja.com/Running-Hour-Meter-12-36VDC-Xtal-Controlled/productinfo/32053+MI/
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC Great Laker MHC
> GMCGL Tech Editor
> GMC Eastern States Charter Member
> GMCMI
> 78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
> 75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
> Michigan

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses