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Hour meters
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 5:26 pm
by dagen
Late in the season last year both my hour meters quit working on my 78 F30 with twin 318's. I could use some advice on troubleshooting. I don't believe these came with the boat, I assume these were added by previous owner. I know I need to track down the wiring, but I am not sure where it runs from.
I would think that if I a wire or connection went bad that only one meter would have stopped. Could these be connected to a common fuse? Any help or guidance on this would be appreciated?
Brian
Re: Hour meters
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:40 pm
by larryeddington
they are pretty simple if ignition on then power to the timers. They only run when they have 12 v.
Usually if someone repowers they will hang the old ones around so the total time on boat is recorded. "usually" I have a couple that came out of my 79 f28, think the hours are 9xx or something similar. They are pretty cheap for new ones. But if both are not working something is amiss in circuits.

Re: Hour meters
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 8:09 pm
by Big D
They should be hooked up to the "RUN" circuit. As long as the IGN key is in the RUN position after the engines have started, the meter is powered up and running. The connection could be at any point in the circuit but likely easiest on the RUN side of the IGN switches.
If both sides failed at the same time, look for something common to both like the ground connection. Check for power to the hour meters by turning the keys to RUN, don't need to start the engines, and take a volt meter to check if there is 12 volts to the hour meters. If there is 12 volts at their connections then the meters are faulty. If you don't read 12 volts there, then you need to work your way back along the circuit until you read 12 volts. The issue will be between that point and the last no power point you read.