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Hour meter on Gravely HD question

#1

S

sk11venge

I just got my new Gravely HD 48. One thing I was wondering about is the hour meter, I noticed it doesnt turn off, it just constantly displays the hour count. I am concerned this will drain the battery over time. Is this normal for it not to turn off after a short period of time? I checked it hours later after turning the mower off and it was still on.


#2

R

Rivets

In a couple of years of nonuse it could drain the battery. I wouldn't worry about it, the draw is less than can be measured on most meters.


#3

S

sk11venge

Rivets said:
In a couple of years of nonuse it could drain the battery. I wouldn't worry about it, the draw is less than can be measured on most meters.
Click to expand...

Oh I see. Well I still don't get why it would be designed so it never turns off, I guess every mowers different. Are there any other users that have experienced this?


#4

reynoldston

reynoldston

everything I own with a hour meter turns off with the key switch.. If you don't have a on and off switch like a key switch to run your mower I would add one and then hook up the hour meter to it.


#5

Ric

Ric

Look at your hour meter with the key in the on position and see if there is a decimal flashing, that would mean the hour meter is running. When the key is off there shouldn't be anything flashing. Both of my units the Toro Grandstand and Cub Cadet ZTR stay on to show hours but there not running.


#6

M

Mad Mackie

Newer digital type hour meters have their own internal battery that keeps the screen live. When the engine is running, the clock will count the time. When the internal battery, which is not replaceable, dies then the meter must be replaced.


#7

S

sk11venge

The meter has no flashing when the mower is off and the key is removed. It would make sense that the meter has an internal battery i guess. I have owned a garden tractor with an hour meter and it turned off when the mower was off so its just odd to me I guess to see this one still displaying the hour count, I cant really see how useful that could be, I know the obvious would be to check the hour count but if you had the key with you it can be checked that way. Is there a particular reason the new hour meters have an internal battery? Perhaps to insure the hour count isnt lost when the mower battery dies or is disconnected?


#8

M

Mad Mackie

The original hourmeter on my Scag Tiger Cub started to read 9999.9 and would show the actual time when I pushed on one corner of the LCD screen. I chatted with the parts man at my local Scag dealer and he told me that Scag knew of the problem and had changed vendors. I bought a new meter but I don't remember if there was any display before I installed it. Scag meters do have an internal battery and a memory that indicates maintenance due regarding engine oil change intervals. The display stays live and when I store this machine for the winter. I remove the battery and put it in one of my GTs that only gets used in winter.
I cut the old hourmeter open on my bandsaw and was able to pry out the memory battery and it was a standard button battery that is used in some watches and computers, however potted in epoxy in the hourmeter.
The hourmeter in my Ingersoll 4018 GT is an analog type and will click away when the keyswitch is on regardless if the engine is running or not and will eventually kill the battery.
Today I was at my local Scag dealer looking over the Scag machines in their show room and I noticed that both Tiger Cats on display showed a clear screen on the hourmeters. The batteries were not installed in these machines, so I'm not sure what initiates the display in these meters.
I was just doing a google search for hourmeters and there is every configuration possible available. It all depends what the OEM specifies from the vendor.


#9

djdicetn

djdicetn

sk11venge said:
I just got my new Gravely HD 48. One thing I was wondering about is the hour meter, I noticed it doesnt turn off, it just constantly displays the hour count. I am concerned this will drain the battery over time. Is this normal for it not to turn off after a short period of time? I checked it hours later after turning the mower off and it was still on.
Click to expand...

The hour meter on my Gravely Pro Turn 100 XDZ stays on too but I've never really been concerned. I just figured that was the way it was designed.


#10

B

bruce4

Ric said:
Look at your hour meter with the key in the on position and see if there is a decimal flashing, that would mean the hour meter is running. When the key is off there shouldn't be anything flashing. Both of my units the Toro Grandstand and Cub Cadet ZTR stay on to show hours but there not running.
Click to expand...

Hello I just bought a ZT 42 and had a hour meter installed by dealer. I got it home and meter does not seem to work. It reads 0000.1 after two mows, about 1.7 hours of mowing. I called dealer he said check connections. I did and they seem fine. One wire P connected to a purple wire in key switch and one wire N to frame. Any idea why meter won't work?


#11

B

bruce4

Mad Mackie said:
The original hourmeter on my Scag Tiger Cub started to read 9999.9 and would show the actual time when I pushed on one corner of the LCD screen. I chatted with the parts man at my local Scag dealer and he told me that Scag knew of the problem and had changed vendors. I bought a new meter but I don't remember if there was any display before I installed it. Scag meters do have an internal battery and a memory that indicates maintenance due regarding engine oil change intervals. The display stays live and when I store this machine for the winter. I remove the battery and put it in one of my GTs that only gets used in winter.
I cut the old hourmeter open on my bandsaw and was able to pry out the memory battery and it was a standard button battery that is used in some watches and computers, however potted in epoxy in the hourmeter.
The hourmeter in my Ingersoll 4018 GT is an analog type and will click away when the keyswitch is on regardless if the engine is running or not and will eventually kill the battery.
Today I was at my local Scag dealer looking over the Scag machines in their show room and I noticed that both Tiger Cats on display showed a clear screen on the hourmeters. The batteries were not installed in these machines, so I'm not sure what initiates the display in these meters.
I was just doing a google search for hourmeters and there is every configuration possible available. It all depends what the OEM specifies from the vendor.
Click to expand...

Hello I just bought a ZT 42 and had a hour meter installed by dealer. I got it home and meter does not seem to work. It reads 0000.1 after two mows, about 1.7 hours of mowing. I called dealer he said check connections. I did and they seem fine. One wire P connected to a purple wire in key switch and one wire N to frame. Any idea why meter won't work?


#12

djdicetn

djdicetn

bruce4 said:
Hello I just bought a ZT 42 and had a hour meter installed by dealer. I got it home and meter does not seem to work. It reads 0000.1 after two mows, about 1.7 hours of mowing. I called dealer he said check connections. I did and they seem fine. One wire P connected to a purple wire in key switch and one wire N to frame. Any idea why meter won't work?
Click to expand...

Your dealer should correct that immediately!!!! I'm certain you paid extra for the hour meter to be installed and not working is unacceptable for a warranted ZTR. Call your dealer and tactfully "insist" that he correct the problem. If he balks...contact Gravely and give them the dealers name. Here is a link to their Support webpage...they are SERIOUS about support after the sale!!! Start up a live chat and ask the Customer Support Rep what they suggest that you do. I would think at least they would contact your dealer and put a little pressure on him for making it right.

Support Home Page


#13

B

bruce4

djdicetn said:
Your dealer should correct that immediately!!!! I'm certain you paid extra for the hour meter to be installed and not working is unacceptable for a warranted ZTR. Call your dealer and tactfully "insist" that he correct the problem. If he balks...contact Gravely and give them the dealers name. Here is a link to their Support webpage...they are SERIOUS about support after the sale!!! Start up a live chat and ask the Customer Support Rep what they suggest that you do. I would think at least they would contact your dealer and put a little pressure on him for making it right.

Support Home Page
Click to expand...

Yes my dealer was able to get me a new meter and a heat shield at no cost. My new mower was burning up my grass every time my wife stopped or slowed down. I wonder if all mowers with the Kawasaki motors are doing this. Have not received the items yet.


#14

B

bruce4

Well I finally figured it out today. After calling two gravely dealers and both telling me the same thing which did not work I found the wiring diagram on line. All I had to do was run another wire from the back of hour meter labeled I to the battery positive. This caused the hour glass picture on the meter to flash slowly and therefore change time. Wala thank goodness for the internet. :wink:


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