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Hi Troops,
Mowed four places yesterday, checked the hour meter before I started the first place, five hours later, including travel time, when I cleaned the machine with my back pack blower the hour meter only showed 2 tenths of an hour more and it was flashing "0930" and the latest time alternately. I'm not sure what this means, but for sure after 4 gallons of gas, it should have shown more than 2 tenths of an hour of machine time on the clock. Tomorrow I will bring the machine into my garage and check out electrical and charging as this meter, which is the 2nd one on this machine, isn't supposed to clock time when the key is on but only when the engine is running. This means that internal to the meter is a circuit that can sense the higher voltage produced by the charging system and will only clock time when it senses this condition. I may have a charging system problem with this machine, tomorrow I will check it out.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

I checked out my Scag Tiger Cub today, nothing out of the ordinary, hourmeter clocking time as it is supposed to, but the next time I mow I will check it frequently. I do have a feeling that this meter is failing. I may look for an analog meter that fits in the rectangular hole and if so, bring its time up to the time on the machine or close to it. Rain yesterday, today and possibly tomorrow, I'm not complaining, but the weather pattern has moved me to weekend mowing to keep up, not crazy about spending weekends mowing.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Just switch it over to the analog type. I hate clocks that run with batteries! The weather is humid over here........
I posted this last year, I put this on mine from amazon. I'm happy with it, but it clocks all the time when the ignition is on.

I think that I'll do the same. I don't mind that it clocks time with the key on. Did it fit the rectangular hole OK?

Yes perfectly. I remove the key so I don't leave it turned on and then clock 50 hours behind my back... I plug the mower into a battery tender. One time my jacket must have bumped the switch and it turn on. I was clocking without being in the garage. But as luck would have it, I re-entered the garage a few minutes later and caught the machine with the ignition on. Now I just remove the key and drop it into a jar on the bench. Key is out, machine is off. Works for me.
I had to drill the mounting holes, but the meter fits the opening perfectly.

This is the one I bought. Hunt down one with this part number, if you like.


Brand Name Honeywell
Part Number 085094 44
Number of Items 1
UNSPSC Code 41111600

Just ordered a Honeywell/Hobbs meter. I plan to run the meter time up to as close to current time as possible, this will take some time and monitoring, but that's OK, I've done it before!!!

I done that too. That's what a 12v power supply is for.

It will fit the opening perfectly. I just cut the original wires and rewired it. NO MORE BATTERIES! :smile:

I've got a timer that I can put on the PS to stop it when the time gets close, meanwhile, 600 hours will take 600 hours no matter how fast I would like it to happen!!!! I'll drill and tap the hold down screw holes to 6-32 thread and locktite them. The machine is charging OK and I didn't find any electrical connector problems. Of course every time that I have run the engine in the last few days trying to get the meter to screw up, it didn't!!!! I'll be mowing a lot the next few days and I will check the meter frequently.

Did some checks on my machine yesterday after mowing about three gallons of gas, but showing only .3 more on the hourmeter. The battery was fully charged, I connected a 10 amp battery charger but didn't turn it on. Connected a voltmeter across the battery, turned it on, 12.96 VDC. Turned the key on, battery voltage dropped a little which is normal, the hourmeter did not clock time. Turned on the battery charger and observed the battery voltage rise, hourmeter started clocking time at 13.6 VDC, battery voltage continued to rise to 15.65VDC. I did this several times and observed the hourmeter and it started clocking time between 13.5-13.8 VDC. However when the machine is running with the PTO on and just the voltmeter on the battery, the system voltage decreases slowly and the hourmeter stops clocking time. The system voltage with the PTO on stabilizes at 12.8-12.9 VDC after 10 minutes or so. I drop the deck to the lowest position so I can't stick the tip of my shoes under the deck.
I know that I'm way passed a 50/100 hour servicing, but I don't know how much, so I'm going to do the servicing today and hopefully tomorrow the analog hourmeters that I ordered will arrive. I'm going to install one ASAP, the other meter I will connect to a power supply and run its time up to where I feel the actual machine is and then install it. Putting 600 hours on an hourmeter will take 600 hours!!!
No more digital specialized hourmeters for Mackie, all my other machines have analog meters already installed except the Hustler X-ONE which is still on a 5 year warranty plan except the engine which is 3 years, and the hourmeter and fuel gauges on it are working properly.
I gotta clean the deck too!!! Generally almost fills a 5 gallon pail!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

I don't like these digital meters. 90% of the time your PTO is on so what's with these meters with actual grass cutting hours anyway? Your machine is charging so the meter is too sensitive on voltage, or the machine output has dropped slightly causing the meter not to clock time.

I think you will be happy when the new meter is installed.

When I installed this meter, I checked it to see what its voltage threshold was and it was 13.0-13.1 VDC. Although the system voltage isn't as high as I would expect, the battery is always in full or almost full charge. The battery is a TSC 420 CA that is about 2 years old. As it is sealed, I cannot check the specific gravity of the electrolyte. I just realized that putting 600 hours on an hourmeter will take 25 days, so I'll think about it!!! New meters should be here tomorrow. Just did a 200 hour service, but didn't change the engine oil yet. Machine could have 30-50 more hours on it than the meter shows. Meter periodically flashes what is possibly a fault code, 0094.0, still haven't been able to find out what it means.
Mad Mackie in CT

Hobbs/Honeywell meters arrived today. I installed one in my Tiger Cub and as I have just done 200 and 500 hour services plus an engine oil and filter change, I can now track the hours. Will do my usual mid season hydraulic oil and filter change soon. It is nice to have a functioning hour meter!!! I've had it with the digital LCD units crapping out on me, now all my machines, except my Hustler, have quartz analog meters and they all work!!!! The charging system is operating normally. I'm OK with this meter running when the key is on as I do a fair amount of dethatching in the spring and fall for cleanup, most of this time without the deck running, then I raise up the dethatcher and run the mower/collection system to suck up the stuff.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

I'm glad your happy with the meters.
NO MORE BATTERIES!:laughing:

I've done all services and filter changes to bring me back to zero plus 610 hours on my Tiger Cub. Air filter and spark plugs are replaced on condition. Today I visited my local Scag, JD/Husqvarna and Tractor Supply which are in the same town, Scag dealer had 48" and 52" Tiger Cats and 52" Cheetah plus others in stock!!! I looked over both models and drooled on them some, still prefer the Tiger Cats, but the $$$$, WOW!!! I prefer Husqvarna chainsaws and will soon purchase a trimmer type saw, but the one that I would like is $600!!! Again WOW!!! I must be getting to old as these dollars shock me!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Mad Mackie said:

Again WOW!!! I must be getting to old as these dollars shock me!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Click to expand...

Living in this state shocks me......I have to purchase another home heating oil delivery very soon. I'm trying to put it off. The guy will wack me nearly 700 bucks. Like I said, this state....

Hi tigercat,
I did come home with a new Husqvarna T540XP which is a top handled trim type saw, nice machine!! I traded my Husq 390XP that was very clean and low time so I'm a happy camper!!!
Now, for the old Scag hourmeter!!! I was about to trash it and noticed that it has three terminals on it with one being covered. I cut the covering off the 3rd terminal, connected it to a small 12volt battery and it started clocking time!! Chatted with my local Scag parts guy and he told me that although Scag has two different part numbers for essentially the same meter, the insulated terminal is different between the two P/N meters. So, depending on how the meter is wired, putting power to it will operate it or when it senses an increase in system voltage from the charging system it will operate. Not sure why Scag did this!!! I was going to cut it open with my bandsaw, but now I'm going to play with it on a battery just for fun!!! Meanwhile, the Hobbs/Honeywell analog meter is going to stay on the Tiger Cub!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Last fall when I replaced my Scag meter for the analog meter, it was blinking that it was time for the oil change. It was working as it should, just I didn't like the meter. I did keep that meter on the shelf above the computer desk just to glance at it from time to time. One day I'll look up at it and see it has died. Then I'll say to myself, replacing the meter was the right thing to do.....I hate batteries.:smile: Glad to hear you got a great saw deal.

Just thinking, why am I going to spend time playing with this meter, so it will be headed for the bandsaw!!! My other new Hobbs meter is connected to another small battery and in about a month it will be up to 630 hours or so and I will put it on the Scag so it will be total time per the meter. I have the alarm set on my cell phone to remind me!!! Meanwhile!!!! My neighbor and friend of 45 years thinks that I am "nuts"!!! He may very well be right!! HaHa!!! He doesn't understand the problems that an aircraft mech can get into with the FAA from not having researched an aircrafts paperwork enough to determine the correct time on an aircraft when someone else replaced the hourmeter and didn't correct the aircraft logbook!!! Old aircraft mech Mackie!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Ahh, I did the same as you when I swapped the meter. Of course it had 20 HRS on it not a months worth. The sealed lead is for 12V and it will run all the time? interesting. My old "scag" meter is still blinking oil change needed at 19.2 hrs.......as it sits on the shelf near me right now...

Well you getting closer on the time?

The sealed terminal is the one away from the other two. I cut the seal off and connected it to the positive of a small battery and the negative to the other terminal that is in line with it and the meter started clocking very accurate time. I also noticed that the meter flashes 0093.0 periodically and realized that this is the number marked on the rear of the meter, the numbers to the left are manufacture date. I have switched back to the other terminal and with just battery power it will not clock time, but if I put a small charger on the battery, the voltage increases and as it passes 13.5 volts, the meter starts clocking time. This seems a little unnecessary to me, but this is the way it is setup. Put power to your meter and if the hour glass symbol flashes then the meter is clocking time. It may flash between oil change and hours.
Check out the pics, not very clear, Oh well!!!
Now that I have a working meter on my machine, I am becoming aware that the Scag meter has been screwing up for a much longer time than I had thought!!!!

Scag hourmeter has been connected to small batteries and is close to 560 hours with the goal of 621 or more depending on future machine usage. I plan to put it back on my machine when it gets to the machine time and do the same with the Hobbs/Honeywell meter currently on my machine and put the Hobbs back on. The other Hobbs meter that I bought was installed on another machine that although is manual start, has a low amp charging system. I installed a rectifier on it and installed the Hobbs and it is working fine. Had I known, I would have ordered an AC Hobbs meter to install on it.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Remember years ago they would pop the back out of speedometers and turn the mileage back or forward to the new desired setting. They would never wait a month with the car rear tires spinning on a jack stand!
Too bad the Hobbs meters are sealed, it sure would save a bit of time.

The Scag hourmeter is about to turn 625 hours, Tomorrow I will reinstall it on my Tiger Cub and put the Hobbs/Honeywell meter on a battery and let it run for however long it takes to get to the time on my TC and then put it back on in place of the Scag meter. I ran my TC today for 2.8 hours at a customers place with the dethatcher installed, mower and collection system running, still had fuel remaining in the R/H tank, just over a 3 gallon tank, so I'm very pleased with the fuel consumption of the 30 HP Briggs Commercial Turf engine. The customer asked me how many times I had dumped the collection bags as he had me dump in three different places, I stopped counting at 10 unloads, but probably did 15 to 18 extra full loads!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

DUST....yuck

Is there a way to know when they are full? You ever see a indicator of some type in your travels that Scag might use? Right now when I bag leaves, I just exit the seat once in a while and check the levels and then decide to empty the buckets.

When I bagged leaves on my Craftsman tractor, they have a small turning wheel (as an indicator) on the chute, when it stops spinning the bags where full. That was a cool feature when it worked. I don't think SCAG has that feature available. However, that Craftsman feature was the only thing that was good about it. The chute was of such thin plastic, it would break or crack in places which needed replacing often. I ended up throwing the whole collection system away after 3 years.:thumbdown:

This job wasn't near as dusty as I had expected, but I wore a dust mask, goggles, hat and hearing protection for the entire job, nice thick turf for 95% of the three acres.
My Ingersoll GT with collection has a distinct change in blower noise when the bags are full, but no so with my TC. I stop periodically, reach back and touch/push on the R/H and center bags to get an idea how full they are. I have had the hose and blower totally clogged and only noticed grass buildup on the lawn if I happened to turn and look. I periodically reach out and lift the hose to see if it is heavy with grass. I did notice today that I need to clean the screen inside the bag cover as the grass was damper than I expected and plugged up about 1/3rd of the screen. I have been using mulching blades and a plate all summer and just put the collection system and regular blades back on last Friday as falling leaves were accumulating at several customers places. At the end of last season I replaced the blower fan as the original one was wearing on the blade tips. When I was working, I had access to a nice balancer and used to weld repair and rebalance the fans in my Ingersoll GT collection systems, but retired now!!! Actually I built the rebalancing tool for my former employer and it made aircraft tire and wheel rebalancing fairly easy as compared to the one that they had. It was a lot more time on the milling machine and lathe than they wanted to pay for, I should have brought it home when I retired!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile: