BX24 hour meter problem

[coreshot]

I've searched, but didn't really find anyone with my exact problem. I've talked with the dealer, and it sounds pretty common.

My problem-When it's cool outside, not necessarily cold, my tach/hour meter blacks out to a point that you cannot see the digits. It looks like someone took a black Sharpie to the inside of the glass. Once it warms up outside, the black dissappears and it works just fine. The outside temp. has to warm up, not the tractor. If it stays cold out, the tach never clears up.

I've talked with the dealer, and they basically said that if it works sometimes, then they won't do anything about it. If it stops working completely, they'll replace it. This seems like bs to me, as we are in the middle of winter and I have no way of knowing where my hours are. I'm getting close to the 150hr. service, but don't know how close. I also have no idea of hours to charge for seat time with my landscaping. Any thoughts?

 

[BigD23]

Suggestion, contact Kubota directly and share your story and ask them if the way the dealer is handling (or not in this instance) the issue is their standard policy...If it gets back to the dealer from higher ups it may tend to tick them off so weigh that as well as far as possible future work done by them...Good luck.

Don

 

[radioman]

hmm, I'll have to look at mine today. we just got our first cold snap near 0 today. However i can relate to you though, I have seen where it wass a bit hard to read but still readable in cold weather, then when it warms up from the engine heat, I can read more clearly. I wasn't bothered by this since I was a computer tech and it shows the exact same signs as the LCD's in laptops displays. If left in the cold, the liquid can expand and makes it hard to read until it warms up. It can also cracks the display to point where its unreadable. I just dont think this will happen on the bx24, ( i hope not) as the lcd is much smaller and less likely to crack and exapand as much. (fyi- i am assuming the last part)

 

[actionaj]

Kubota should have put analog tach and hour meters in the BX's in the first place. It would be a lot better and wouldn't have problems like this.

 

[Just2quickz28]

Turn your lights on for a while, the back light will warm up the LCD fluid for a display, maybe just enough to read it. I have the same problems

 

[coreshot]

Turn your lights on for a while, the back light will warm up the LCD fluid for a display, maybe just enough to read it. I have the same problems

I've tried that, with the cold we've been having, it doesn't make a difference. Probaly would in cool weather though. How about a 12v heater (light bulb, etc.) behind the unit to warm it up a bit more? Any ideas?

 

[Just2quickz28]

Its not that cold here yet, i can just make out the top half of the numbers still. Last option maybe get a heated storage area

I do have a HF 12v heater fan thing that someone gave me, I will try plugging that in and pointing it at the hour meter and i will let you know

 

[Deano]

My BX24 did the same thing and it got worse. I had 2 hours shy of 300 hours on it and was still in warranty. My dealer changed it out under warranty and I even bought the tractor used from a private seller. Before I replaced it, I would take a 300 watt work light and hang off the steering wheel for about 10 minutes after a couple of uses so I could keep track of the time. After doing that, the display was crystal clear!! I waited till I did the 300 hour service so that I knew where I left off. Now my tractor only has 38.5 hours!!! When you use a bright light like I did you just have to be carefull not to let it get too close so it does not melt anything. I would call Corporate and explain the problem. That is what I was told to do if I did not get satisfaction from the dealer. Luckily, I did not need to call corporate.

Deano

 

[KeithInSpace]

Kubota should have put analog tach and hour meters in the BX's in the first place.

The hour meter was analog in the previous generation...I much prefer it that way.

I think "customer opinion polls" told them there was a deep desire for a tach on these machines and the cheapest way to accomplish that was a combo hour-meter/tach thingy.

Don't see much of a need for an RPM gauge on these things. I don't have one and don't really care what the RPM is...it is either idling, WOT, or something in the middle depending on "feel". It being 2,700 RPM vs 2,500 or 2,900 wouldn't make a hill of beans difference to me.

Mechanical hour-meter is probably cheaper anyway, especially before all the warranty replacements Kubota has been on the hook for.

 

[radioman]

this morning , the hour meter was readable this morning in 6 degrees weather, but it was faint. possible issue in the future ? only time will tell.

 

[Just2quickz28]

this morning , the hour meter was readable this morning in 6 degrees weather, but it was faint. possible issue in the future ? only time will tell.

I don't think there will be an issue in the future, most LCD screens will be fine again once it warms up. Take my Sirius Radio, if I leave it out in the car during the cold, its hard to read in the morning, blurry, darkened or faint text, but once the unit warms up its fine again. The tractor doesn't heat the LCD enough to make it readable. If it total freezes thats another issue.....

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Take it to the dealer and have him contact his service rep. The unit should be replaced now while under warranty

 

[bx24]

My meter became impossible to read regardless of the temp ..... The dealer ended up replacing that portion of the dashboard

 

[coreshot]

My meter became impossible to read regardless of the temp ..... The dealer ended up replacing that portion of the dashboard

Yeah see, he told me if that was the case that they would replace it. But, being as it worked sometimes, they wouldn't. I'm going to try heating from under the hood somehow and see if I can't correct the problem so the hours are correct on the machine. I still have plenty of warranty, so if I fail I will have options. Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it.

The lightbulb hanging on the steering wheel is good, I just wonder if the tach will revert back to black when it gets cold as I'm working. We'll see.

 

[Deano]

The lightbulb hanging on the steering wheel is good, I just wonder if the tach will revert back to black when it gets cold as I'm working. We'll see.

Yes Coreshot, it does fade again after I pulled the light off
That is why I had it replaced.

Deano

 

[Philscbx]

Maybe just getting a backup hour meter, the original mechanical style that hook up real easy to oil pressure switch.

Now one can mount it in easy spot to read walking by.

I also use an hour meter with 4 timers built in, fits in pocket with large display. Or options on my Blackberry.