Hobbs Hour Meter Question

motorjock · Mar 17, 2008

Ok, moron me had 12 hrs on my new gravley ztr mower. I go into the shop Saturday to move it to sweep behind it and the battery is dead. I couldn't blame it on anyone so, I left the key on. I put the battery charger on and fire it back up. I look down and the meter says 94 hrs. Is there anyway to rewind or restart that. I'm ticked at myself.

Thanks in advance for any help.

wushaw · Mar 17, 2008

Not that I know of.

Buy a new one and put it in your records what the real time is.

motorjock · Mar 17, 2008

that's what I was afraid of. I thought it only ran when the engine was running. Kinda seems nonsense to have it running when just the key is on. Kinda defeats the purpose of keeping up with engine time. I know I can't be the first moron!! Thanks

Shimon · Mar 17, 2008

Just about every hour meter runs of key ignition power. If you want it to run only when the engine is running, hook it up through an oil pressure that is normally open and closes with pressure...or use some other type of automatic switch.

Shimon · Mar 17, 2008

And...just buy a new one and hook it up to a battery for 12 hours and install it so you will have an accurate gauge.

gordon21 · Mar 18, 2008

Be thankful it wasn't a rental of some kind that bills you by the hour. 82 extra hours on the Hobbs would have cost you well over $10,000 if that had been a 30 year old small Cessna rental plane.

Merely subtract 82 from every future reading for maintenance.

Hang a nail next to the door. Put the key on it before locking up the shop. Don't leave the key in the ignition.

Hobbs meters cannot be rewound like the odometers in older cars could. The Hobbs plastic wheels will only move in one direction. Old car odometers could move in both directions by hooking up a dremel tool to the input. Don't ask me how I know this.