Problem with Tilt Meter

[pruntyc]

The tilt meter won't work with my Yanmar YM 1700 tractor. Has anyone else had this problem? Rick at R&B don't know the answer either. He said it is static electricity, from the vibration of the tractor running. He said he would be working on an answer and for me to also. So I was wondering if any of you guys had a problem with yours. If you take a spray bottle and spray it, then it will work till it drys, that kills the static on it, only while it is grounded by the water. But at around 90 degrees and in the sun, that happens real quick. Hope someone on here can help me as my land runs about 15 to 25 degrees from what I can tell the little time I was spraying it, so I need it kind of bad. Thanks a lot.

 

[BillyP]

One thing you might try is mounting the tilt meter with rubber grommets. That way the meter won't be grounded and shouldn't build up any static electricity.

 

[Henro]

Could it be temperature related? Static sounds unlikely to me, but I've been wrong before.

I imagine there is a metal ball inside a plastic housing. Do you have a magnet? Try moving the ball with the magnet when it is "stuck" It should move if it is not bound up...due to expansion from heat...it may be obvious if it doesn't move, or moves and hangs up, rather than moving smoothly.

Generally you do not want to electrically insulate something if static build up is a concern...at least from my experience, so I am not sure if mounting it on rubber would be of help.

Do you have a loader? If you put the loader on the ground that should drain the static from the tractor if it is being charged...but I think you would know if you were building up static when you get off the tractor. I sure do when I get out of my car when it has a static charge on it! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

You could try heating the thing carefully with a hair drier to see if the problem is temperature related...

Just a couple ideas...

 

[RobS]

I had a similar problem and Rick sent a new unit. Same problem though with the replacement. Rick had mentioned static electricity then as well.

I ended up moving the tilt meter to a different location. First location had a lot of vibration (which could have contributed to static?) and the new location has much less. No problems since I moved it. and that has been a couple of years now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jimg]

Id try wiping the whole thing down really well w/ a dryer sheet. If it is static related this should do the trick. Ive used this several times on plastics w/ statis problems. jimg

 

[CTyler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Id try wiping the whole thing down really well w/ a dryer sheet. )</font>

Or mix some fabric softener and water into a spray bottle. I've done this to my carpet and truck, works good. Got tired of having the living crap zapped out of me!

I'm gonna throw some ideas out since I don't know how you mounted the meter. If it is indeed a static problem it may be from the plastic unit vibrating on the painted surface? If its bolted down make sure there is contact between the screw and the metal, not just the paint, primer etc..

If not bolted/screwed down(sticky tape) try running a wire from the meter to a ground point on the tractor. Just tighten the wire behind one of the washers on the meter. I'd run to a bolt on your loader. IF... it stops working put your bucket on the ground.

If that works then you'll need to ground the tractor to earth. I'd suggest filling your tires with water and put a small holes them /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Just kidding.....run a small wire from your 3pt bolt or some other spot and let it drag on the ground. This way it acts like a brush on a slot car, I mean slot tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Let us know.

 

[pruntyc]

Rick also sent me another one also, same thing. I tryed mounting it on the fender, but same results. He said its static, but has no answer. Something about the vibration, make the static. If he can find an answer, he said he would get a hold of me. But he didn't sould to hopeful, for he never has, tryed other kind of balls, even glass, but none of them worked.

 

[BillyP]

Around here we only have static electricity when the humidity is low. Believe me, it's not that often. When it does happen, I'm usually sliding my butt across the truck seat or walking on carpet. Both situations take friction or movement.

It does make sense that it's static electricity that is causing the problem. You noticed when water is applied, no problem? I'd still try the rubber grommets and maybe a piece of rubber. It shouldn't cost more than a couple of bucks. At least I'd know whether it worked or not /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If it was something in the tilt meter, it would happen more than it does.

If all else fails, you can get a spray-on static guard. I used to use it on my truck seat. It'll work for a few days, then you have to reapply.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I was mowing the slope along our road and the tilt meter fell off . . . is that a bad sign?

 

[pruntyc]

I'm in MS. the humidity is very high here most of the time. Rick said something about the vibration causeing the static elec. on it. I've tryed mounting it on rubber, didn't work. Rick is the one who told me about spraying it with water, but it only works, till the water goes off. He said it takes off the static elec. someway. I'll try the static guard later and see if it does anything, I willing as I want it to work, try just about anything to at least see.