strange jump in hours ct225

[unclesalty]

Maybe Ive been sleep walking and getting some chores done...
2 weeks ago my tractor had 65 hours on it. I have only used it since then about every other day to dump the horse manure over to my neighbors. total time for the trip about 15 mins. I figure about 1-2 hours. I got on the tractor to do some work yesterday and I noticed it had 83 hours on it! I last filled it up at 65 hours and the gauge still says full. I asked my wife if she had left it on somehow or stalled it out and forgot about it for several hours, nope. I mean its not easy to do, you have to shut off the tractor then turn the key back on.
Ill be keeping a daily log for a while until the problem or culprit is found. Maybe a nanny cam to try and catch my neighbor using it. He has lusted after it since it was delivered...

 

[tinman955]

My guess is that the key was left on, with no fuel consumtion that has to be the only reason I can think of.

 

[powergod]

I would go with gremlins doing night landscaping or perhaps trolls doing bridge improvements. atleast they were nice enough to top her back off

 

[horticattleman]

if you get off the seat and the machine kills, the hour meter will continue to run until you turn the key off.

 

[unclesalty]

if you get off the seat and the machine kills, the hour meter will continue to run until you turn the key off.

I thought of that, but with the amount of hours I gained, i would think it would have drained the battery. It remains a mystery.
I am taking a closer look at the switch to see if in fact it can be wiggled to the on position inadvertently. or if its making contact while mostly in the off position. I sit close to the wheel and have had my knee knock the switch when dismounting at times....