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Onan hour meter [message #364637]

Fri, 11 June 2021 15:12

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Noticed my hour meter seems stuck - pulled the panel, all looks good back there - any idea what would cause the meter to fail?

Larry

Larry - Victoria BC - 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364638 is a reply to message #364637]

Fri, 11 June 2021 15:24

Tilerpep

Messages: 404
Registered: June 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC

Karma: 7

Senior Member

I recently decided I had nothing to lose on my seven year inop meter and got down inside the little case. A little squirt of silicone lube and a little working of the mechanism and it came back to life. Went back together no worse for wear.

1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath Raleigh, NC

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364639 is a reply to message #364637]

Fri, 11 June 2021 15:44

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Thanks mate, worth a try for sure!
How did you open the case?

Larry

[Updated on: Fri, 11 June 2021 15:53]

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364642 is a reply to message #364637]

Fri, 11 June 2021 19:01

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Ok well I opened up the meter, it's like a railroad watch inside, very clean so now thinking maybe the thing is wired incorrectly? Anyone know the tap to the hour meter from the start switch?

Larry

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364647 is a reply to message #364637]

Sat, 12 June 2021 07:09

RF_Burns

Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada

Karma: 3

Senior Member

Mine had close to 2,000 hours on it when it quit. Being an electronics guy and not wanting to lose the OEM meter & reading, I decided to look inside. Getting it apart was a task, had to cut it open. Inside was a badly burn't set of contacts that I assume provided power to a coil to mechanically advance the counter digits. I soon gave up on reviving it.

I then installed a look-alike electronic LCD hour meter with an oil change reminder. This worked for about 8 years, but then I went to get the coach from winter storage and it was dead. I assumed the internal battery that kept the memory alive had died. It had about 400hrs on it at that point. I guess the designer of the unit assumed it was going on a machine that ran more often so there would be less load on the internal battery.

So the next meter I went back to the mechanical style. I think I got it from Newark.

The power to the hour meter comes from the main ignition power Pin 9 on the control board. It also powers the RUN light on the remote control board. If the RUN light doesn't work either, check for a corroded connector in the remote control panel wire under the generator, its a common failure point.

FYI, you can also use this same wire to send +12V back through a "Prime Switch" to operation the fuel pump to prime the pump and fill the carb before you attempt to start the generator.

Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364650 is a reply to message #364647]

Sat, 12 June 2021 10:52

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Thanks Bruce, the run light illuminates so I'll be checking if the hookup (which looks like PO work) is correct and the meter is getting power. When I opened mine up there was even a little bag of silica gel in there and everything looked super clean. Gonna give it a contact cleaner spray today and see if that helps. If not, well, replacement I guess.

Larry

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364656 is a reply to message #364637]

Sat, 12 June 2021 20:50

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Well after much spraying with contact cleaner and lubricating the mechanism with WD40, the meter is again working.

Larry

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364657 is a reply to message #364637]

Sat, 12 June 2021 22:41

Tilerpep

Messages: 404
Registered: June 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Pretty fascinating mechanism isn’t it? Glad it’s ticking

1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath Raleigh, NC

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364658 is a reply to message #364637]

Sat, 12 June 2021 22:53

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Lots in the box, that's for sure!

Larry

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364660 is a reply to message #364656]

Sat, 12 June 2021 23:10

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?

I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364666 is a reply to message #364660]

Sun, 13 June 2021 11:17

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Ken Burton wrote on Sat, 12 June 2021 21:10

Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?

I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.

I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.

Larry

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[GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364667 is a reply to message #364666]

Sun, 13 June 2021 13:01

johnd01

Messages: 354
Registered: July 2017
Location: Sacrameot

Karma: -1

Senior Member

You have to be kind of careful with WD40. It is more of a degreaser than a
lube. Some silicon spray after the WD40 would be better.

On Sun, Jun 13, 2021 at 9:17 AM wrote:

> Ken Burton wrote on Sat, 12 June 2021 21:10
>> Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?
>>
>> I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it
> to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
>> wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.
>
> I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good
> cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do
> the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.
>
> Larry
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--

*John Phillips*
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

Johnd01 John Phillips Avion A2600 TZE064V101164 Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)

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[GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364683 is a reply to message #364667]

Mon, 14 June 2021 10:34

powwerjon

Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013

Karma: -2

Senior Member

I would avoid WD40 at all cost! It will gum up the works as it has cosmoleln(Spelling guess) in its makeup. It will gum up pistols and rifles. I would also avoid any oil that is silicone based also for instrument use also.

I would suggest an all mineral based oil such as a clock oil or 3 and 1 and 3 and 1 mineral based oil or small motor lubricating oil. When I supervised and instrument shop[ we used and instrument oil that was based on whale oil and I still have a small bottle of it.

https://tinyurl.com/4rwmk85f

or

https://tinyurl.com/656at8zm

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

> On Jun 13, 2021, at 2:01 PM, John Phillips wrote:
>
> You have to be kind of careful with WD40. It is more of a degreaser than a
> lube. Some silicon spray after the WD40 would be better.
>
> On Sun, Jun 13, 2021 at 9:17 AM wrote:
>
>> Ken Burton wrote on Sat, 12 June 2021 21:10
>>> Are you any good on John Deere mechanical tachometers?
>>>
>>> I have one that quit and a new one is over $200. I have not removed it
>> to open it up yet to see what is inside. You have to remove the steering
>>> wheel to get a plate off to demount the tach. I am too lazy to do it.
>>
>> I'm not some meter expert Ken, I just took mine apart and gave it a good
>> cleaning, emery to the points, WD40 lube then back in. Admittedly I did do
>> the clean and lube a few times before it worked consistently again.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> --
>> Larry - Victoria BC -
>>
>> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
>> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
>> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
>
> *John Phillips*
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

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Re: [GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364691 is a reply to message #364683]

Mon, 14 June 2021 12:42

Christo

Messages: 109
Registered: April 2019
Location: Weymouth, MA

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I agree that 3-in-1 type mineral oil is superior to WD (water displacement) -40 for lubricating gears, but I don't believe WD has Cosmoline in it. Source? All I could find is that WD Is an excellent solvent for Cosmoline.

Christo Darsch
GMC Nor'easters
1977 Eleganza II - "The Komet"
3.50 Power Drive, Disc Brakes, Alcoas
Weymouth, MA

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[GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364697 is a reply to message #364691]

Mon, 14 June 2021 13:02

James Hupy

Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010

Karma: -62

Senior Member

90% Stoddard Solvent. A couple percent of proprietary elements for water
repellent, and anti-corrosion inhibitors, rest is propellants. No
lubricants at all. Not it's intended design. Basically for nonferrous
metals like used in the aircraft industries. The solvents chase out all the
residues left from cleaning and polishing the metals, the corrosion
inhibitors are for the areas between like a rib and skin so corrosion
doesn't start there before coatings can be applied. The number WD-40 comes
for water displacement formula #40. Took that many tries before the
government and Boeing and Lockheed could all agree. Not for clocks, guns,
instruments, etc.
I used to have the M.S.D.S for that stuff, but it got lost over time.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Mon, Jun 14, 2021, 10:42 AM Christo Darsch wrote:

> I agree that 3-in-1 type mineral oil is superior to WD (water
> displacement) -40 for lubricating gears, but I don't believe WD has
> Cosmoline in it.
> Source? All I could find is that WD Is an excellent solvent for Cosmoline.
> --
> Christo Darsch
> GMC Nor'easters
> 1977 Eleganza II - "The Komet"
> 3.50 Power Drive, Disc Brakes, Alcoas
> Weymouth, MA
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

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Re: Onan hour meter [message #364714 is a reply to message #364637]

Mon, 14 June 2021 20:37

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Oh well, too bad, working for now so we'll see if it stays working.

100% improvement over not working BTW Cool

Larry

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[GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364776 is a reply to message #364714]

Thu, 17 June 2021 08:09

powwerjon

Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013

Karma: -2

Senior Member

The running time meter has no user serviceable parts inside. The cost of a new repalcement is minimal.

See this site.

https://www.mpja.com/Running-Hour-Meter-12-36VDC-Xtal-Controlled/productinfo/32053+MI/

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

> On Jun 14, 2021, at 9:37 PM, twlldeen@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Oh well, too bad, working for now so we'll see if it stays working.
>
> 100% improvement over not working BTW 8)
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust system,
> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

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Re: [GMCnet] Re: Onan hour meter [message #364782 is a reply to message #364776]

Thu, 17 June 2021 10:34

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Excellent link - thanks for posting!

Larry

powwerjon wrote on Thu, 17 June 2021 06:09

The running time meter has no user serviceable parts inside. The cost of a new repalcement is minimal.

See this site.

https://www.mpja.com/Running-Hour-Meter-12-36VDC-Xtal-Controlled/productinfo/32053+MI/

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

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