Motor hr meter more than dash meter

[AnthonyL]

I recently had my 90hp Optimax repaired and the mechanic noted something strange regarding the hour meter.

The hour meter on the dash has 65 hours less on it than the hour meter on the motor. The mechanic asked did I purchase the motor new with the boat and I did. He said that the motor meter is the accurate one and can't be tampered with.

I checked the meter on the dash with a stopwatch last weekend and it is accurate.

I can understand if the dash meter had more hours on it but can't understand how it can have less, especially 65 hours less as that is a lot in boat hours.

Does anyone know how this could happen?

[Steven78]

Sounds like soundone left the key on. The Motor was not running but the hour meter would be. I have done the same thing my self
Cya Steve :)

[Lancair]

At a guess they have different triggers for starting.

The etec has 2 hour meters, an actual engine run time and an EMM (Electronic Engine Manager) hour meter.

My Eetc has many many more EMM hours than engine run time. The EMM starts when I turn the key to the run position and thats where I usually leave it, I then start and stop the motor using the buttons on the end of the tiller.

Andrew

[AnthonyL]

Sounds like soundone left the key on. The Motor was not running but the hour meter would be. I have done the same thing my self
Cya Steve :)


If the key was left on it would make the meter on the dash be more not 65 hours less.

[Mr__Bean]

When I had my Yammy 225 serviced last time it was noted that the hour meter on the dash was reading higher than the integral one in the engine management system.

Not unusual for that the emchanic stated as he also said the one in the engine is the more accurate.

If your engine reading is HIGHER than the one on the dash by that amount then I would think it is a question for your dealer to answer as it don't smell to good on the surface.

- Darren

[FNQCairns]

......... possibly the motor was not quite as new as they said? Could it have been pulled from a demo boat??

cheers fnq

[finding_time]

Anthony

I think fnq could be on the money but i now know that one of my engines has more hours than it's dash meter, not 65 but at least 20hrs. I blew a fuse to that gauge at the start of a comp this year and although the engine didn't miss a beat those hours it did weren't recorded on the dash meter. just a thought!

Ian

[kizza1]

the optimax ecu goes off actual runtime of the engine

analog dash meters use the 12v ignition power to run them.
it is possible that the wire has come loose (or disconnected) off the dashand thats why it hasnt clicked over the hours.

these engines are run in the factory but i have only seen 20mins on it from there.
add about 1hr for the boat to be pre delivered in workshop and then prop tested

[AnthonyL]

the optimax ecu goes off actual runtime of the engine

analog dash meters use the 12v ignition power to run them.
it is possible that the wire has come loose (or disconnected) off the dashand thats why it hasnt clicked over the hours.

these engines are run in the factory but i have only seen 20mins on it from there.
add about 1hr for the boat to be pre delivered in workshop and then prop tested

If the wire had become loose or disconnected from the dash then I would have been aware of it and had to have it repaired or reattached and that isnt the case.

I keep a record of my trips so check the dash meter and record it at the start and end of every trip.

[AnthonyL]

If your engine reading is HIGHER than the one on the dash by that amount then I would think it is a question for your dealer to answer as it don't smell to good on the surface.



The mechanic suggested it was an older motor than what I purchased. I checked the original sales docket and it says new NOT used as I would have never bought a used one.



The dealer has recently gone bust. I am going to contact Mercury and the BIAQ now I have all my paperwork lined up.

[AnthonyL]

Anthony

I think fnq could be on the money but i now know that one of my engines has more hours than it's dash meter, not 65 but at least 20hrs. I blew a fuse to that gauge at the start of a comp this year and although the engine didn't miss a beat those hours it did weren't recorded on the dash meter. just a thought!

Ian

Thanks... I am sure it wasnt a fuse or loose wire as I would have noticed and had to have it repaired. The mechanic did say it was common for shady boat dealers to put the demo motor on new boats and sell them as new.

[AnthonyL]

......... possibly the motor was not quite as new as they said? Could it have been pulled from a demo boat??

cheers fnq

Yeah that is what it looks like to me too now.

If it were on a demo boat before then I guess it would have still had to be registered & there should be a record of it...then again...

[Mr__Bean]

If it were on a demo boat before then I guess it would have still had to be registered & there should be a record of it...then again...

When the dealer commissioned my motor the boat wasn't registered, he had a plate that he taped on the side window that was similar to the one you see on some new cars at dealers before they are registered.

- Darren

[FNQCairns]

Do these engine s give a date and time within any mode of a printout?? The computer may somewhere record an error or whatever.

Also 65h does take a fair amount of overall hull time on the water, ring the manufacturers with all of the model/serial numbers details to find out what month the engine was built.

cheers fnq

[AnthonyL]

When the dealer commissioned my motor the boat wasn't registered, he had a plate that he taped on the side window that was similar to the one you see on some new cars at dealers before they are registered.

- Darren


Thanks... that makes sense.

[AnthonyL]

Do these engine s give a date and time within any mode of a printout?? The computer may somewhere record an error or whatever.

Also 65h does take a fair amount of overall hull time on the water, ring the manufacturers with all of the model/serial numbers details to find out what month the engine was built.

cheers fnq


I will contact Mercury and see what they say and check with them. I got a call when the motor "supposedly" came in and have that date.

I guess it would take at least 6 months to get to 65 hours with average use.