Yanmar 3YM 20 engine. Tachometer and fuel gauge work fine. Engine hours have not displayed for quite some time now. Searched the archives and see this is a common problem. Is there a way to determine how many hours are on the engine still? If so I would like retrieve them. I plan to just keep a log of engine hours after that.
Retrieving engine hours
- Thread starter Mike8193
- Start date
I doubt you can “resurrect” the hours from a broken meter…either it was counting hours while the engine was on or not.
It might be useful to know the brand of hours meter, but I don’t think it will change the outcome.
The wire connections may be corroded or something (and the meter itself isn’t bad). But in any case, if the meter didn’t get the signal, the time is essentially lost.
Greg
It might be useful to know the brand of hours meter, but I don’t think it will change the outcome.
The wire connections may be corroded or something (and the meter itself isn’t bad). But in any case, if the meter didn’t get the signal, the time is essentially lost.
Greg
Should this be the the B module from Yanmar, you may try to lightly twist the small quartz display, this should momentsrily show the engine hours.
You may then purchase a mechanical hourmeter plug it into a 12V source until it reaches the same as your display. Then wire it into the ignition circuit. Cheap & efficient.
You may then purchase a mechanical hourmeter plug it into a 12V source until it reaches the same as your display. Then wire it into the ignition circuit. Cheap & efficient.
Yanmar, Volvo, and possibly others all have the problem you describe. On my Volvo the meter would periodically flash the engine we hours, and it was obvious that the hours were being counted, just not displaying.
I have installed a mechanic hour meter, but with an engine hours about 3500, it wasn't practical to run the mechanical meter up to the actual hour count. So I just record the mechanical reading and add it to the known hours previously.
There are published procedures to repair these meters, but they then start from 0 hours like th we mechanical.
I have installed a mechanic hour meter, but with an engine hours about 3500, it wasn't practical to run the mechanical meter up to the actual hour count. So I just record the mechanical reading and add it to the known hours previously.
There are published procedures to repair these meters, but they then start from 0 hours like th we mechanical.
Engine hours are counted in the meter even if the display is not working, so they are still there and updated. This is a common problem with these meters. I've resurrected 3 out of 4 of them by carefully taking the LCD connector off and wiping the contacts with isopropanol. This isn't a typical pin and socket connector - it is a ribbon with very thin contact surfaces printed on it. It is very easy to damage getting it apart and together. I think damaging it during this process is the reason one of my attempts failed.
But the main problem does seem to be dirty contacts on the LCD connection.
Mark
But the main problem does seem to be dirty contacts on the LCD connection.
Mark
I have the same problem with the Yanmar panel hours display.
For mine, sometimes in the summer when it gets super dried out I guess, it will still come back on once in a while.
As others have suggested (and I saw a 'how to' somewhere to repair), it seems to be the connectors to the LCD screen itself.
So somewhere inside the unit, the hours are being counted, but getting access to them is probably not practical.
EDIT:
This is the repair video, and he has a link to a place that sells a new LCD display.
For mine, sometimes in the summer when it gets super dried out I guess, it will still come back on once in a while.
As others have suggested (and I saw a 'how to' somewhere to repair), it seems to be the connectors to the LCD screen itself.
So somewhere inside the unit, the hours are being counted, but getting access to them is probably not practical.
EDIT:
This is the repair video, and he has a link to a place that sells a new LCD display.
Last edited:
Thank you MFD! That video was the exact information I needed. I don’t think I will attempt that repair but really appreciate the video and information. Thank you !