Topic: Hour meter???

[Cheesemaker]

Hey, has anybody installed an hour meter into their rigs?  Just like on a forklift and various other rigs. 

The reason I'm asking, is I'd like to see actually how many hours are on a motor when you drive slow, (rockcrawling, or driving trails) vs. pavement/hwy driving.  Obviously, your gonna put more hours on while driving slow, vs fast.  But I'd like to know how much of a difference there really is.  I'm curious for the fact, of the whole conventional oil vs synthetic oil debate got me thinking.    http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=45639.0  I change my oil every 2500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.  But how many actual hours are on a motor during that time and how many are on/off road.

I'd like to know how to wire one in. 

[tech201]

I use to work on medium duty equipment and every thing had hour meters. you could get one at a tractor supply or maybe northern tools just a ground wire and a hot wire ( hot with ignition on only )

[79coyotefrg]

good idea

i usually change my oil when it turns black  no matter the miles

[OOPS]

good idea

i usually change my oil when it turns black  no matter the miles

Do not ever buy a Diesel then, it turns black the first time you run it, all three gallons!!!!!!

[79coyotefrg]

Do not ever buy a Diesel then, it turns black the first time you run it, all three gallons!!!!!!

  true,  last diesel i owned  took 11 gallons though (Kenworth 600hp Detroit)

[kneedownnate]

I've seriously thought about it before, and would probably do it if I ever installed a rebuilt engine.

[unclejpl4x4]

250-500hrs is the service interval on most heavy equipment.   

[Cheesemaker [OP]]

just a ground wire and a hot wire ( hot with ignition on only )

Thanks!   

[chance85]

You should run it off an oil pressure switch that way the meter only runs when the engine is, not when its off and you're listening to the radio. A 5-10 psi switch would be perfect. then you need to run a hot wire to the switch's common pole and then one from the normally open pole to your hour meter. You can get a switch at an implement store or from a Kenworth or other tractor dealer.

[Duffil]

NAPA also has them, both the gauge and the pressure switches.