RacerxV6 Posted August 17, 2020 Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 So, I recently had my 20 hour service completed for the break in period of my VF115XA. When I was speaking with the service manager and I asked how many hours I had on it, she replied 26. Okay, so I was 6 over. I don't think that is going to hurt anything in the sense of an early termination or failure. My question to all of you that have analog gauges is. What do you all do to monitor the hours on your engines? The digital gauge guys have the ability to see this and we don't. Do you all keep a record of out and in times? Do you all have your units connected via yamalink or Merc vessel view? What other idea or procedures do you have in place? Thanks, RacerxV6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted August 17, 2020 Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 They have hours meters that attach to your plug wires. I had one on my last boat and we use them for equipment at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawg Posted August 17, 2020 Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 You can add a 12 volt hour meter to your ignition switch which will record the hours that the key is "on". A free standing 12 volt hour meter will cost you between $35 and $55. If you have an NMEA 2000 compatible chart plotter, you can build an NMEA system for about $120 and plug your new motor into the system with a brand specific wire harness (another $120 or so). If you go with the NMEA 2000 system you can get interesting data displayed on your chart plotter such as engine hours, fuel flow rates, fuel consumed, engine rpm and quite a few others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted August 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 2 hours ago, hawg said: You can add a 12 volt hour meter to your ignition switch which will record the hours that the key is "on". A free standing 12 volt hour meter will cost you between $35 and $55. If you have an NMEA 2000 compatible chart plotter, you can build an NMEA system for about $120 and plug your new motor into the system with a brand specific wire harness (another $120 or so). If you go with the NMEA 2000 system you can get interesting data displayed on your chart plotter such as engine hours, fuel flow rates, fuel consumed, engine rpm and quite a few others. So this is the route I would like to go, but some say its not worth it as you won't get your monies worth. The fact that I can see hours and fuel mileage would be worth it to me. My plotter should work as it is a 10" Gen 3 Helix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted August 17, 2020 Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 The stand alone 12v hour meter is what I have. You don’t even have to put it on the console as you can wire it in and put it inside the console and check it every so often. I dont even think I spent $20 on mine, going strong for 2 years or so now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted August 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2020 13 minutes ago, SouthernWake said: The stand alone 12v hour meter is what I have. You don’t even have to put it on the console as you can wire it in and put it inside the console and check it every so often. I dont even think I spent $20 on mine, going strong for 2 years or so now. So If i go the Humminbird route, it is going to run me around $250. I just priced everything out. So, I think I will install a 12v hour meter for now and down the road look into doing the humminbird setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 5 hours ago, RacerxV6 said: So If i go the Humminbird route, it is going to run me around $250. I just priced everything out. So, I think I will install a 12v hour meter for now and down the road look into doing the humminbird setup. Good call, just split it in on your key switch, super easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 Do you not have a digital gauge? I think you need a speedo for hours. The reason I mention it, is the “standard” gauges keep time by key on, not by engine running. Leave the key on for a week between uses and man you have racked up some hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemott Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 I run analogue and use vessel view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted August 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 8 hours ago, F1sh0n said: Do you not have a digital gauge? I think you need a speedo for hours. The reason I mention it, is the “standard” gauges keep time by key on, not by engine running. Leave the key on for a week between uses and man you have racked up some hours! No, I have analog, hence the name "Analog Gauge guys" not trying to be a SA, I should have ordered digital when I bought the boat.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 Put in the simple hour meter on the key switch. You know the boat and motor will outlast any other electronics on the boat. At that point you will loose the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 8 hours ago, F1sh0n said: Do you not have a digital gauge? I think you need a speedo for hours. The reason I mention it, is the “standard” gauges keep time by key on, not by engine running. Leave the key on for a week between uses and man you have racked up some hours! How often are you leaving the battery on with the key in and clicked over One to the acc. Power for a week at a time/while the boat is in storage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 Lol it won’t rack up a lot of hours because the battery will be dead . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatherof4 Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 I just put a new motor on my Maverick. Requested all new gauges, and I opted for the analog. They put in a "hour meter" gauge on my dash. It is digital. Just a small, 1" or so gauge so I can keep up with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted August 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Fatherof4 said: I just put a new motor on my Maverick. Requested all new gauges, and I opted for the analog. They put in a "hour meter" gauge on my dash. It is digital. Just a small, 1" or so gauge so I can keep up with it. Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernieNC Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 Look at the bottom of the page for others. https://www.partsvu.com/eng-meter-2-cycle-atv-mar-eng-meter-2c-01.html?utm_source=bing&scid=scbplpENG-METER-2C-01&sc_intid=ENG-METER-2C-01&msclkid=f4e5762eaf8e1e1b6383291288cdafbd&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SC Shopping - Branded%2FNumbered&utm_term=4575205325422721&utm_content=All Products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 7 hours ago, SouthernWake said: How often are you leaving the battery on with the key in and clicked over One to the acc. Power for a week at a time/while the boat is in storage? there are times when i finish washing the boat, put stuff in the console and accidentally hit the switch as for dead batteries, not really, at least not with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 7 hours ago, SouthernWake said: How often are you leaving the battery on with the key in and clicked over One to the acc. Power for a week at a time/while the boat is in storage? I always leave the key in. All you need is one trip where you forget it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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