Hour meter on SO 362

G'day sailorbill,
We have a bit of the same on our SO32 with a Volvo MD2020 control panel sounds like yours. Many times the hour LCD is "gone" then shows up again from time to time. The most reliable readings I get, is when I hit the button to activate the panel, most times then there is something readable, but once the engine is running numbers go too.
Appears to be a "common" thing from what I have found on other forums.
Here I thought it had to do with too much sunshine, which can't be the case looking at where you are located, or is it a power save thing ha-ha
Cheers

Ok Sailorbill , by posting your problem you kinda set my gear in motion. Had some time left this morning and googled around using the sentence " hour meter volvo ". Numerous forums wil give you the reason for this failure. I'm glad you brought the subject of a failing hour meter back under attention. In a way i accepted my blank display, but by reading your message and responding to it I might have found a temporary solution.
Get the tacho out , dry it thourouly , put it back in , check the hours and install an external hour meter so you're ok for future maintenance.
Moisture seems to be enemy number one.

Please do sailorbill.
Than all of us struggling with the same problem get more confirmation that it's worthwhile taking it out.
Although I have second feelings about it being a long lasting solution.

But then again,....when in doubt try it out.

Greetz

Sailorbill ,

any luck with the hourmeter yet ?

Received an email from Bill last week telling me he didn't get the hour meter to work again. The drying trick was no succes.
Back to the drawingboard i guess

Best progress I have had is finding somebody who refurbish the instrument for AUS$220 with 12 months warranty.
Funny thing did happen in the weekend, I have just had a 1000hour service done as I thought it was due or even past the time, did tell them about the hour meter problem and was quoted AUS$600 for a new instrument, anyhow we went away for 3 days and on the 2nd day there it came up 996.4 hours right on target, next day nothing on the meter, anyhow now I have some time to investigate more on the problem.
Cheers

It would be really difficult to spend $600 (AUS or otherwise) to replace a part when you could add another for under $50 (US).

Since my SO35 didn't come with an hour meter, I added a mechanical one in the engine compartment. It's wired to be energized whenever the key is in the "ON" position. Maybe not the best arrangement, but it's reliable and only cost about $50.

Our new SO37 (second hand) has a blank hour counter as well. On the web I found a solution with a replacement display and that is an easy fix. But I want to know the amount of hours and they are stored in the memory of the counter pcb. Does anyone have an idea how I can read it out.

Back at home I let it dry and test the counter with only 12V connected. Would that be enough also with a properly functioning counter or do I need to connect the S connectors as well ( I assume not because they are for the speedo). And what about that separate single wire connector. What is its purpose?

I bought this meter for $14 US: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CNK58SI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I installed long pigtails and split the feed to the engine compartment blower which is always on when the key is. I used cable ties to support the meter until I can build a mount from polyethylene (King Starboard), much like Don Reaves has described. Seems to be working fine and just one time in two weeks aboard was I able to read the VDO tach display, so now I just add 974.1 hours to whatever the new meter reports to get a total. Mostly what I need is hours since last fill anyway.

Alas, For Grins Too is on the hard until May.

Geoff

It is a very well known problem with the Yanmar rev counter. IT is a VDO unit and wouldn't be surprised to find Volvo using the same unit.

The weak point is the small ribbon cable connecting to the LCD display. I have taken mine apart a couple of times and put a pad in to press the connection home. This is a temporary fix and really need to be something permanent. I'm not certain if the connection is soldered, it looks more like adhesive only.

I found a document somewhere a couple of years ago describing the procedure to dismantle. I'm afraid that I have no idea about the source but it is worth reading it (see link below).

www.mistroma.com/Manuals/YanmarTachRepair.pdf

It might be worth Googling to see if the author ever did work out how to attach the cable.

For MD20XX engine hour display www.boatstuff.se/display-timraknare.html

Using google translate, he says that the counting is not within the display, but on the board. He is just selling the LCD


The video of the change over procedure is very good and interestingly he says that it will fit both Volvo and Yanmar, but the procedure is slightly different for the Yanmar and he will advise purchasers how to do this