hour meter

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:13 am Post subject:

I would like an hour meter for my BF15, since with its sporadic use, I have no idea how many hours it actually has on it (not many, but I would like to track for service). I don't have a controls for it at the helm. How would you hook an hour meter into this puppy?

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

Pat, all you gotta do is find a positive wire (usually red) that is "hot" when the engine is running or turned on. I'll see if I can find a wiring diagram for you for a BF 15 but here's the instructions from one mfr

You could mount the meter on the dash and run a positive wire back to the stern or mount it at the stern somewhere and keep the wire short. The ground can go to any boat ground in front or to a negative battery terminal at the back. Hardest part would be to find a red wire that is hot only when the engine is running.

on edit: Pat, pretty sure you have electric start. Google BF15 Honda Owners Manual and if you input your serial number, you can look at the wiring diagram in it, or just look at the paper copy you have. You probably have an ignition switch somewhere (may have three positions, off, on and start) that has the battery lead running to it. There will be three leads on the back, one that has 12V all the time, coming from the battery, one that is hot only when you use the start position (this closes a relay (solenoid) that connects the starting battery lead to the starter motor on the outboard) and one that is hot only when the switch is in the "on" position. This is the one you want.

Charlie

CAVU · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject:

Pat,
You might want to consider one of these: ( I have no idea how to do one of those fancy links) http://mayberrys.com/honda/generator/html/hourmeter.htm. I use one on my 40HP Hondas. Very simple to install under the motor cover with a piece of velcro. They were designed for generators but work great for small outboards-no wiring required.

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

Ken, I can't make that link work.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

Try this:

http://mayberrys.com/honda/generator/html/hourmeter.htm

(I think the link has an unnecessary period at the end of it that interferes with it working.)

Joe. Teeth

SeaSpray · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject:

I have 2005 Johnson 90 with the upgraded instruments. This means that the analog tach has a small digital display for engine hours and fuel flow functions.

Last year the engine hours reset to zero. No idea why since there is no reset function. I took it to a local Johnson service shop and they were able to read the true hours from the engine computer. They called Johnson and they had never heard of this happening.

I now try to keep a written log of engine hours just in case.

Steve

CAVU · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

Joe,
Thanks for fixing the link.

jack keifer · Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 3:10 pm Post subject: Honda efi hour meter

After looking through the posts, I am not sure if the hour meter on our Honda 50 efi records based on time or if it considers rpm. This is important because we troll quite a bit, a ratio of at least 3 hours trolling to 1 of cruising. Because oil changes are really based on fuel consumption, my change interval could be extended by significant amount. Currently we have 50 hours on this change and the oil looks like new. So, does anyone know how the Honda efis count time?
Thanks

potter water · Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:43 pm Post subject:

My thoughts on hour meters are less technical and more philosophical. Whether the hours are trolling hours or idling hours or planing hours doesn't really count for much because these "modern" engines can and often do just keep running for thousands of hours. I only use my hours meter for maintenance reminders. So whether I change the oil at precisely X hours or .7 X or 1.2 X really matters little to the engine. Whether I change at X hours trolling or wide WOT isn't going to matter much over the whole life of the engine. It is more important that I DO maintenance regularly. So, hours, schmours. I can tell by looking at and running an engine what the real story is on condition. I'd be more concerned buying an engine with 30 hours over 10 years than one with 1000 hours in the past year.

In short, a mix of idling hours or wot hours makes little difference on a well maintained engine.

Ted Osborne · Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:31 pm Post subject:

Had to go to the boat this AM and while I was there thought I would check out if my 90hp Hondas 2009 would change the hr meter with JUST the key on. They did and now I have the solution for bringing my hr meters in zinc with one another . (Left one of the keys on once). Thanks for bringing this subject up.