Dumbass question

[edw]

No, the question isn't dumbass, the questioner is.

Doing some engine troubleshooting on my 3607 port engine. Wouldn't start. Inadvertently left the key in the run position. What does that men? Of course it means that the electric hour meter keeps running. Left the boat for several days, awaiting parts. Parts got here, I headed for the lake first chance. Grabbed a glass of Southern tea (that's SWEET, y'all) and headed up to the bridge to enjoy the view before getting dirty. Kept hearing this 'click, click, click'. 'Looked down and the hour meter had racked up a couple HUNDRED hours! See? DUMBASS!!! Keep this up and I'll soon be qualified to go into politics.

Anyway, does anyone have any idea to reverse the hours indicated? It's not a big thing, just irritates me. Would like to get the time closer to reality.

Ed

[chpsk8]

Slam it in reverse Bueller!

Actually… I have no idea. Thanks for posting though. Sounds like something I would do!!

[bud37]

Source of the post Keep this up and I'll soon be qualified to go into politics.

Ha......you are still waaaaay above the politics level.....lots of folk have done that....just keep track and put a tag with a - x hours.......and have another sweet tea....

[Viper]

Everyone's probably done that at one time!

Can't reverse the numbers. The only thing you can do is power it up and go forward. If you lay up for the winter, take it home, hook it up to a battery and leave it alone. Hopefully it will roll over and start at zero again. Once it gets to the same number as the other side, disconnect and reinstall. If it doesn't roll over, you can buy a new set and hook them up to 12 volts the same way until they reach the same numbers you need. Or keep a note somewhere as a reminder that the current reading is a couple hundred hours off. Another option is to take the one that has the true hours and power it up long enough to match the one you inadvertently left on. A representation of the true hours is best though, and less hours when reselling is preferable.

Leaving the key on powers up the ignition system and delivers power to the ignition coil. The coil's windings aren't designed to remain powered up continuously and would have heated up which is not good for the coil and will damage it.

[km1125]

I've done the same thing to my 3607 but only for an overnight stint. Still felt like a dumbass though and actually thought about putting a big light on the panel if the engine is "on" but not running. Since you need to power up the port engine to check fuel levels, I've left it on a few other times but it was only for an hour or so here or there before I realized it was still on.

I agree with Viper's comments on your possible options and the ramifications of leaving it on inadvertently. I touched my coil after it was on overnight and it was indeed pretty HOT, but never did fail.

[buster53]

This situation depends on the motor. My 2003 Crusaders have electronics that show actual hours run. In fact, they can be hooked up to a computer and show how many hours run 1000 rpm’s and less, 1000-2000, etc. my boat was repowered some years ago and the engines show a lot less hours than my hour meter.
Some day when I go to sell the boat, I have a computer print out showing the discrepancy between the 2 hour meters.

[Viper]

Ya totally doable on newer engines but the original post is about 1983 engines with no computers. Definitely more benefits with the computer controlled builds as they can monitor a lot of inputs and display the results, very useful.