Mule hour meter

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Hanselandgretel
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Mule hour meter

Post by Hanselandgretel » Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:37 pm

I bought a "new" Mule, rope start, and it has an hour meter on the back. With no electric system what runs it? Wires are cut off, data plate is missing from the Mule so I don't know what model it is. Has Bubba been working on this machine?


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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by markrdje » Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:43 pm

I think the magneto runs it
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Chuck W.
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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by Chuck W. » Thu Jan 26, 2017 8:23 pm

Must be a 4 VDC meter to work. "-" wire is ground, "+" wire is Y'ed into the magneto switch wire. Bear in mind, if the hour meter is shorted internally, it will also ground the magneto and prevent the engine from running.

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Hanselandgretel
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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by Hanselandgretel » Fri Jan 27, 2017 5:51 pm

Thanks. I will apply 4vdc to it and see if it runs. Al

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by muleman7 » Fri Jan 27, 2017 9:58 pm

One of my customers while testing an hour meter noticed it not clocking time with the engine running at idle. The voltage from the magneto was less than 4 volts. Voltage at 2000 rpms was above 4 volts and the hour meter started to run.
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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by Chuck W. » Sat Jan 28, 2017 7:19 am

There was a certain parts vendor who was selling 12 VDC Hobbs meters for use in this application and when the meter would not work, he told the customer that they must have damaged the meter during installation and would not refund their money! Vendor is no longer in business!

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by muleman7 » Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:12 am

Contact me if you need an Hour Meter e-mail preferred or PM. I have new M274 Hour Kits that includes the Y connector and Mounting Bracket.

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by WLEIT » Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:24 am

My hour meter says “QUARTZ” on it. Can I connect it directly to the alternator and ground it? Or... can I connect it to the magneto or the magneto switch(on/off)?

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by muleman7 » Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:58 pm

The regular Mule Hobbs Hour Meter operates on 4 + volts and is wired into the magneto. The voltage from the magneto energizes the hour meter using a pulse of the primary output voltage at the condenser. If your Quartz Hour meter requires a constant voltage then it will short the magneto so it will not run the engine. If it must be connected to a constant supply of voltage the Alternator is a great source.
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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by WLEIT » Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:15 am

Thanks for the reply. One quick question: Since the alternator and battery are linked, And I connect the hour meter to the alternator, would the hour meter run when the engine is off or Is the alternator dead and not supplying power?

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by muleman7 » Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:05 pm

With a single wire alternator you will be attached to 12 V hot whether the mule is running or not running. So if the hourmeter runs on 12 V it’ll need to be on a switch circuit so the circuit is on when the mule is running and the circuit is off when it’s not running.
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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by WLEIT » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:21 pm

Thanks, Muleman. I put on a on/off switch.

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by WLEIT » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:22 pm

:D Thanks, Muleman. I put on a on/off switch.

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Re: Mule hour meter

Post by eclipse » Sun Feb 21, 2021 4:07 pm

If you have a 12v system and hourmeter you can switch the hourmeter by adding an oil pressure switch to ground the power lead to run the meter. (Make sure it CLOSES on pressure!)
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