L3200 Tachometer/hour meter not working

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
Sometime in the last few days my 165 hour L3200DT tach and hour meter, the needle staying on zero RPM. Engine runs normal, all electrical seems to work and adjacent coolant and fuel gauges are working.

Is this electrically driven or some sort of cable? Trying to troubleshoot but not sure what my next step should be.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Jim L.

Active member
Jun 18, 2014
811
86
28
Texas
The mechanical cable is loose or broken. One end on right hand side of tractor. Other is turned onto the tach meter. Take the rear bonnet (instrument panel sheet metal) loose and up and from right hand side of tractor you can see where the cable goes to the meter. Not hard to replace, lubricate the new one if you replace it.
 

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
The mechanical cable is loose or broken. One end on right hand side of tractor. Other is turned onto the tach meter. Take the rear bonnet (instrument panel sheet metal) loose and up and from right hand side of tractor you can see where the cable goes to the meter. Not hard to replace, lubricate the new one if you replace it.


Thanks. Where does the cable go in on the right side of the tractor?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Shadetree03

Member

Equipment
L2501, King Kutter, Landscape Rake, Titan 3pt forks
Sep 20, 2017
115
12
18
Pueblo, CO
Thanks. Where does the cable go in on the right side of the tractor?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
On my L2501 the tach cable was broken about an inch above the right angle drive coming out of the right front on the D1703 motor. I clipped off the zip tie to allow the cable to bow out in a smoother arc.
 

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
The WSM only talks about where the hour-meter cable is hooked up behind the panel. It doesn’t show where the other end of the tach/hour meter cable goes on the engine. Does anyone have a picture of where the non-instrument panel end goes in the engine of a L3200DT?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Shadetree03

Member

Equipment
L2501, King Kutter, Landscape Rake, Titan 3pt forks
Sep 20, 2017
115
12
18
Pueblo, CO
The WSM only talks about where the hour-meter cable is hooked up behind the panel. It doesn***8217;t show where the other end of the tach/hour meter cable goes on the engine. Does anyone have a picture of where the non-instrument panel end goes in the engine of a L3200DT?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Not sure if your engine is the same, but location should be close.. the cable loops in directly above the oil filter close to the front of the engine on mine..
 

Attachments

Last edited:

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
I have access to the WSM. The issue I’m having is it only mentions the instrument panel end of the cable. I can’t find any reference to the other end and where it goes. It is probably obvious if I start pulling the body parts off, but I was hoping I didn’t have to do that. Thanks for the suggestion though!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
I believe that might be it, Shadetree. Thank you!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Jim L.

Active member
Jun 18, 2014
811
86
28
Texas
This is an L3800, which for this purpose is the same as the L3200. Right hand side of tractor, look from white filter up at 11 o'clock to black cable ending in knurl - that is the tach cable.
 

Attachments

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
Now to unscrew it, lube it, and cross my fingers...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Shadetree03

Member

Equipment
L2501, King Kutter, Landscape Rake, Titan 3pt forks
Sep 20, 2017
115
12
18
Pueblo, CO
This is an L3800, which for this purpose is the same as the L3200. Right hand side of tractor, look from white filter up at 11 o'clock to black cable ending in knurl - that is the tach cable.
Jim... looks like your filter/oil got changed on 8/29.. My gray filter was still on when my tach twisted off... now I have a white one with 2/22 on mine..

I guess great minds think alike;)
 

Jim L.

Active member
Jun 18, 2014
811
86
28
Texas
Jim... looks like your filter/oil got changed on 8/29.. My gray filter was still on when my tach twisted off... now I have a white one with 2/22 on mine..
Well, a little bit different system. The 829 is hours at change. Took the manual's maintenance table and made it a spreadsheet. There I record the date and the hours. Some things that are annual get caught that way.

More and more I am thinking that I just did that - and I did, only it was a year ago.
 

ridgerunner85

New member

Equipment
L3200
Dec 19, 2019
13
6
3
PA
I know this post is a few months old but I just noticed my L3200 doing this today. What was the final prognosis?
 

SouthernSky

New member

Equipment
L3200 & L2650, 5' Modern cutter, 5' boxblade, LP FDR1672 mower
Sep 15, 2017
17
0
1
Deville, LA
I know this post is a few months old but I just noticed my L3200 doing this today. What was the final prognosis?

Change the speedometer cable. Be sure to lube both ends before reinstalling.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
1,722
1,823
113
Michigan
Did this fix the problem? I have the same issue.

If you have a mechanical tach/meter it's the only thing I can think of that it could be. Unless the meter itself is bad or the drive gear is stripped. (which I doubt, but it's possible I suppose)

A broken cable will be very easy to identify once you unscrew it.