hour meter for garden tractor- noise inside

[rfuerst911sc]

Two weeks ago I purchased a used John Deere diesel garden tractor. The hour meter doesn't work, I did check the wiring and there is switched 12 volt so it is the meter. I purchased off of Ebay a new hour meter received it yesterday in the mail. Unlike many of the plastic hour meters available this one is all metal which I thought might hold up better in the environment it will be living in. Anyway I opened the package today to make sure it arrived safe. All looks good but when I roll the meter in my hand either end to end or side to side there is a rattle inside. I can't tell if it is something that is detached , loose or maybe is designed that way . So is there anything inside of a standard 12 volt hour meter that would make that kind of noise ? The meter was in the original packaging and shows 2 hours on it which I assume is from the factory testing. There are zero marks on it that would indicate it was previously installed. I sent the seller an email this morning I will wait for a reply. It is not a high dollar purchase ( 25.00 ) but I need it to work now and for the future . What does the Pelican brain trust think ?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

.....What does the Pelican brain trust think ?

Connect it to 12v and see if it works.....

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by dad911

Connect it to 12v and see if it works.....

I am pretty sure it will work I'm more concerned will it work long term because of the rattle ? There are two small phillips head screws on the back of the meter which I assume holds the inside to the outside. I am tempted to take the meter apart to see what is going on but I'm sure that will void any warranty . For now I will wait to here from the seller . But to your point I will hook it up and see if it works. Thanks

[MBAtarga]

Open that puppy up and see what's rattling

[rfuerst911sc]

I removed one of the screws and started removing the second one when I decided to see if this was really going to come apart when I removed the second screw.......it does not ! It looks like the two screws hold the guts into the can during manufacturing then the glass lense bezel is crimped in place. So it does not come apart. I hooked it up to 12 volts and it works so I went ahead and installed it in the tractor. I don't want to over analyze this one it's done .