Patent ID: 6968259

Claim:
A service tracking system ( 10 ) for use with a machine ( 15 ) having an engine or motor assembly ( 18 ), the service tracking system ( 10 ) for warning when a maintenance procedure for a service maintenance task is to be performed, comprising: a maintenance manager ( 14 ), responsive to a service interval setting command, for providing a corresponding service interval setting signal indicating a service interval for the service maintenance task; and a service tracker ( 12 ), retrofittably attached to the machine ( 15 ), responsive to the service interval setting signal, and further responsive to a machine operating status signal provided by a coupling to the engine or motor assembly ( 18 ), for issuing a service warning urging that the service maintenance task be performed as soon as possible, wherein the service tracker ( 12 ) includes a resettable timer ( 42 a ) having a timer count value indicating a timer reading useable for determining when to issue the service warning, and the service tracker ( 12 ) is responsive to a timer reset signal for resetting the resettable timer so as to allow comparing the resettable timer reading with the service interval; and a non-resetting total timer ( 40 ) adapted to advance whenever the resettable timer ( 42 a ) advances and providing a total timer reading, and further wherein the resettable timer is reset to the total timer reading in response to the timer reset signal at the time the reset signal is received so as to allow comparing the resettable timer reading at a current time with the service interval after subtracting the resettable timer reading from the total timer reading at the current time.