Lawn tractor not charging.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I have an 8 or 9 year old White/MTD lawn tractor with 16 horse Briggs V-twin engine that quit charging today. I can not find any loose leads, and the only fuse I can locate is good. Does anyone have experience with these, or am I going to have to do my own trouble shooting? For the tiem beign I will probalby just charge the battery between uses, but the electric clutch draws about 7 amps, so run time is limited.

[Eugene]

Having owned/own a couple of MTD products. Good luck on your trouble shooting. Get the wiring diagram. Electric switches have been all of my electrical problems. The PTO switch being the most problem prone.

Eugene

[Dale51]

John,
You already checked for loose wires so go to the amp Gage next
as all juice goes tru it.
After that get your wallet out as only 3 other things can go bad.
1. voltage regulator
2. stater ring & it's under the fly wheel
3. the magnet group in the fly wheel.
As a side note very good friend of mine that make his living fixing
mowers says that the voltage regulator is a very week link on the briggs.
& that any other briggs with same system parts will interchange.

Order in which to ck.
1.you have already done.
2. gage.
3. stater for open or short to ground.
4. the regulator.(no real way to ck just replace.)

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

thanks fellas. Gauge shows discharge when lights or electric clutch are turned on, so I have discounted that. As for the remaining compponents, I will check the wiring again when I am feeling better, and if I don't find anything I probably will just charge it for the rest of the summer, since we had already planned to replace it for next summer. It has been a very dependable rig until this summer, and I have worked on it more this summer than it's entire life, including the time I caught it on fire blowing leaves. .

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Fixed it. I changed the ignition switch a couple weeks ago, and the wire from the regulator to the switch is on a seperate plug that was not making a good contact on the back of the ignition switch.

[Eugene]

Dang John.

I was going to tell you that I researched a couple of MTD built mowers. Found out that wire from the alternator is connected to the battery through the ignition switch. Pretty cheezy setup. Must have been designed by one of those people with an engineering degree.

Since you have solved the problem, pay no attention to the information I was going to pass on.

Eugene

[Dale51]

glad to hear.

[Rudi]

Eugene:

You got any info on an MTD Turf Trac 10/34? Here they were sold as Co-Op Turf Trac's... seems the manual that I got from MTD Canada is NOT exactly the one I need.. in fact, not even close...

The lawn mower model number appears to be 133 166 507 B163B

MTD Canada says: I believe that your lawn tractor is a 133-466-502 Turf Trac model, manufactured in 1983

It isn't the same critter at all. The one I have here, which belongs to the church, is a chain driven model.. has 3 belts.. plus the chain drive... and I cannot figure it all out.

Right now I am having problems with the chain drive, the belt tensioning, how to actually install the springs for the mower belt tensioning and how to stop the blades from constantly spinning.. (tensioning is the problem I think)..

Also, it really is difficult to operate.. not smooth at all, and I know it has to do with adjustments.. but where that is the question..

So, if you have any leads, I would appreciate, or anyone else for that matter please

[Eugene]

Rudi:

I have no information on your MTD lawn tractor.

The only information I have concerns generic wiring diagrams for MTD built machines.

Taking the granddaughters on a float trip in a few minutes. I'll try and research the problem upon our return.

Eugene

[Eugene]

Our local library has Chilton styled books for lawn tractors/mowers. The library also participates in interlibrary loans. Throwing this out as a thought.

When I get a chance I will find out what references our library has concerning MTD products.

Eugene