Wheel Horse problem

Anonymous-0 · Apr 16, 2009

I have a 98 16 hp wheel horse that i bought new. Late last summer I noticed that the amp gauge started to show the tractor was running in the orange/red area and the needle was going far to the left which indicates that it was discharging and running on battery power only. Does anyone have any idea what would cause this and what part I might need to correct the problem. Any help is appreciated. The local dealer wants me to bring it in and let him run all sorts of tests and diagnostics on it, he said it might cost
$500.00 or more to correct the problem. If it is that much I'll just buy a new one.

Old Roy · Apr 16, 2009

If bought new late last summer wouldn't the warranty take care of it.?

Will it keep enough charge to start it?
could be just a faulty gauge.

Rusty wheel · Apr 16, 2009

I have a D-18 Wheelhorse and mine did the same thing. Don't know about yours but mine has a charging rectifier on the left side behind a side plate. The contacts got oxidized and dirty. I unplugged the wires from it and reconnected them several times and now it charges. Mine has a Kohler K-482 engine. Hope this helps. Good luck. rw

Anonymous-0 · Apr 16, 2009

My post may have been misleading. I bought it new in May 1998 and the problem just started last summer (08). The tractor will soon be 11 years old.

rbel · Apr 17, 2009

the charging systems on those things are dirt simple. Mounted under the flywheel is a series of coils, the fly wheel of course has magnets, the magnets moving past the coils generates current (AC) the output of the coil assembly goes to a Diode (rectifier) and is converted to DC, which charges the battery (you are sure it is good right?). Things to check: magnets on flywheel (not very likely suspect) diode (most likely) and the coil and wires (probably not) Hope this helps

El Toro · Apr 17, 2009

Do as Rusty suggested and clean the terminals on the rectifier. Set your volt meter on AC voltage and with the engine running at 1/2 throttle or better you should have from 20 to 30 volts AC from the stator. If this voltage looks ok then switch your volt meter to the 20 scale on DC voltage and check the charging voltage at your battery. Should be around 14 volts. Be careful
when doing this around the engine so you don't get hurt. Hal
PS: This diagram may help. It shows the rectifier.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 17, 2009

Like the picture shows, the AC voltage is tested across the two outside terminals on the electronic voltage regulator. The DC voltage is tested from the middle terminal to ground.

Good used stators and voltage regulators are available on eBay and elsewhere. If both voltage readings check out, then you start testing wires for continuity and checking your ignition switch. The switches go bad eventually.

Pycoed · Apr 18, 2009

(quoted from post at 03:29:29 04/17/09) I have a 98 16 hp wheel horse that i bought new. Late last summer I noticed that the amp gauge started to show the tractor was running in the orange/red area and the needle was going far to the left which indicates that it was discharging and running on battery power only. Does anyone have any idea what would cause this and what part I might need to correct the problem. Any help is appreciated. The local dealer wants me to bring it in and let him run all sorts of tests and diagnostics on it, he said it might cost
$500.00 or more to correct the problem. If it is that much I'll just buy a new one.

Noting to add to El Toro's post which says it all, but if I was you I would never go near that dealer again!

Wheel Horse problem

Anonymous-0

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Old Roy

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Rusty wheel

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Anonymous-0

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rbel

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El Toro

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Anonymous-0

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Pycoed

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