16hp tecumseh not charging battery

[HTB8]

Anybody know how to check for a faulty voltage regulator on a OH16 Tecumseh? Everything runs fine but the battery is not charging....When your 35kms back in the bush its not what you want to find out. Those little I-Starts are something every bush buggy should carry !!

[amphibious drew]

If it's not charging, your stator is probably bad. Electrical stuff is pricey for the oh engines. My suggestion would be to throw a one wire alternator on it and call it a day.

[HTB8]

Thnkx I looked up the Tecumseh regulator # 610749 and its specs : 3-wire; 10 amp; 12v neg. It cross references to a B&S # 325437 and a Kohler # 4140308 and a whole bunch of other units. I'm trying to keep the machine going for the fall season and then after that I think I'll do the alternator conversion. I have an old B&S 17HP Intek in the scrap pile, gonna go see whats on that puppy today. Some great info on here for that alternator conversion.

[msafi65]

Test the AC output from the stator wires that land on the regulator. At higher RPM they usually output 20-24 volts AC. If output is ok make sure battery voltage is available at regulator on output wire. If all that is good regulator is bad. Pretty much any regulator capable of handling 15 amps can be wired in to that and work.

[ARGOJIM]

Test the AC output from the stator wires that land on the regulator. At higher RPM they usually output 20-24 volts AC. If output is ok make sure battery voltage is available at regulator on output wire. If all that is good regulator is bad. Pretty much any regulator capable of handling 15 amps can be wired in to that and work.

Good point, if it's the original engine, Argo used the 20 amp charging system. If the stator or flywheel were replaced with a 10 amp kit they are not usually not compatible. Carry the pull rope with you as a back up, the one wire kit would be nicer with 40 or more amps.

[HTB8]

Well, the B&S part looks like a no go. I ordered a generic regulator with the proper output today, it should be here in 10-15 days. Instead of the pull cord I use an I-Start Li-Ion power bank. Compact, lots of adaptors for multiple uses and easy to throw in the kit. The pull cord is still in there....just in case.
For the upgrade I was looking at the JEGs one wire alternator #555-10120, 100 amp output, use a 10 gauge wire for the hookup.
"One-wire alternators have a turn-on point (sometimes called "cut in"), typically about 1200 engine RPM. JEGS has developed rotor poles and stator stacks that carry a higher magnetism to provide an instant regulator "cut in" without engine acceleration. Our 1-wire alternators are manufactured with an exclusive low "cut in" of 880 engine RPM, which is much lower than any other alternator of its type. This is the speed where the internal sense circuitry connects the battery to the voltage regulator and turns on the alternator. Once the voltage regulator engages, the alternator will stay on and charge until the engine stops completely."
I'll use the pull cord groove and hang the alternator off my new winch bracketing... I think Wonder if I need to do pulley sizing to get the best results?

[HTB8]

Well, the new regulator arrived and today I wired and mounted it. Working perfect now ! Think I'll run it like this for the fall and upgrade to the alternator this winter.