18 Horse Briggs Alternator

[mikeylikesit5805]

I have everything wired on my 6x6 except for the alternator. I hooked up a multimeter to figure out what wire was what. I just assumed that you take the red wire (positive) to the Positive terminal on the battery, and the black wire to the negative on the battery. But every time I touch the Red Wire to the battery it sparks pretty good so I know I am doing something wrong.

Any Ideas?

[superherojohn]

I would stop quessing at wires it is really expensive to be wrong!

I am in the same exact place in my project. My 18hp vanguard runs from the pull start but i haven't wired the red(AC power, hot from alternator) black (kill switch) to anything. I wish I could be of more help but I just don't know what to do either. here is a link to an online briggs manual.

Large Air-Cooled Engine Service ... - Google Book Search

Work slow and don't burn up any expensive parts. Please post your results. My wireing thread is in engines.

[mikeylikesit5805]

Yea, I know, I would hate to blow something up, if i havent already,Maybe it goes somewere on the solenoid? Im not sure....

[Roger S]

The red wire needs a 25? amp inline fuse to protect the stator. What black wire are we talking about?

[mikeylikesit5805]

Its a Black Wire, that comes out right next to the red one, right behind the flywheel, Just a ground I think. But I was thinking: Wont I need some type of diode to keep the battery from throwing volts at the alternator??

[Roger S]

I can't picture what you have.. maybe one of the newer vanguards that's black instead of red?

I've slept since seeing those wires last.. but there was a two wire harness? that plugged into the regulator, and the red was fused on it's way to battery source or ammeter.

The kill switch wire was to a stud on sheet metal engine shroud. Anything sound familiar?

About what year is the engine. An 18 vanguard twin? got a pic?

[mikeylikesit5805]

Here is a pic
Picasa Web Albums - Mike Lucas - 6x6 Pictures

I didn't have the other end of the connector so I just cut off the connector and then spliced some longer pieces of wire to it. There was a red wire and a black wire underneath it. I will take more pictures tonight

[Roger S]

OK now we're talkin'.

That's a briggs? then it's an opposed flathead twin, not a vanguard. The flathead experts can help ya.

[brushcutter]

The wires in pic 3 should plug into the regulator. The wire in pic 4 should go to ground through your kill switch, it is this wire that grounds your spark to kill the motor.

[mikeylikesit5805]

Well I have the kill switch working, but not the alternator. I am gonig to try and put a diode or something to direct current and see if that works.