185 Charging Problems

[SandyLee]

Hello everybody, new member here. Thanks for the add.
My problem is my 185 will not charge. I have replaced starter/ generator, voltage regulator and polarized. When I check voltage at battery while running it reads 12.3. Anybody help me out?

[SONNY]

check ALL wiring all the way thru,---sounds like a broken wire. should test 13.6 to 14.8 or so while running.
Was the sg unit rebuilt or just a used one? IF the reg. was new ---- that dont make it a good one either!
Re test everything starting with the generator section,---is it even putting out voltage to the reg? then work from there. I always end up having to re set the reg points to make them work.
Do some more testing and post what you find!

[Larry B]

With the engine running at least half throttle what is the voltage reading from the Batt terminal on the regulator to ground?

[murph51]

I had a similar charging problem with my 154. It would only charge at full rpm. After going through the charging system, I realized my ignition system was drawing too much current (someone had put a non-resistor coil on it) After changing the coil it now charges fine.

[Eugene]

I had a similar charging problem with my 154. It would only charge at full rpm. After going through the charging system, I realized my ignition system was drawing too much current (someone had put a non-resistor coil on it) After changing the coil it now charges fine.

Another nope.

[Gary Dotson]

I can see a little rationale, in that one, Eugene. By non resister coil, I think he basically means a 6v or 1.5 ohm coil. When he switched to the internal resister or 3 ohm coil he reduced the amperage load of the ignition system. It seems rather extreme that it would pull enough to nix current flow to the battery but maybe the generator is not producing as it should, anyway.

[Eugene]

I have S/G (starter/generators), on narrow framed Cub Cadets and the 154. The amp gauge don't show a charge until over 1/2 throttle.

The 1.5 Ohm coil would draw 8 amps, or slightly over 1/2 of the S/G's output of 15 amps.

I think Murph51's 154 S/G was working as it should and show a charge at slightly less throttle with an additional 4 amps going to the battery.

[murph51]

I don't recall the exact amps it was drawing before changing the coil.

I know the amp draw was high, it was intermittantly running poorly and the battery was running down while I was mowing for quite awhile (months).

I had replaced the brushes in the SG and checked out the regulator, voltage was low at the generator and about the same at the battery when charging.

Finally the points welded together and the new coil seemed to fix all the problems.

I don't know for sure that it was a non resistor coil (my guess) maybe it was just breaking down.