Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Mastercraft riding mower charging problem

I have a Mastercraft (MTD) 14.5HP riding mower and the amp meter shows a discharge condition, and the battery won't charge. When I traced the wires back to the engine I found a broken wire under a heat shrink, which appears to enclose either a diode or ballast resister, can't tell cause it's broken.... anyone know which one it is, cause I'm sure if I put in a new one it will solve my problem..... Thanxs

It is a diode and if you post back with the engine make and all ID numbers of such I can provide you with the correct part number you'll need. Also let us know how many wires come from the stator (the dioded wire and any others), what color they are and what color the connector it/they tie into is.

Got all the info... Briggs & Stratton 14.5HP engine. Think we bought it in 1998. Model 2877707, Type 0224-01, Code 970411ZE. Two wires coming for under the engine shroud, red that had the diode on it and that connects to a red with black tracer through a white connector. The other wire is black and connects to a white wire using the same connector... Also, do I point the diode away from the engine or towards it. ....hope this helps.

Oppps sorry... Model # is 287707

Orient the diode so that the current can leave the engine, but not enter it. Radio shack carries diodes that will work fine for this application.

The diode should have an arrow or triangle symbol on it. Point this toward the current, in this case toward the engine.

I guess I have a problem with the stator. With the mower running, I don't get any voltage coming from the 2 leads coming from the engine. After installing the diode, the amp meter is still showing a discharge.

Once the engine is running there should be no battery drain. Test the output with a voltage tester or multimeter, do not rely on the charging indicator as it may not be working properly.

The AC voltage should be no less than 14 from the alternator at 3600 rpm.