Your video was spot on. I tested my voltage regulator and found a voltage leak of 2.2 volts!

For those of you asking, the voltage regulator HAS to be grounded and grounded well. Not loose. The wire from the stator supplies ac voltage. The wire to the battery (red) is a sensing and charging wire. Without the ground, the VR has no idea what it's supposed to be doing and voltages will be all over. Might even blow up a battery or cook a harness, but usually just won't charge. Just throwing that out there. Popped in because 3 of my regulators are showing voltage between body and engine. I was surprised to see yours wasn't. Might just rig up a key operated relay that closes a hard line from VR to batt pos on run position. Even if it fails again, I won't find a surprise.

Thank you for the informative video. I got the exact reading you did. Ordered the part and hopefully this addresses the battery drain.

@opiate2L

7 жыл бұрын

I hope so!

Great video. I just ordered the part and hopefully this will solve my problem. I’m on my 2nd brand new battery in 2 months.

A stop-gap solution to this problem is to pull the fuse that's located next to the positive terminal. That will eliminate the parasitic load. Replace the fuse when you are ready to start your engine!

Learn a lot by watching this

Video very helpful...Thanks

It’s supposed to be mounted on the plastic dipstick tube, there are three bosses for self tapping screw

The issue you talk about in your description is EXACTLY what my problem is. I thank you very much for this video. I had a suspicion this part would be my problem. I will come back and update my comment once I replace such part. Thanks!!

If you have a mower that does not have a voltage regulator, there is a hidden diode in one of the stator wires that has gone faulty allowing battery voltage to drain.

@davidmcnabb5315

6 жыл бұрын

Rusty Nuckles I'm trying to troubleshoot my mom's zero turn mower. The battery keeps draining slowly.

@Fresh-tw7ev

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidmcnabb5315 the battery on my practically new JD ZTrak 375 just died. Unacceptable! Did not expect this from a $3500 tractor.

@acemarshall7028

2 жыл бұрын

@@Fresh-tw7ev Same thing happened to me JD 355 I'm finding out it isn't charging the battery while in use.

@Fresh-tw7ev

2 жыл бұрын

@@acemarshall7028 Ace it was due to a faulty voltage regulator. Covered under warranty.

I just replaced one that was doing the same thing. Battery would be dead in a week. It was also charging at 17volts!! Not sure how the battery withstood that. But installed a new one and works like a top!

@opiate2L

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Easy fix!

Why isn't the voltage regulator bolted tight against the motor metal case. The regulator will be moving all around when you go cut grass. If the bolt in not tight against the motor case add a few washers under the head of the bolt to get a good secure ground

I have the D140 and I can't locate my Voltage Regulator; It's not where yours is at ; please advise

I measured the drain as your video showed. So I bought a new voltage regulator. I connected the new one and tested it. Same type of voltage drain. Not happy. Wondering why these have to be "grounded" in the first place? I tried running it not bolted down and the mower runs fine.

@opiate2L

5 жыл бұрын

There was no current drain with my new part. I'm pretty sure some electrical part inside the molded rubber was making contact with the case when it shouldn't. If you can secure it to the mower without the metal making contact, that might be fine. Some strong velcro might work.

@Droxyguy4life

5 жыл бұрын

@@opiate2L I'll secure it with a nylon tie cable away from the metal. I looked at the specs and mine does show a 'ground', but for what purpose I don't know. www.briggsandstratton.com/content/dam/briggsandstratton/na/en_us/Files/FAQs/alternator_specifications.pdf

@opiate2L

5 жыл бұрын

@@Droxyguy4life I see what you mean. It makes sense that a voltage regulator circuit has a ground but I hadn't thought about it being via the case. I'm not sure what went bad in mine or why your part does the same, but my new one does not pass current when the engine is off.

@78603bs

5 жыл бұрын

Somewhere in reading about this problem I noticed comment about a positive contact between the regulator and the machine, which of course is grounded to the battery. My 12v test lamp actually lights if inserted inline with the positive supply. I think I got a similar reading on the amp meter that you go but wasn't real confident my meter is good. So with the test lanp, That's how I know there is a drain. I think it's worth taking more time to positivel isolate the drain for some of these commenters. Test for same drain with regulator disconnected, etc. My solution is likely to put a disconnect on the positive cable and open and close it with operation. My regulator on the 18 HP honda is a little more complicated and runs $100.I would probably want the disconnect anyway.....then religiously hook up the trickle charger just in case.

Did you say you "unplugged the battery terminal" to test it? Im having the same issue with my battery draining. What is the first steps to test the voltage regulator? Key on, off? Battery connected? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

@opiate2L

7 жыл бұрын

Good question. The battery was draining with the key out and the battery connected; just as it sits when not in use. I only put an ammeter between the regulator case and the metal engine compartment to show that current is flowing where it shouldn't while bolted in place.

what was your meter set at ?

@opiate2L

7 жыл бұрын

mA...it was a 2mA leak.

Couple questions= the mower looks fairly new, just wonder if this was a problem from purchase date or do these go bad over time? I wonder how many are blaming bad batteries when it could be draining like from bad regulator.

@opiate2L

4 жыл бұрын

The mower was over two years old and it had been an issue for a while. I didn't replace the original battery for another two years after that. I think your suspicion is correct. People verify correct voltage output, but miss the current drain and blame it on the battery.

@captinbeyond

4 жыл бұрын

@@opiate2L Well the batteries have a bad reputation for being cheap and not lasting long. Most have short warranties and add to that many stay on shelves for long time before being purchased. My 2 year old JD D130 battery died in March this year..so bought the Walmart 230 amp battery and it seem like it didn't want to turn over at all when brand new, but after 3 or 4 turns of the key it kicks off. After the 90 day warranty is gone it won't start by itself and after jumping it runs but 7 days later it's dead again. Gonna try the test you showed and see if that is a cause. Thanks

@opiate2L

4 жыл бұрын

@@captinbeyond When my original battery eventually went bad, I got one from autozone with higher cranking amps and had much better starting. Good luck. I hope you find the culprit.

@captinbeyond

4 жыл бұрын

@@opiate2L thanks

I have a JD LA105 and I have the same problem. I need to replace the voltage regulator but I'm having a really hard time finding it. Any suggestions where to look? John deere?

@opiate2L

6 жыл бұрын

My local dealership wasn't much help so I found one on eBay. It was described as "Voltage Regulator Briggs & Stratton B&S 691188 491546 793360 794360"

@ricardosalias5492

6 жыл бұрын

Great, so Briggs & stratton is compatible

@opiate2L

6 жыл бұрын

I guess so. In fact, the John Deere mowers at Lowe's have Briggs and Stratton engines.

@ricardosalias5492

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Brian, it worked

Hmm, good vod, but what if i don't have a voltage regulator ????

@opiate2L

6 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure because I've never had any other type of battery drain. You'll just need to poke around with with a meter until you can find where the short is. Sorry I can't be of more help.

@davidmcnabb5315

6 жыл бұрын

Then check the wires off the stator for an inline diode that's bad.

I bought a replacement and it does the same thing

I tested my regulator the same way you did in the video and it was drawing 11.7 volts DC. Does that sound right ??

@opiate2L

10 ай бұрын

It's current flow that drains a battery. Try setting the meter to milliamps and see if it reads anything between the regulator and the case.

I have 3 John deer z930m. Everyone has a 13 mA draw when the power is off. One of my batteries goes dead everyday, any thoughts? Maybe 13mA draw is acceptable on those mowers? When I unplug the vehicle control unit, it does not draw from battery while off. Hmmmm

Send me the link to the regulator you purchased.

@opiate2L

2 жыл бұрын

Search for ebay item # 304130552148

Mine has a 60ma draw. Replaced it and the replacement has a 80ma draw. Wtf. It's China can't find own wtf.

What if no voltage regulator

@larryfine4498

5 жыл бұрын

You may have an inline diode coming from stator wire that handles the ac to dc conversion.

Dear ppl in the comments. When you ground your VR make sure the surface isn't rusty or painted

the v reg needs to be tight to the engine to earth properly your bolt is to long or needs a lock washer to tighten it .

@opiate2L

7 жыл бұрын

bgm wrong

@M0NXF

7 жыл бұрын

All the ones i have seen have been tight to the block ? but if you say that is how it is then ok but if it go's again this maybe the problem . i do not work on b/s anymore we only have honda now

@opiate2L

7 жыл бұрын

It's an internal short. That's the factory bolt. The problem is fixed now.

@M0NXF

7 жыл бұрын

yes not saying the old one was not defective just saying they should be grouned tight maybe someone had it off before you and lost a spring lock washer it would be a diode gone causing a back feed seen it many times .

@jimmyfixesalotofstuff8620

7 жыл бұрын

bgm Don't criticize his video you don't know how to spell "ground" right bro.

Maybe not on that model

if you suspect a drain disc red battery lead conn ohm meter lead ground the other lead to the red lead you disc if you get a reading you are looking at the drain find by elimanation to see where that reading is coming from then repair or replace.

2:00 "Install like this and it won't drain the battery." By now, 54 mower guys have told you that REGULATOR must be secure, and not flopping around like you left it. She gets her ground from the engine.