QuestionQUESTION: I need to replace the alternator on my craftsman mower with a B&S 44000 intek motor. I have the cover off; Ihave the screen off and I am now perplexed what I do next. There are two brass star bolts into the plastic air fan. do i take those out and both the starter plate and fan come off and the alternator is under there? I havne't got this far before in working on this.
ANSWER: Yes, you need to remove the cooling fan bolts. The link below shows the removal of a Tecumseh flywheel. While not a Briggs engine, the video shows the type of tool you need to remove the flywheel; the tool is shown around the 2 minute mark in the video.
You flywheel holes should already have threads for the cooling fan bolts.
The main point is you need a puller to remove the flywheel. Lots of videos use a hammer and prybar but this is not a very good method has you can crack the flywheel and damage the magnets that are glued inside the flywheel.
Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuI7cLa_fk4&feature=fvw
Why are replacing alternator? I have only seen a one, maybe two alternators that needed replacing.
Eric
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Just bought a new meter, had a bad one. Both the regulator and the alternator check out. However, the battery is still not charging. Are there some diodes I need to check?
AnswerUsually you either have the diodes in the regulator or in a seperate harness. Since you have a regulator you probably don't have any additional diodes.
Did you check the charging voltage at the battery? The battery voltage should be minimum 12.5 volts when the engine is running full speed (3600 RPM).
Did you dis-connect and clean the battery terminals and cable ends with a wirebrush. I have fixed a lot of charging problems just by cleaning the connections.
Let me know the voltage at the battery with the engine running full speed.
Eric
