Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): battery not charging, craftsman lt1000, battery cables

Question
I have a craftsman lt1000 riding lawn mower it has a kohler command 16hp engine ohv cv460s and the battery does not charge after a few months a brand new battery is dead and ideas.

Answer
Paul
You may have a problem with the battery charging rectifier.Put a multi meter on the battery mark down the voltage,then start the engine and with the battery still connected mark down the voltage there should be a difference of  2-3 volts.You can also take the battery cables off while the engine is running if it shuts off then the charger is bad.Make sure the battery is fully charged first.