Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): B&S Model 286707, briggs battery charging

Question
My Toro with a B&S motor does not seem to be charging the battery.  First question, there are two wires coming out of the engine, I think one (black wire) is for the lights and is AC and the second is the one (red one) to charge the battery, can you confirm?

Second, the red one has about 9V to ground, this seems to be the issue, is my only choice now to pull the flywheel and change the alternator?

Answer
With a voltmeter, check the voltage of the battery with the key off and then with the engine running.  There should be a jump of one-two volts with it running.  If not, then you have a charging problem.  

I don't know the voltage output for the DC wire, which you're correct is the red one.  The amperage should be about 3amps.  Your AC voltage output should be about 14V.


Let me know if there's no voltage jump at the battery with that test.  Thanks, PK.