Battery Over-Charge??

I have a 21 year old Wheel Horse 314-8 with a Kohler engine. I've gone through 2 batteries in 2-3 year time frame. They crap out and won't hold a charge. At the battery terminals, the battery is receiving up to 16.3 volt charge @ 3600 RPM which is about 1.5V higher than it probably normally would be; however, there is no voltage regulator on this tractor. There's none in the wiring diagram and nothing I can find on the tractor. I guess the stator regulates output. I'm not sure. My question is simply - could this 16V charge be prematurely toasting the battery? If yes, what can I do about it?

Thanks

Bob

There has to be a regulator somewhere on that tractor. John Deere used a stator too and that was ac voltage off of it. It also had a regulator
or a rectifier to convert to dc voltage.

It DEFINITELY has a combination rectifier/voltage regulator.

Once we know the model #, you can go the the Kohler website, and view the service manual on-line, for free.

Engine: K321S 14 HP Spec# 60424

I have a copy of the original Wheel Horse Wiring Diagram in their service manual - shows no regulator.

Thanks for the help

Testing the regulator is covered on about page 82.

• K-321

I guess in the end, the only thing I'm concerned with is the high voltage. It's not that the battery isn't charging. I just don't want to keep frying batteries if that's what's happening. Normally you'd just swat out the regulator with that condition. Maybe the high voltage is unrelated. The tractor sits idle a lot so the winter's may just take their toll in New England. Doesn't happen on my 12 year old 724Z though but I use that a lot more during the summer months.