having charging problems with GT225

[smote]

this is my first post. I've been having some problems with my mower and this website came up with a google search.
My mower is a 2000 John Deere GT225 with the 15hp Koeler engine with approx 800 hours. I had no problems with the tractor at all until this past weekend. My daughter was mowing and it just died on her. I went over and jump started the tractor as the engine wouldn't crank over. It started right up but the battery light was on so assumed the battery is dead but I told her to go ahead and finish mowing. She turned the deck and with 5 seconds the deck stopped and the circuit board under the dash started smoking. I unhooked the battery and brought it home.
Once home I took the battery to Autozone and they said it was good but needed charged. They didn't seel that battery so I went to the JD dealer. They also tested the battery and said the same thing. Since it was ten years old I went ahead and bought a new battery. Also bought a new circuit board and a PTO clutch since it had been cutting out once in a while I figured I'd go ahead fix that too.
Now I've replaced the battery, the PTO clutch and the circuit board. The engine runs and starts great but I'm still getting the battery light staying on. I thought maybe it was the regulator so I bought that too. The light is still on. Bummer.
I just took my volt meter and with the engine running wide open I'm getting 14 volts at the battery and 12.8 volts on all three terminals of the regulator.
at this point I'm stumped. Does anyone have any suggestions before I take somewhere to get looked at?

thanks in adavance.

 

[davkir]

Hope this helps. A lot of Kohler service manuals are available here:
Kohler Engines: Owners & Service Manuals: Manuals & Maintenance

 

[smote]

i did a little investigation work. I pulled the plug off of the regulator, started the engine and then took some readings with my volt meter. The two white wires that are on the outsides of the plug are reading nothing. The black wire in the middle is showing between 12 and 13 volts.
To me this might mean the stator is bad.
what do you think?

 

[davkir]

I have no idea which engine is in your mower, but the link I mentioned has manuals with detailed trouble shooting info.
It appears that on my Kohler, that the voltage at 3000 RPM should be >12.5 or with charging lead disconnected >20.

 

[smote]

thanks for the link. I couldn't find my engine model number on that site but I went ahead and looked at some of the ones that looked similar.
I looked at the procedure for checking the stator. It said with the plug removed and the motor running I should have at least 28 volts AC at the two outside leads that go to the stator. I only have 11 volts. So I'm going to pull the cover and flywheel off tonight to see if I have a bad connection, broken wire or dirt in there. If I don't then I'l probably need a new stator. JD dealer can get one in three days for $86.
Again, thanks for the link to the Kohler site.

 

[smote]

An update on where I'm at. I tested the regulator and the stator and they both came out fine. Using a voltmeter I tested the battery with the mower off and I get 12.4 volts. With the mower running with or without the deck engaged I get 14.7 volts. This tells me my charging system is working but I"m still getting a battery light on the dash.
I was tracing the wiring harness around and found a part plugged into it that looks like a red M80 firecracker. I unplugged it and my light goes out and I'm still showing good voltage at the battery.
I've managed to find the part on a website that had wiring diagrams for ordering parts and it says it's a Battery Discharge sensor part number AM126691. The part is $11 so I'm thinking I'm giong to get it and see if it fixes my battery light.

 

[bx2230orange]

I am having the same problem. Any luck?

 

[smote]

I am having the same problem. Any luck?

I replaced the battery discharge sensor and my dash light for the battery went away. Everything works as it should now.

 

[Njrotcjdp]

I'm having the same issue with my jd lx255. I replaced the regulator thinking that was it but the light still stays on. I'm going to try the m80' fire cracker next. It's been a great little mower. I also have a jd lx277 aws that I use. It has been good getting around trees. Thanks for the info.

 

[Njrotcjdp]

As a follow up on my battery light issue; I had to replace the stator. Simple enough but you'll need a steering wheel puller and a couple metric bolts. As usual for JD, the parts a little pricey.