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battery started especially,most pull start only engines
do not have an alternator.
The alternator sets under the flywheel and is a series
of coils set in a circle underneath the flywheel.The
flywheel has a set or series of magnets set around the
inside of the flywheel that help generate the
D.C.VOLTAGE that charges the battery and helps run
the lights on equipment equipped with lights.
Usually there will be one or two wires coming from
alternator from underneath flywheel and one will have
an inline diode installed in wire or connection.Adiode
lets current flow only one way,so that battery will not
discharge back through alternator when not running.
Usually an alternator will not go bad on your small
engine, unless a hot or live wire is some how
connected above inline diode and runs current back
into alternator,although Ihave seen the magnets come
loose from inside of flywheel and bind the engine
causing you to think the engine has broken a piston
rod by turning so far one way and then back the other
way and binding.
A small engine alternator is one of the most trouble
free parts to a small engine and rarely will it give any
trouble.ONE WAY TO CHECK OUT PUT IF YOU DONT
HAVE A VOLTAGE METER, IS TO CRANK ENGINE UP
AND TAKE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL LOOSE,
TOUCH THE POSITIVE CABLE TO SHINY METAL ON
FRAME AND WATCH FOR SPARK.If you have spark
then it is charging.
Most of your electrical small engine troubles will be in
bad battery,worn starter,mis adjusted overhead
valves, or bad safety switches.Troubleshooting is
ninety percent of the repair on most things.