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todays small engines
consists of the flywheel
which has a set of magnets
underneath it that when
spinning rotate around a coil
that is mounted to the
engine by four bolts at least,
so when engine is running
the magnets rotate around
the coil, generating dc
current which flows through
two wires coming from
underneath flywheel, one is
for lights and one is a direct
charging wire with a diode
inside wire on most
briggs,kohler is a little
different.
alternator underneath flywheel to the battery, usually connecting to the
battery side of the start solonoid,so it has direct access into the battery,thus
that is why the diode is neccessary,because without it current would flow
from battery to alternator and into ground,therefore discharging your battery
when not in use.
Very seldom does a charging system go bad on todays engines,unless an
engine has been changed from one frame to another and the wiring has
been spliced and someone snips the diode out of the charging wire coming
from underneath flywheel,where the alternator resides.
One simple way to check to see if the alternator is putting out any voltage is
to crank the engine up and take the positive battery cable loose,and as you
try to reattach it, it should spark,or touch it to some surrounding metal free
of paint, it should spark,if alternator is putting voltage to your battery.
Some of the older kohler engines and tecumseh as far as that goes had
starter generators, which was the starter as well as the alternator or
generator.They could be rebuilt or still can be.Usually the brushes and or
bushings would wear causing a problem.