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I have a 24HP Craftsman Lawn Tractor that runs great but drains the battery while running and then stops completely. The battery is new so that is not the issue. I can't figure out what is causing this issue. Logically once the tractor is running the magneto should be charging the battery and the spark to the plugs is not part of that circuit or am I wrong.

RonABrown49 said:

I have a 24HP Craftsman Lawn Tractor that runs great but drains the battery while running and then stops completely. The battery is new so that is not the issue. I can't figure out what is causing this issue. Logically once the tractor is running the magneto should be charging the battery and the spark to the plugs is not part of that circuit or am I wrong.

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No, you aren't completely wrong but maybe just not completely correct.:laughing:

If your engine's carburetor has a wire going to the bottom of the float bowl, that wire needs 12 volts to keep that solenoid actuated fuel valve open.

With a volt meter check the DC voltage at the battery terminals with the engine dead. Now running the engine to about 1/2 to 2/3 full throttle that reading should be approaching 13.5 to 14 volts.

If the unit fails the 13.5 to 14 DC Volts test the rectifier is suspect just like mine was.

Welcome to LawnWorld! :welcome:

We moved your thread to the Small Engine & Mower Repair forum.

I changed the rectifier and the lawn tractor ran without issue for we over an hour and then died. Clearly the rectifier change helped but did not solve the issue in total. Runs well, but battery drains, battery is new and was tested and has no issue, connections are all solid and clean and rectifier is new. Any suggestions on what I should try next?

Take a look at section 7 of this manual, it will walk you through how to test the charging system.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12502267/B&S Service Manuals/01_270962SingleCylinderLHead.pdf