i have an older craftsman 18hp briggs garden tractor with 44" deck. The problem is the diode ***'y and the wire going to the inline fuse the runs to the battery side of the starter solenoid gets hot. the amp meter pegs negative as soon as the key switch is turned to the run position with out the tractor running. The original diode ***'y was burnt up so i replaced that and also found the stator to be burnt up so i replaced that with a new one. if i disconnect the single wire coming from the stator it's fine no amp draw and wires dont get hot. as soon as i connect it, there a spark and the wires start to get hot and the amp gauge pegs. i can't find a short in the system anywhere. I've unplugged the deck clutch, deck switch, the positive wire at the starter, and wire ***'y going to a relay ( believe it's for the deck), headlight wire at the switch, and safety switches. I don't have an ACV meter but when i hook up my ohm meter red to the wire coming from the stator and ground the black to the engine block it reads .000. it seems to me there's a dead short not just a slight amp draw. anyone have any suggestions? any help would be appreciated. thanks the engine model # is 422707-1243-01 and the mower is about a '92 year model.