Discharging Amp Meter

[Labrauer]

I have a 2008 craftsman riding lawn mower with a twin 24 hp motor model # 44M777-1193B1 that the amp meter goes into the discharge side of the meter when you turn on the head lights. It will return to the center mark or just into the charge side when nothing is drawing power other than the engine running. When you engage the blades it really goes into discharge and after a while when mowing the engine will die like it's not getting gas. Choke it and it will start right up but takes a while to run right but engage the blades or try to travel it will spit and sputter. I have replaced the fuel pump and adjusted both coils to specs on the flywheel so it has good gas flow and good spark.
My question is if the alternator was going bad would this cause my problem of the discharge and the engine dying after mowing for a while? Is there a way to check the alternator or the voltage regulator to see if they need replacing? Both are kind of expensive.
Alternator: $80.92
Voltage Regulator: $79.79

 

[Rocky J]

You never mentioned the battery, how old ? A lot of them have a warranty of 90 days , they do not always just quit, they get to a point they do not not take a charge, dirty battery terminals can cause the same problem. A cheap volt meter set to DC then touched to the battery should read 12 volt then start the mower, push the throttle full and it should read 13 to 14 volts, If it does then your charging system is working . clean your battery terminals and put it on the charger for 24 hours and try again.AS far as the sputtering and die goes, on the bottom of the carburetor there is a electric solenoid that is open and shut with 12 volt , opens when key is on and shut when turned off and when you run the voltage real low with the electric pto switch on and lights it goes shut and it does run out of gas.
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63759.html you do not need a high dollar tester, parts store , menards, depending on where you live. A battery maintainer is always a good idea to stretch any batteries life to it fullest, https://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-64284.html

 

[StarTech]

Yes there is a way using a cheap DVMM or analog meter. Find the two AC output wires from the stator (alternator). These are usually yellow, black, or white depending when the stator was made. Also the AC output with the amp rating of the stator.

With the engine running at 3600 RPM output should be no less than:
20 Volts AC − 10 Amp System
30 Volts AC − 16 amp System

When testing here the reading is taken across both of the stator output wires. If the AC is within specs then check the DC output of the regulator. (can be check across the battery terminals) It should be above the standing (none running) battery voltage up to 14.5 VDC most times and no more than 16 VDC max.

Also note it is more common for the voltage regulator to fail then the stator.

Now of course a bad battery doesn't help things so you should be testing with a known good battery.

Also note your system could be the low 5 amp regulator setup and testing is a little different.