John Deere ZTRak 375 Battery Charging issues

[Doug from Ohio]

Sounds like a bad regulator, I would call the dealer and let them mess with it. Especially if it is still under warranty. Check if there is a service charge and how much it is and what is or is not covered. You may be able to find a nomenclature on the VR and just buy one off the internet and install it yourself if warranty doesn't cover it and the service charge is more expensive than the part. Just double check the wiring/grounds first for good measure, it never hurts.

Yes I will remove the VR and reinstall it to ensure ground to the chassis. I did check with the dealer and the machine is still under warranty. So that’s a positive start!

 

[bertsmobile1]

Thanks Bert. I will look for the grounding strap on Saturday when I get back to the mower. Any diagram of where that ground strap is specifically located would be an immense help to me. I could not find it on any of the Briggs exploded views or the John Deere site. Anybody know where the grounding strap is for a 2020 JD ZTrak 375R? It’s engine #44S9770045G1

B & S usually mount their regulators on the plastic dip stick tube, which being plastic is not grounded
Kohler mount theirs inside the plastic blower housing, same story
The rectifiers both use make the ground contact through the case so it has to be connected to a metal part of the engine.
B & S usually run a strap from under the rear blower housing bolt to one of the rectifier mounting bolts
The single wire rectifiers have it under the rectifier between it & the dip stick tube
The bigger 2 ( or more ) wire ones do the same thing to one of the two mounting bolts.
Now I do not have the technical manual for your mower so I do not know if JD used the original B & S set up or have the rectifier mounted to the mower frame
If it is mounted to the frame then undo the bolts clean them, the rectifier around the bolt holes and the holes in the frame
If mounted on the dip stick tube make up 2 new ground straps, one to the blower housing bolt & another to the starter motor mounting bolt .
Belts & braces
Kohler use either a wire strap or a flat metal bar in the bower housing, both are prone to fracture after prolonged use

 

[Doug from Ohio]

Today after mowing for approx 60 mins the PTO failed to engage. Brand new battery 3 weeks ago snd it finally ran down after not being charged. I charged it back to 12.60 DCV and left a new trickle charge on it. This confirms the VR is toast.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Today after mowing for approx 60 mins the PTO failed to engage. Brand new battery 3 weeks ago snd it finally ran down after not being charged. I charged it back to 12.60 DCV and left a new trickle charge on it. This confirms the VR is toast.

All it confirms is that the power from the alternator is not getting back to the battery
As we have been trying to tell you
Could be the VR or the ground strap
But it is your money so if you want to spend $ 30 on a new VR only to find you needed a new 10¢ terminal on the ground wire , that is your decision.
If you are going to continue to run the mower in this condition then take the plug off arectifier or there is a good chance you will burn out the stator .

 

[Doug from Ohio]

All it confirms is that the power from the alternator is not getting back to the battery
As we have been trying to tell you
Could be the VR or the ground strap
But it is your money so if you want to spend $ 30 on a new VR only to find you needed a new 10¢ terminal on the ground wire , that is your decision.
If you are going to continue to run the mower in this condition then take the plug off arectifier or there is a good chance you will burn out the stator .

All it confirms is that the power from the alternator is not getting back to the battery
As we have been trying to tell you
Could be the VR or the ground strap
But it is your money so if you want to spend $ 30 on a new VR only to find you needed a new 10¢ terminal on the ground wire , that is your decision.
If you are going to continue to run the mower in this condition then take the plug off arectifier or there is a good chance you will burn out the stator .

I checked the grounding strap and it’s secure. I will unplug the stator AC wire coming into the Volt Regulator (rectifier) as you have recommended.

 

[bertsmobile1]

I checked the grounding strap and it’s secure. I will unplug the stator AC wire coming into the Volt Regulator (rectifier) as you have recommended.

What you were asked to do was to check it electrically
Internally broken or corroded wires can feel quite good.
Probably barking up the wrong tree but I have this thing about spending more of a customers money than is necessary

 

[Richard Milhous]

Internally broken or corroded wires can feel quite good.

Not common, but a BASTARD when it happens. Hard to trace at all, and the slightest jiggle or temperature change can make or break the connection.

Far more common are intermittent make/break connection problems from loose/dirty connections. Feels solid, looks good... may even look clean on dissassembly. Without a resistance test, you can't be sure unless it's shiny and tight. Battery terminals are especially evil.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Not common, but a BASTARD when it happens. Hard to trace at all, and the slightest jiggle or temperature change can make or break the connection.

Far more common are intermittent make/break connection problems from loose/dirty connections. Feels solid, looks good... may even look clean on dissassembly. Without a resistance test, you can't be sure unless it's shiny and tight. Battery terminals are especially evil.

But very easy to diagnose by using a jumper which is why O keep telling people to toss the multimete and use a test lamp that has a reasonable load , like an old head light globe or bypass with a patch cord or jumper.
But we have raised several generations of drongoes who can not live unless they can can quote numbers even when they have no idea what the numbers mean
How many times have you seen stuff like 3.785 kΩ or 11.234 V quoted

 

[Doug from Ohio]

It’s definitely a bad VR. I do appreciate you guys and the steady feedback. Thanks again.

 

[Richard Milhous]

But very easy to diagnose by using a jumper which is why O keep telling people to toss the multimete and use a test lamp that has a reasonable load , like an old head light globe or bypass with a patch cord or jumper.
But we have raised several generations of drongoes who can not live unless they can can quote numbers even when they have no idea what the numbers mean
How many times have you seen stuff like 3.785 kΩ or 11.234 V quoted

Berts you are just seeing things wrong because you are in the wrong hemisphere where the electromagnetic currents run backwards. In America (TM) they wouldn't sell a meter with three decimals of precision unless it had three decimals of accuracy! 11.234 V means just that, not 11.233 or 11.235. In Chinesium We Trust!