cub cadet 129 charging problems
 

I have a cub cadet 129 with the kohler k301. I recently rebuild the starter/generator due to what i thought was the problem.... while its running the voltage across the negative and positive of the battery jumps from 1 volt to 19 volts, as well as at the regulator and S/G. anyone had this problem before and know how to fix?:HeadScrath:

Somewhere there is a short occurring. I would check by the vr, the wires get pretty close to the frame there and may have worn through the insulation on the wires.

I'd be looking to see if your meter is working correctly or on the correct scale.

I noticed some frayed wires along the lines to the v/r and s/g i thought i got em all covered... might have to re wire it then. any suggestions on what it could be if its still a problem? could the v/r be bad?

Also the meter is on the right setting. when the tractor isn't running my battery reads 12.37 volts and stays steady doesn't jump. Also ohms everything out just fine.

Ok, but your first post says the voltage varies from 1 to 19 volts.
That don't compute unless your battery is totally junk with an internal intermittent connection, or you have loose connections at the battery.
A battery @ 1 Volt is junk and would not start anything.
Check your battery terminals/wire ends.

Imporper wording :bash2: sorry. flucuates from 1 to 19 volts and never stays steady.

Sounds like a bad wire connection somewhere, perhaps one of the Battery Cable connections.

If the battery is starting the tractor and it sounds like it is, I'm with Roland you have a connection problem.
Your test leads on the BATTERY POSTS not the wire ends/terminals should be a steady voltage reading.
A battery cannot fluctuate that wide of a range, and be good/usable.
@ rest maybe 12V. min. and running full throttle/charging 14V.( ball park)

I currently have wire harness out couldnt find much places with wear on them. Remade a hardness for it last night and will reinstall it tonight.

well ol' george was right. The 2 meters i have or (had) werent reading the voltage right. borrowed my buddies fluke and its reading properly now. still no charge tho... S/G is reading output of 12.84 volts after it was rebuilt. its only making enough to maintain the battery but no charge. i went to my local cub cadet dealer and asked him about it. he said its my voltage regulator thats doing it. but my question is, if the S/G is only putting out 12.84 volts how is my V/R going to get it to over 13.5 volts to charge the battery?

Ground the field wire on the generator while @ full rpms, then read voltage with the good meter,@ the battery, if it reads 14V or better, problem is with the regulator, or wiring to/from it.
The voltage reg adjusts the field current ( more excitment) to produce the proper charge.
More field current= more voltage/greater charge.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Thank you Ol'George. Once I grounded the F and put the meter on the battery it climbed right up to charging. Now just gotta pick up a new V/R.

Now make SURE you get the right one!!
Many aftermarket/will fit ones, have the terminals marked different but in the same place/location.
That screws with your mind, unless you understand the system, and how things work.
Once you buy the reg. you own it, no refunds on electrical parts after you smoke them. so there goes your savings.
buy the right one the first time, end of story.