John Deere has designed purpose-built riding mowers that significantly increase landscapers’ productivity by allowing them to sit down while they mow large swaths of land. John Deere entered the lawn tractor market in 1963 with their Model 110. Since then, they have been the go-to manufacturer of riding mowers.
John Deere riding mowers have alternators. John Deere riding mowers use alternators to charge their batteries while operating, ensuring the battery is always charged when needed. Having a faulty alternator damages the riding mower’s battery and reduces the battery’s lifespan.
Do all John Deere Riding mowers have alternators? Can a John Deere riding mower owner quickly tell if the alternator in their mower has been damaged? What can owners do to help prevent their alternators from being damaged? We will address all your concerns in today’s post.
Do John Deere Riding Mowers Have Alternators?
All John Deere riding mowers have a charging system that helps keep the battery fully charged and, in turn, helps run all the riding mower’s electronic systems like lights, indicators, fuel gauges, etc.
There are two types of charging systems found in traditional Mowers. One type is a belt-driven alternator, and the other is a stator housed underneath the flywheel.
The Difference Between An Altenator And A Strator
An alternator is an alternating current generator with an armature winding built into the stator housing affixed to the rotor. Alternators are typically found in cars and made with a three-phase bridge rectifier that converts three-phase AC to DC.
A stator is a stationary component located on the top of the engine below the flywheel. When the flywheel turns over the stator, electricity is generated and redirected back to the battery through a voltage regulator.
The flywheel turning at a consistent speed generates a continuous stream of electricity that feeds the machine’s electrical systems.
Which Is Most Common In John Deere Riding Mowers?
John Deere riding mowers utilize a purpose-built stator instead of an external alternator you might find in a commercial vehicle. John Deere uses stators because they are typically low maintenance and reduce the riding mower’s overall size.
How To Tell If Your Stator Is Bad
Before dismantling your riding mower’s engine, there are several measures you can take if you suspect that your John Deere riding mower’s stator is damaged or not functioning correctly.
Here are a few ways indicators that your stator has gone bad.
Voltage Test
The first thing you can do to check if your stator isn’t functioning as intended is to check your riding mower’s voltage. Connect a multimeter to your riding mower at various places while your riding mower is switched on, such as the battery, the starter relay, the voltage regulator, and the engine.
If you aren’t getting a consistent voltage throughout your riding mower, consider writing down which area is fluctuating and investigate further.
The Battery Runs Out After A Full Charge
A dead battery is a dead giveaway that something might be wrong with your riding mower’s stator.
The likelihood is that one of the components in your charging system or your stator has been impaired if you require an external charger to recharge your battery following the use of your riding mower.
Electronic Systems Malfunction
Another way to check if something might be wrong with your riding mower’s stator is to see what your riding mower’s electronic systems are doing when you switch it on and operate it.
Are the headlights flickering? Does the fuel gauge seem dim? Do you hear a buzzing noise? These could all tell you that you must investigate your mower’s stator.
External Voltage Regulator Not Functioning Correctly
A damaged stator will interfere with the riding mower’s external voltage regulator. Connecting your multimeter to the external voltage regulator will let you know if it receives a consistent stream of electricity from the stator.
Fluctuations in the voltage at this point could indicate either a problem with the stator or the external voltage regulator. Further investigation might be required.
Damaged Fuse
A malfunctioning stator might cause the fuse inside the engine bay to “pop.” If you find a damaged fuze, replace it, restart the engine, and see that the new fuze is damaged again, this could indicate that the stator or flywheel needs to be adjusted or replaced.
The Starter Relay Junction Damaged
Suppose you have checked all the previous common points of failure and still haven’t found the issue. Consider looking at the starter relay junction close to the battery.
The starter relay is where the stator and battery are joined to charge the battery by the stator.
The battery will not receive electricity from the stator through the voltage regulator if the starter relay or the connection wire is impaired.
How To Prevent Damage To Your John Deere Riding Mower Charging System
Prevention is always cheaper than replacement. Let’s look at some handy tips to keep your John Deere riding mower’s charging system in optimal working conditions.
Battery Charge Maintainer
Utilizing a battery charge maintainer will significantly increase your battery’s longevity and help protect your stator from being overworked to charge a nearly depleted battery.
A battery charge maintainer is especially useful in the winter when your riding mower is used less frequently.
Riding Mower Cover
Covering your riding mower when it is stored will help keep it safe from the elements, reducing rust and helping protect its cables from unwanted vermin.
MowerPlus™ Hour Meter Connector
Installing John Deere’s MowerPlus Hour Meter Connector will help keep you updated on how many operating hours you have on your riding mower.
Tracking the time you spend using your riding mower will help you keep track of scheduled maintenance and assist you in cataloging component lifespans.
Final Word
John Deere riding mowers have stators instead of traditional alternators that could fail from time to time due to weathering or other causes. Ensuring your stator is fully functional and well-maintained will increase your riding mower’s battery life and help keep you mowing happily for many years.
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