You should join the casegardentractors group and read all the files. They have troubleshooting proceedures that will pinpoint your problem. It would take far too much guesswork here to get you fixed. Proper testing proceedures will work.

 

Bill,

You may have more than one electrical problem so you need to break it down step by step. The first thing I would check is the PTO clutch to make sure it is not shorted to the engine block because a short in the clutch can destroy the crankshaft. There are two wires to the clutch and you should check each one for any conductivity to the engine block. If you find any conductivity then disconnect the PTO--it will need to be replaced. Do not try to continue using the PTO or you will face some expensive repairs.

If the PTO checks out OK then you need to check the ignition with a fully battery charge. You can switch leads on the coil and see if the problem moves to the other cylinder which would indicate a problem with a spark plug wire or with the coil.

Then check your charging system starting with the stator. There are three wires connected to the voltage regulator and you need to check the voltage between the two stator wires with the engine running. The stator wires are the two outside wires and should give you a reading of 40 or more VAC with the engine running.

If stator checks out then measure the voltage on the battery with the engine running--it should be approximately 13.6 v. If not, disconnect the middle wire on the regulator and run a jumper wire from the middle terminal to the positive side of the battery and again check the voltage with the engine running--if it still doesn't read above 13 volts then you have a bad regulator.

If the regulator is good then you either have a bad ignition switch or bad connections on the switch.

 

The stator wires are the two outside wires and should give you a reading of 40 or more VAC with the engine running.

Correction: I meant to say 28 VAC, not 40.

 

Bart,
Thanks for the information. I had the ignition switch replace last year but I think it is the ignition switch, but I will do all the troubleshooting tomorrow. I know the coil is good, both secondary & primary look good. Does the coil fire to both spark plugs at the same time?
Bill

 

Yes, both plugs fire at the same time.

Even though you replaced the ignition switch last year it could be a problem--I just replaced one on my 4020 after 1 year. If the connector that attaches to the back of the switch looks bad at all you should replace it because a bad connection can cause high amperage in the switch and that can damage the switch. The PTO draws a fair amount of amperage under normal conditions and can quickly drain a battery if the charging system is not working.

 

Welcome to the forum willywalk1128. You have been given some good advice. I can't add anything to it. Enjoy the forum.