How to Install an Alternator on a Lawn Tractor

Many internal combustion engines are paired with an alternator. An alternator is an electromechanical device that produces electric current. When used on a lawn tractor, the alternator is used to recharge the tractor’s battery and provide power to the ignition system. If the alternator fails to produce enough electric current to operate the tractor and recharge the battery, the alternator must be replaced immediately.

Lawn tractor with installed alternator
Masking tape
Permanent marker
Adjustable wrench
Replacement alternator

Instructions

- 1
  Find the alternator on the lawn tractor. Cut a 3-inch piece of masking tape for each wire that is connected to the alternator.
- 2
  Place a piece of tape on each alternator wire. Use a marker to label which terminal each wire connects to.
- 3
  Open the battery compartment on the lawn tractor. Loosen the retaining nut on the negative battery cable and remove the battery cable from the negative battery terminal.
- 4
  Loosen and remove the retaining nuts from each of the alternator terminals. Remove the wires from these terminals.
- 5
  Loosen and remove the mounting nuts that hold the alternator to the lawn tractor mounting bracket. Remove the drive belt from the alternator pulley. Remove the old alternator from the mounting bracket.
- 6
  Mount the new alternator onto the bolts that held the old alternator. Place the drive belt over the new alternator’s pulley. Tighten the belt by adjusting the alternator adjusting bolt, and replace the retaining nuts on the alternator mounting bracket.
- 7
  Connect each wire to its respective terminal on the alternator. Replace the terminal retaining nuts and tighten so the wires are connected snugly to the terminals.
- 8
  Reconnect the negative battery cable to the battery terminal and tighten the retaining nut on the battery cable.

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