Replacing a Voltage Regulator on a John Deere 318 Lawnmower | Grab a Wrench 01

The battery light came on and the engine started backfiring on the John Deere 318 the other day. The engine is an Onan 218, so I checked the voltage coming off the voltage regulator. The battery was getting only 12 Volts DC off the regulator, with the recommended 30~ Volts AC running into the regulator. (To check the voltage, take a voltmeter and switch it to 'AC'. Touching the leads to the two outer posts on the regulator, the voltmeter should be in the 30s. With the voltmeter switched to 'DC', connect the positive lead to the middle post on the regulator, and connect the negative lead to the negative terminal on the battery. The voltmeter should read a minimum of 13.5 volts.) My parents have a JD 318 also, so I checked that regulator and that voltage was 14 DC going to the battery.
I looked up the price of a voltage regulator from John Deere and the local dealership had it for $180!! I found one on Amazon then for less than $20. It was an easy, simple exchange and so far the new regulator works good 👍
Hope this helps someone!

The regulator:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019DHPMEY/...


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