MTD w/17.5 HP Tecumseh charging problem

I'm having a problem with my MTD Yardmachine tractor. It has a 17.5 HP tecumseh engine. I can get it to start with a fresh battery or a jump. After it is shut down, it seems as though the battery is drained so that it doesnt have the juice to start the tractor again. Jump it, and it starts and runs ok. Am i having charging issues? I hooked up an ammeter to the battery terms while running the tractor and it showed a constant 17.29 vDC the entire time. Im at a loss. How do I access the stator underneath the flywheel, and after i do access it how do I test it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Before you tear anything apart, have the batery tested, if the charging system is able to generate 17 volts, it's O.K. The life of O.P.E. batteries is short. start with that!!

 

This is a brand new battery, and It started the engine a few times on its own. After that, nothing.

 

Take a regular test light (NOT A L.E.D. one the tool guys want to sell). Disconnect one terminal (the neg) of the battery. Put one end of the light on the battery terminal, & the other on the cable you just disconnected. If everything is turned off, the light should be out. If it's on, ya gotta draw on the battery. 17 volts is kinda high, check the voltage drops on your grounds when the engine is running incase of a poor ground

 

Thanks, Ill try it but Im losing patience. I will tell you that with the ammeter on the battery (both terminals hooked up) when you turn the key to start the engine, the voltage drops immediately to 3 or 4 volts then goes back to around 16 or 17 v. Placing the ammeter on the cables (pos and neg) not attached to the battery I get a reading of app. 2 to 3 volts with the engine running. With the ammeter attached to the wires coming from the flywheel (I assume the stator) with the engine running i get approximately 9.5 volts. Ive checked most of the connections, unless Im missing something, and I dont see any burned or damaged wiring.

 

Are you measuring "AMPS" or "VOLTS" You don"t connect an ammeter to both terminals of a battery. If volts, when you put a load on the battery, if it drops to 4 volts, than you need another new battery.

 

Im measuring volts. This is the fifth battery.

 

I'm confused here. What kind of meter are you using? There is a diode in the system. Can you check the voltage drop of the grounds, & the starter draw?? Still doesen't sound like a charge system with 17 volts @ the battery Did you check for a drain on the battery with everything off?? 3 or 4 volts @ the battery when cranking indicates a weak battery or excessive starter currant draw