ACT 1.
So my wife bought this chinese 150cc gy6 ATV and it has been non stop trouble. First off I'm not mechanically inclined and have never owned a small engine anything so I'm kind of in the dark to begin with. Anyways, first off I replaced the carb as it was trashed, that at least got it to idle and start with semi-regularity. After a few months it got harder and harder to start and eventually only would with starting fuel squirted into the carb. Then the battery goes out and I let it sit for a couple months before I buy a new one.

ACT 2.
I finally get around to buying a battery and when I put it in the main fuse starts blowing every time. As soon as the fuse touches the fuse holder it pops..anything from 5 to 30 amp glass fuses. I unplug all the plugs I can find and find out it's this black box thing that I guess is a voltage regulator? Hooray I found the culprit! Maybe explains why the first battery roasted.

ACT 3.
I leave that regulator unplugged, put a new fuse in, and try to start. Now all I hear is a strange grinding/whining sound coming from the left side of the engine. It doesn't turn over. It has never done this before. Is all this crap connected to one central problem or is this just the price I pay for allowing purchase of a POS in the first place? As far as I know the regulator should have no effect on starting right? Thanks for the read and any information you feel gracious enough to impart on me.