Having trouble keeping battery charge. Lights dim and it will eventually die. Always have to pull start it. I've been told this is a problem with the stator.

Any thoughts?

 

Be sure to charge the battery completely BEFORE using it. The stator in these machines is meant to power the light and top off the battery. In no way can they bring up a dead battery - if they do, they can overheat trying to produce too much current. A nearly dead battery can act like a fully charged battery to the stator and not accept a charge. Therefore, the stator thinks that its job is done. Check your battery first. Check the eletrolyte levels and also look inside with the caps off for sulfation on the plates. Put it on a good automatic charger on a low setting 1-2amps. Leave it for 12-24 hrs. If it comes fully charged, put it back in and try it. You can buy a cheap tester at autoparts stores to test for stator (alternator) function. One that I have has 3 lights. 1 for its own power, 1 for 12 volts from the battery and 1 for 13-14volts (when charging). It shows if the stator is charging. With a freshly fully charged battery, use the tester and watch for the reading to go up. Again, make sure the battery is good.

 

I've been through 2 new batteries, and done lots of charging, still cant keep a charge. Just have to pull start now. Wires look fine, voltages seem ok, I have no idea whats wrong.

 

Since the 300 is air cooled w/fan assist, make sure the fan is not running too much.

My thermostat that controls the fan started going bad and would keep the fan on way more than needed. It got so bad at the end that the fan would come on whenever the key was on, even in 20 deg weather [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

The fan really should only be running if you are in low gear a lot and not moving fast enough to cool it... or if you are in a very warm area. If it runs a lot, it uses a lot of power.
I had thought I had battery problems, stator problems after I got a new battery.
It is at least something to check out. If it does need replacing, I think it was like a 15 dollar part from the dealer.

-Chris

 

 

My fan runs ALL THE TIME! Where and how do I replace the thermostat.

Thanks
Matt

 

Its on the top engine mount with two wires running to it. I would just replace it with a toggle switch and turn it on when you need it. Those thermo switches had to get darn hot before they kick on and maybe to late. Or you could wire the toggle in parellel with a new thermo and if you forget the thermo would be there for a backup.

 

are u and SWAT the same people?

 

Temporarily, you could just disconnect one wire from the thermostat. As long as you are in a cooler area now that it's fall/winter, your fan should really never have to run. That will keep the fan from coming on at all.
However, you will want to replace the thermostat. You can do the whole toggle switch thing if you want, but I haven't had any problems with when the fan comes on.... even with my .040 bored over motor [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

-Chris