bear15 0 #1 Posted January 1, 2011 Hi, We are hooking up the wiring on our K181 that we just acquired and are adding electric start. We put a lead grounded to the engine and connected it to the negative terminal on the battery. We put the black wire with the smaller orange wire from the solenoid and connected it to the starter. The other black cable from the solenoid we have connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Do you think we have it right? Also, we are unsure where to hook up the green wire coming from the regulator. We want to make sure we have the right wires connected so that the battery charges. Here's the pics. Just scroll down a little: http://vintagesleds.com/bs/index.php/topic,50809.0.html Any help would be appreciated. Happy New Year! Thanks, Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 604 #2 Posted January 2, 2011 Some one should be along to help you. It will help to know what tractor your working on, what type of ignition battery or magneto. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 551 #3 Posted January 2, 2011 http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/...1055_A-5101.pdf Page 3 shows the typical wiring for a K181 on a WH 1055. Should help you out. It would be much more helpful if you told us on which tractor this engine is being installed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear15 0 #4 Posted January 2, 2011 http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/...1055_A-5101.pdf Page 3 shows the typical wiring for a K181 on a WH 1055. Should help you out. It would be much more helpful if you told us on which tractor this engine is being installed. We the solenoid and rectifier style and are not sure which garden tractor it came off of. We are trying to install it in our 1966 Polaris Snowmobile. The snowmobile had the K181 in it, and we are trying to add electric start to it. You can see this in the pictures in this link http://vintagesleds.com/bs/index.php/topic,50809.0.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 551 #5 Posted January 2, 2011 The wiring diagram on page three should work for you then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear15 0 #6 Posted January 2, 2011 The diagram is helpful, but we still can't tell if the way we have it hooked up now will charge the battery and allow the lights to work. Thanks for any help. -Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,127 #7 Posted January 3, 2011 Can you at least post a picture of the back of the ignition switch and/or tell us what the letters near each terminal are? It looks like the engine is magneto ignition ...... we also need to know that before telling you what wire to hook where. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear15 0 #8 Posted January 3, 2011 Can you at least post a picture of the back of the ignition switch and/or tell us what the letters near each terminal are? It looks like the engine is magneto ignition ...... we also need to know that before telling you what wire to hook where. It is magneto ignition. There are 5 pins on the back of our ignition. The letters by each pin are: M-We have a red wire attached. It currently goes straight to the magneto. B-We have the orange attached. It is currently attached to one side of the solenoid. The side with the positive lead from the battery. G-Black This is grounded. S-Green Is currently on the smallest of the 3 pins of the solenoid. L-Our headlights The other side of the solenoid is attached to the starter. Thanks again for your help. -Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 551 #9 Posted January 3, 2011 Just a thought here but, when you removed the original Starter/Generator and added the starter motor and new tins to accommodate it, did you also replace the flywheel and add a stator under it? Without a stator of some sort you're never going to charge the battery. The K181, to my limited knowledge, came with a starter-generator. The motor would be used as a starter motor when you turned the ignition switch, then would become a generator once the engine was running. That generator is what provided the power to charge the battery and run the lights. Here's the K181 manual: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/...1_1972-SM-2.pdf Check pages 28 and beyond. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear15 0 #10 Posted January 3, 2011 Just a thought here but, when you removed the original Starter/Generator and added the starter motor and new tins to accommodate it, did you also replace the flywheel and add a stator under it? Without a stator of some sort you're never going to charge the battery. The K181, to my limited knowledge, came with a starter-generator. The motor would be used as a starter motor when you turned the ignition switch, then would become a generator once the engine was running. That generator is what provided the power to charge the battery and run the lights. Here's the K181 manual: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/...1_1972-SM-2.pdf Check pages 28 and beyond. It is magneto ignition. There are 5 pins on the back of our ignition. The letters by each pin are: M-We have a red wire attached. It currently goes straight to the magneto. B-We have the orange attached. It is currently attached to one side of the solenoid. The side with the positive lead from the battery. G-Black This is grounded. S-Green Is currently on the smallest of the 3 pins of the solenoid. L-Our headlights The other side of the solenoid is attached to the starter. Thanks again for your help. -Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,127 #11 Posted January 3, 2011 Hook the wire from the B+ terminal of the rectifier/regulator to the "L" terminal on the ignition switch. The rest of it looks fine. :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear15 0 #12 Posted January 3, 2011 Hook the wire from the B+ terminal of the rectifier/regulator to the "L" terminal on the ignition switch. The rest of it looks fine. Thanks Terry! If we do this, what one do we use from the ignition switch to operate the lights? We though "L" would be for Lights. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,127 #13 Posted January 3, 2011 "L" is for light feed, but it is "internally connected" to the "B" terminal of the switch (when the key is in the ON position) and will allow the R/R to charge the battery only when the key is in the "ON" position. You could direct-wire the R/R to the + terminal of the battery, but it's much safer to break the connection when the machine is unattended. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
