Just quit in the middle of cutting with the head lights on

1990 Wheel Horse 416-8 Onan

I cut my small yard, then the neighbor's front that was pretty thick in sections. I just started the first pass in the back yard and I heard a funny sound. (I had ear plugs on) It wasn't real loud, can't really describe it, kind of a spark fiz, something and it's been over an hour ago now, it was also really quick. Then it just went dead, no lights, instruments, cut off immediately.

I check the fuses, the 30 amp was really hard to get out. (It's dark at this point.) I get the leaf blower and straight screwdriver to clean out any grass. I had a 20 amp fuse in the garage, I couldn't really get it into the fuse holder, it wouldn't push down. (See picture of original fuse sitting on a roll of paper towels. The ends are gone and the plastic is swollen and discolored.)

I pushed the flat screwdriver down in the connectors of the fuse box to loosen them up a little. Put the fuse in, still nothing. I checked the other fuses, they looked OK.

So, I'm guessing the fuse box is shot? Is there a better aftermarket version with a cover available? If you have a part number or link to the item, that would be appreciated.

Any other ideas? If this blew, what is the chance it damaged something more serious and if so, what?

Thanks,
Sam

I pulled the wires out of the 30 amp fuse holder and connected them to an inline fuse holder, I measured voltage, but still nothing.

So, what was fried? Voltage Regulator or what?

Thanks,
Sam

I wouldn't go that route yet....the voltage regulator is more for charging and regulating the voltage created by the stator....and for converting the AC current to DC....they are referred to as a rectifier.
Probably have a short somewhere....I would start at the switch. Geno probably has an electrical schematic for you to follow.

Looks like Bob has a schematic, thanks Bob.

We have the fuse block and parts in the store here. Store Electrical

I bought a Used PC board off eBay and took it to the mechanic. He has had it a couple weeks now, so I figured what that meant. I drove by and talked to him today. He has tested everything else, he believes the Used PC Board is also bad.

Is anyone able to repair it or have one for sale?

So why doesn't it start, has he diagnosed it? I find out what's wrong with something and if I get a bad part I know, I don't think, because I've tested it all and know... Sounds sorta like he doesn't know what the problem is yet.

He said he has tested everything else. The indicator lights don't come on, the headlights won't come on, etc. He has spent a lot of time on it. He can't test the diodes on the board or the IC.

He mentioned possibly doing an engine swap and hard wiring everything. The Output shaft size is the problem though.

Without a running Wheel Horse that uses this board, it's kind of hard to test any further, unless I can get a known Good board.

Well according to the schematic the headlights don't run through the board, either the schematic is wrong or someone had better dig a little deeper...

Almost forgot, no need for an engine swap either, the board can be easily bypassed...

Geno wrote: Almost forgot, no need for an engine swap either, the board can be easily bypassed...

I vote for bypassing the board like Geno said and get back to mowing..........