I have a 175 hydro that puts out 12+ volts to the battery when I check with a meter at times and at other times the PTO quits and the battery output to the battery is below 8 volts. I have been through 2 batteries in the past year.

Is this the voltage regulator, stator or what?

Michaael Hill, June 2009

I kno nothing about John Deere hydro i'm a motor bike wiz, And your problem sounds like a regulator rectifer you should be getting +14 volts DC across the battery when the engine is running,(same value for Bikes,cars and vans)
Comming off the alternator you usually get
above 70 volts AC.
Hope this helps

Casper, June 2009