[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

If you have a modern cutout or voltage regulator that uses a diode you had better check with the manufacturer first (or wait to someone posts what to do).

Charlie Stephens

If you have a diode instead of the cutout, jumping across it will do no damage. What you do not want to ever do with a diode is ground the output while the generator is running. That will overload it. The "Fun Projects" regulators, which require use of the 3rd brush and must be set to limit output to 15 amps, have a design that lacks spike protection and may suffer damage. If you have one of those, remove it, and then touch the generator output to a jumper from the cable connection on the starter switch.