HELP ME ID PART ON TECUMSEH SHROUD

Can someone tell me what the part is on the side of the shroud on my Tecumseh oh160. It is a part bolted into the shroud, square and has wires coming out with a plug. What is it and do I have to use it? I have looked everywher trying to ID this thing. Big thanks, James

Does it look like the one on the right in below picture? If so, it is the voltage regualtor. A lot of OH180's had them and many of the factory replacement motors came with them like that. I guess they figured it they mounted in tins, they would last longer by the cooling of the flywheel

TAHOE wrote:Does it look like the one on the right in below picture? If so, it is the voltage regualtor. A lot of OH180's had them and many of the factory replacement motors came with them like that. I guess they figured it they mounted in tins, they would last longer by the cooling of the flywheel

Thanks Tahoe, that is the part.