[chillyengineer]

The fact that the starter is bolted to the motor/frame "grounds" it

[jason0364]

Ok. I have a VOM. No service manual bought bike used didn't get one.

[jason0364]

Hooked up VOM battery sits a little over 13 volts. Started bike up revved it up jumps up to almost 15 volts. Stator is good.......

[jason0364]

What could be causing the battery to lose power as I ride after a while? Starter grounding out??? I dont know im lost. I guess this is what I get for buying used.

[Aussiecrf230]

A faulty battery will do this, and yes new does not mean good.
Has this new battery been load tested to ensure capacity. Most battery shops will do for free but I would go back to where you bought it and have them test it. Have your receipt in your pocket.

Disconnect battery leave for a day or two and then see if it maintains over 13 volts.
This would prove if there is leakage because of the bike or because of the battery fault.

If the battery is only reading 12 - 12.5 volts when fully charged, it is on the way out normally.

Should be around 13.2 volts.

Do you have a headlight and if so what is the bulb wattage?

Does this problem only occur when things are hot?
This could point to a faulty starter or a battery that can't handle the compression when the motor is warm.

[gal8x]

What could be causing the battery to lose power as I ride after a while?

Simply the nature of the beast.

My professor described it to me this way. “as a battery louses charge it forms crystals on the side of the plates. When you charge the battery the crystals dissolve back in to the plates. When the crystals get knocked off then that is charge that can never be recovered”.
Do yourself a favor and get a service manual. I have been ridding and working on bikes since I was 7. At 52 I still reference my service manual even when I think I know what I am doing.
And even before posting or responding to a post.

[jason0364]

Aussie- the battery sits with around13.14 volts. I will take it to where i bought it and have them load test. Im wondering if something in starter is bad because bike sat for almost 7 years before I bought it.

Gal8x -last time I checked thats what this forum was here for. To ask technical questions about the 230. Obviously I dont have a manual so thats y I ask questions. What manual do u suggest I get?

[Aussiecrf230]

The factory manual or Clymers are quite good.
I believe a pdf online is available too.

The load test on the battery will at least take it out of the equation.

[jason0364]

Thanks Aussie! Im going to get the battery tested. Also I took my starter off to have it looked at and there is something rattling around in there. So im waiting to hear back from my guy on what the rattle was

[jason0364]

This damn bike has me puzzled. The wires dont make any sense. The negative from the battery goes down to the stud post on top of the starter. Isn't that supposed to be a positive post and the negative should go on one of the mounting bolts for the starter? I got this bike used and no wiring diagram. But if the wires were switched it shouldn't start at all right?

[Aussiecrf230]

Post a picture or two of how you starter is connected.

If the earth and battery were swapped at the starter the power would be grounded which would be the reverse of the charging circuit.
I can't see how that wouldn't end up in melted wiring and flames.

I would recheck this.

Negative from battery should go to Frame/engine, the positive should go up to the starter relay, then from there to the starter. This should terminate on the vertical stud.

I would be checking the connections at the rectifier to ensure there is no corrosion. If you have a bad connection in the charging circuit you can still have 15 volts at the battery but it may not supply enough current to actually charge.

[jason0364]

I have checked and re-checked. The negative goes from battery down to vertical stud on the starter

[gal8x]

I have checked and re-checked. The negative goes from battery down to vertical stud on the starter

That can not be. The 230 starter motor has only one terminal. That terminal is positive. It is connected to the starter relay.

[gal8x]

But if the wires were switched it shouldn't start at all right?

I would not think so. However it is possible to change the rotation on some DC motors by switching the polarity. The question is would the bike crank? For that to work then the engine/frame would need a positive charge. Working with electrical can be daunting. Don’t take it too hard.

I suppose it is possible that both ground and hot go to the same terminal, but they would be insulated from each other. I have only seen this done in very old electronics. There is no reason to do so on a bike.
Please retrace your steps.

[jason0364]

The negative from the battery went down to the vertical stud. The wire from the starter relay went down to just a bolt that mounted the starter