Out trapping the last few weeks I notice that about every 4 days I have to charge the battery like its not taking a charge when I'm running it. I would say in a given day I start it about 35 times bewtween sets and idle alot but still thought it should take a charge or am I not getting the RPMs up long enough for it to do that.. I run a optima blue top battery all connections are tight

Motor does not charge at idle or low rpm's. I think it is something like 2k rpm's, but if you search this site you can find it. Maybe a solar charger??

Cdi motors charge all the time

Guess we should have asked what motor, and year.

Could be a couple of possibilities, magnets could be out of wack and need readjustment, i would start like mentioned above with putting a meter on it, you can eliminate lots of things that way

There is a diode that runs from the charging coil to the ignition that allows current to flow in one direction. If the diode fails or comes loose current will run from the batt. as if you left your key on. Locate diode and with a test light check iether side, one side will light the other wont, if both light diode is bad.

I've found that 90% of the time is a bad connection in the motors pig tail connector. Corrosion can reek havoc on them. Also seen a few burn up. Like mine for example. LOL

THanks guys I will put a meter on it tonight and post up what I find, Oh I have a 08 35mb not a cdi motor.

Like DB8 said it should show about 12.5v on a good battery and then run up to about 14.5 when you turn on the rpms. You have to start out with a good battery and thats why I have an onboard charger that gets plugged in a soon as I get home. Alot of idle will run it down. The older 20v motors are really nothing more than a maintainer IMO. Having a good battery makes all the difference.

Thanks Poker, I do idle alot and the amount of time I'm running at a higher RPm is minnimal, I would say 10 to 15 minutes.

Kinda what I was thinking I will double check everything but i'm sure I'm just not letting charge

i'm going to side on the diode (buddy had the same problem)...speaking of which does anyone have any suggestions on where to find one for a 35hp vanguard MB
Thanks

I havent tested the battery yet but i can tell you i know its not the battery...after being stranded on the lake due to a dead battery (thinking it was a dead battery) i purchased a brand new deep cycle for the first week or so the motor almost immediatley fired...after last weekend taking it out fishing and drifting around a few hours the motor was having considerable trouble turning over...i dont think its the battery speaking its 2 weeks old...so is this a dioide problem or a wire harness problem...and where do you get these replacements?

Thanks

Had the same issue, found the plug from the rectifier fried, removed the burn up plug and rewired with waterproof connectors!