Motorguide Trolling Motor Warning

[Thom]

I purchased a pro crappie 175 new in 2006. It comes with a motor guide 46 # thrust trolling motor foot operated.

I have had two trip robbing issues with the trolling motor.

1.This summer while docked on Taney at Lilleys I started out fishing one morning ready to hit the first few hours and get in a few good floats or behind the Islands stripping crakle backs or buggers. When I got set and tried to manuver the current or place outside of the seam ..... the trolling motor would not move the boat. The prop had fell off. That pretty well ruined the morning and nearly day. Went to Bass pro .... they didn't seem surprised ... it happens all of the time ... the holding screw comes off. Had to buy and install new one with boat sitting in the stall. Not an impossible task but challenging.

CHECK YOUR PROP HOLDING SCREW OFTEN.

2. This week end I went to fish a local lake at Whiteside Mo. Trolling motor only. Put in raised my trolling motor and the rope that you pull to drop the motor down broke off. Unfortunally the motor was down and locked in before I could catch it.

Now you would think it would be simple to repair. Wrong. if the motor is down you cant get to the latcH spring WHERE THE ROPE TIES ON.

Here is what you have to do. remove the four mounting screws and lift the motor off the boat. I actually took the motor off with the pins first. Then you can remove the black cover for the mechanism by removing two loctited screws under the motor mount and retie the cord to get by for the day. I am actually going to replace the entire cord with plastic covered 1/8 Inch steel wire clevised onto the spring latch. CHECK YOUR ROPE FOR WEAR. EASY TO CHANGE IF PROP IS UP INTO THE BOAT .... IMPOSSIBLE IF DOWN IN THE WATER WITHOUT REMOVING MOTOR.

Other notes on the motor trolling motor in my opinion: 1. too small for an 18 ft boat. 2. foot pedal hard to use and difficult to manuver. (as compared to others i have used. 3. Poorly mounted .... lots of wobble and slack in ofF / on cycles.

Have any of you had other experiences or things that I should expect in the future.

[Bman]

Thom, Thanks for the heads up. The Motorguide on my jet boat is a 54#. I knew about the prop nut. I checked the rope, and guess what. It is badly worn and soon to break. When I'm not at Taney, I run the local rivers in my jet boat. Things can get hairy real quick drifting between riffles, if you can't count on your troller. I agree with you on the foot pedal. I am not aware of any other issues. I plan to get a new boat next spring. Think I will look at the competition.

[skeeter]

Fellas,

Check the routing, if you haven't already, of the pull-rope and see if there are any burrs, sharp edges or rough spots where the rope becomes weight bearing and contacts metal on the motor mount. I broke two ropes on a much older Motor Guide and happened to be in the shop at the local marine dealer and saw a slightly newer motor with the same design mount. Motor-Guide had developed a plastic grommet insert placed in the round hole in the mount where the rope passed through the metal and received the most stress. I was able to order the same grommet, installed it on my mount and have used the same rope now for six years with little or no wear evident. Yours may have a different design but just suggesting you check things out. It also helps to keep the release latch greased to reduce the pull stress on the rope when dropping the motor in the water and recovering it. Hope that helps a little.

[Thom]

thanks Skeeter:

My trolling motor rope routes around the pin that the motor stem is attached to. I couldn't see any place that lube would help but will check again. I was wondering if any lubrication on the foot pedal would help in gettin it to work better. It seems that the switch that turns the motor off and on seems hard tp energize and cllicks off and on when pushing the lever to change directon. Maybe there is an adjustment or some alignment problem. It is the hardest trolling motor to control that I have ever had.

Thom

[Larry Richards]

I guess that I am just lucky.I have had 5 Motor Guide trolling motors over the last 30 yrs. and never had a problem with any of them.I wouldn't think of buying another brand.

[rps]

I too learned the hard way about the rope.

Since that time, I have given up on pedal controlled motors. I stand to fish. My lean seat is only there for safety when someone wakes me. Using a foot pedal while standing always felt awkward to me. I switched out for a hand control. My direction control is more precise and I feel safer.

[Thom]

Today I have rebuilt the rope attachment and went to remount the motor base. 2 of the screw bases were broken off. Another 10 bucks for a mounting kit. 4 rubber gromments that insert in a 1/2 hole. Can't just buy one.

Their is no way to get your hand under the motor base inside the boat so you have to use their mounting grommets.

I am not a happy camper but I guess it is just the cost of OEM equipment.

[BredMan]

I have the MotorGuide #54 Freshwater Series with foot control. The only problem that I am aware of is the rubber isolators on the Gator Flex 360 mount. The originals didn't hold the shaft well. I called Motor Guide about this and they sent new isolators at no cost.

As for the foot control, if yours is the cable type I don't know of one that's much better. I had a Minnkota foot control prior to my MotorGuide and it performed pretty much the same. The only difference was less thrust so it didn't jerk the boat as much. But I like having more thrust to hold my boat in the heavy currents so I can deal with a little jerking. Most of that is operator error by me anyway.

I also checked my prop and rope. Prop is tight and the rope shows no signs of wear yet but I will check them from now on. Appreciate the heads-up. I to have a plastic grommet the rope goes through on the mount as Skeeter mentioned.

Have you tried contacting MotorGuide customer service? They seemed very eager to help when I called them.

[Dutch]

Sorry to hear about all of your tmotor troubles. I guess I have been very fortunate.

I have a MG that has over 7000 hours on it and all I have ever had to do was replace a worn out prop. I do check my prop and rope in the general boat inspection along with my trailer and boat motor and fix anything that needs attention. I have replaced my rope twice as I have seen some wear and carry a spare rope just incase.