Stoopid Question.

[jdmidwest]

You know, I bought a new to me boat. Been working out great. Bringing limits of crappie and bluegill the last few trips out.

But, the trolling motor has been obnoxious. Noisy, jerky, slower than hell. First trip out it spun the prop off into the bottom of Perry Co lake and ended a trip that day. I blamed it on the mass of 17lb test stren that was wadded up under the prop by previous owner.

Today, when I pulled it up out of the water to run shallow and retrieve a lure, I noticed something. It seems to be wired backwards. At least, backward from the way I normally wire trolling motors.

Instead of the prop pushing forward toward the torpedo end ot the trolling motor, it is actually pulling the other way. Which way should it normally go? I have always wired where the torpedo end is in front, then the shaft and fin, and the prop is in back pushing.

[bfishn]

You're right. The fin is there to protect the prop in the normal (prop aft) position.

[jdmidwest]

That would probably explain my issues. Clipping and rewiring tomorrow. Dang IL guys, they get everything backwards.

[bfishn]

Since you had line on the shaft, you might want to make sure there's no water in the head while you're messin'. In front of the prop are 2-3 screws holding the sections together. Loosen them 2-3 full turns, then lightly tap the rear section to pull it back. If any black water comes out, you've got more problems.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The 12V wires just need to be reversed.

[fishinwrench]

Since you had line on the shaft, you might want to make sure there's no water in the head while you're messin'. In front of the prop are 2-3 screws holding the sections together. Loosen them 2-3 full turns, then lightly tap the rear section to pull it back. If any black water comes out, you've got more problems.

What about "Orange or brown" water?

Red= + / Black= - from the batt to the TM, if it still runs backurds then it's wired wrong somewhere in the foot control or head.

But a squeeking, rattling, clunking TM is totally unacceptable. Fix or replace that POS mount before your next trip out.

[bfishn]

What about "Orange or brown" water?

Nobody ever brought me one in that good condition!

"noisy, jerky, slow, Stren"...

=

bearings, brushes, seals, switches... you know the drill. Since he won't stand up to paddle in those vented skivvies, didn't want him caught down the river without a trolling motor.

[fishinwrench]

LMAO

[jdmidwest]

I will check the motor and see if there is any water. Did not see any grooves in the shaft and the bearing seems tight. There was a plastic washer on the shaft that kept the line from working into the bearing.

By noise I meant the mount clanking around every time I engage the trolling motor. Any way to tighten it up to make it quieter?

I hope that turning the thrust in the right direction will give it more power.

[Wayne SW/MO]

It will obviously help the thrust. The line on the shaft indicates no preventive maintenance and with that i mind I would check every connection and clean them up. Voltage dedicated to heat doesn't make the motor go.