Trolling motor problems...

[Hydro 205]

If you travel through Wentzville. Tristate Trolling Motor is pretty good to work with normally have you done in less than a week.  I don't know of any at the lake. 

[troywaukee]

11 hours ago, Hydro 205 said:

If you travel through Wentzville. Tristate Trolling Motor is pretty good to work with normally have you done in less than a week.  I don't know of any at the lake. 

Thanks Hydro.  I'll likely give it a good look next week when we are down to see if it is minor (crossing my fingers).  If not, I've got a place in Iowa that does good work for the right price and will let them have a look. 

[Gumboot]

You're squandering a perfectly good opportunity for a new TM. 

[fishinwrench]

1 minute ago, Gumboot said:

You're squandering a perfectly good opportunity for a new TM. 

Yeah TM issues are often a hard decision.  Once you tear into them you're stuck.  A switch replacement or something is one thing, but anything internal (unless you can do it yourself) is often close to 1/2 of the cost of a new one.

[troywaukee]

59 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Yeah TM issues are often a hard decision.  Once you tear into them you're stuck.  A switch replacement or something is one thing, but anything internal (unless you can do it yourself) is often close to 1/2 of the cost of a new one.

I agree as well.  My brother-in-law and I own it together, so when you can split the cost, it helps quite a bit.  Any recommendations on trolling motors?  Don't need a Cadillac one, but would be looking at a mid-level TM.  I've always preferred Minn Kota's to Motorguide, but am all ears! 

[Bushbeater]

I replaced a motor housing on a Minnkota Maxum because of a broken magnet. The entire part with magnets was only $40 plus freight.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, troywaukee said:

I agree as well.  My brother-in-law and I own it together, so when you can split the cost, it helps quite a bit.  Any recommendations on trolling motors?  Don't need a Cadillac one, but would be looking at a mid-level TM.  I've always preferred Minn Kota's to Motorguide, but am all ears! 

From my experience MinnKota motors, switches, and circuitry are better, but Motorguide has far better mounts.  

So if mount issues are what plague you then Motorguide may be your best choice.  

[troywaukee]

Positive update guys!!  So we diagnosed the problem and luckily it was quite minor and now have a fully functional TM again. 

The boat has an onboard charger and apparently at some point last fall or early this spring the fuse popped on one line leading to the front 12 volt battery.  Took the voltmeter to it Tuesday night and it was reading 5.0, while the other battery was reading 12.4.  Hooked a trickle charger up to just the front battery and within 4 hours we were up to 10 and the prop was spinning like it should.  By morning, both batteries were fully charged and fuse was replaced.  No issues after that.

However, we woke up one morning to a leak.  Standing water about an inch on carpet after boat sat all night.  We re-applied silicone in every location we could think of with minimal change in water intake.  My father-in-law seems to think the livewell intake line may be cracked which is causing our issues, but we are still trying to figure it out.

I bought a brand new plug while we were down just to make sure and that doesn't seem to be the issue either. 

[fishinwrench]

On 7/26/2017 at 2:10 PM, troywaukee said:

 

One thing I forgot to mention, when the motor is out of the water and I go to spin it, it doesn't spin without force.  I have to push it to turn and there is no free spinning once I take my hand off. 

I don't think that is normal...

 Wait......What about THIS ?    Your problems aren't over yet I'm afraid.

[Old plug]

i am interested in hearing what you found out about the motor. It might be right therecunder the prop line wrapped on there  or something with the shore pin