Garmin Force - the good and the bad

[bobby b.]

There has been allot of discussion on OAF regarding the new trolling motors and the reliance on electronics.  I really like the Force and all the Chartplotters and Livescope and have said so on this forum.

In recent times my Force has began to make "clucking" noises when it turns (rotates) under power.  I called Garmin about this and as others have reported their customer service is outstanding.  In this particular case Garmin reports and they have heard of this in at least two cases and in two cases have retrieved the unit and replaced it with a brand new unit.  In these two cases Garmin indicated that they were unable to reproduce the problem.  In my case they want to wait to see what happens particularly since it is unclear how long it will take to get it a new unit.  I also want to wait rather than be out of service for a long period of time.  I talked to my friends at Branson West Marine and they indicate that have seen some failures and likewise having problems getting replacement units.

So I say all this to keep you all informed AND PLEASE REPSOND IF YOU HAVE HAD THE "CLUCKING" NOISE" I SPEAK OFF.  

Bobby

[Hunter53]

Try to get a video of it if you haven't already. Show that to Garmin to try and help them figure out what is going on. 

 

[fishinwrench]

With all that Chirping, Growling, and Beeping going on, how could you possibly be upset about a Cluck?   😂

[bobby b.]

1 hour ago, Hunter53 said:

Try to get a video of it if you haven't already. Show that to Garmin to try and help them figure out what is going on. 

 

At Garmin's request I did send a audio/video file (mp4) and I just now see that I can attach an mp4.  If it goes you will need to turn the sound up on your PC.  

[Hunter53]

I can definitely hear it. Hope they get something figured out for you.

[rps]

Have you tried lifting your head farther from the mount? In other words, setting the depth to where the motor is just below cavitation level. I have found a marked difference if so set.

 

[bobby b.]

On 5/25/2021 at 11:52 PM, rps said:

Have you tried lifting your head farther from the mount?

Randy,  I could only lift it slightly due to the location of the Live Scope turret above the prop .  It did seem to reduce the sound previously described.  I wonder now if the sound is always there and not normally noticed but in my particular setup the sound is somehow amplified.  

Bobby

[rps]

1 hour ago, bobby b. said:

Randy,  I could only lift it slightly due to the location of the Live Scope turret above the prop .  It did seem to reduce the sound previously described.  I wonder now if the sound is always there and not normally noticed but in my particular setup the sound is somehow amplified.  

Bobby

I read somewhere that you have to have 8 or 10 inches or more between the head and the mount. The reason was that less than that amount causes the wires to crush each other and interferes with the signals to the head. Not long ago I too heard sounds that turned out to be the wires between the mount and head rubbing on each other as the head turned. The motor also did an unexpected course change. The shaft stop that sets the depth of the propeller had slipped. I had to make an on the water adjustment to the stop ring. That, by the way, is a PITA. Do it on the trailer if you need to adjust it.

Think about consulting your installer about the head to mount clearance needed and how to acquire it.

 

[bobby b.]

22 hours ago, rps said:

I read somewhere that you have to have 8 or 10 inches or more between the head and the mount

Gramin says 6 inches.  I have more than that.  On the 50 inch shaft I'm not sure how one could have less than about 6 inches because at least than about 6 inches the motor head would not be in full contact with it's support in the stowed position.

For those considering a new Garmin install consider the longer shaft length in that if you add a turret for the Live Scope transducer mount you need clearance to the prop so it does not hit the transducer.  Also on my Ranger Z19 the 50 inch shaft is just barely long enough so it does not come out of the water in big waves.