Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks for filling me on on your experience Mike. First thing I checked was my circuit breaker - not tripped. Then I checked all battery terminal connections - everything solid. My Battery light status lights always work so there is at least some current coming from batteries to motor. Checked the pedal to motor plug connection - all wires straight and shiny.
When I got home I took all the panels off the motor and wiggled all the wires and made sure all connections to the control board were solid - all looked good. Took the "head" cover off the motor. Both main positive and negative wires were solidly connected. Wiggled and gently tugged on them going down into the motor and no change.
Removed the prop and rear cap to check for water, nothing in there. I didn't take the actual prop motor out. I've done it before and it's not rocket science but I didn't feel like pulling that out and trying to fit everything back in the brushes again...
Wiggled the thick pig tail wire, and no change.
If there is a bad or broken wire it is not visible without more major dissasembly. I drove through a very, very heavy pouring rain on my way home. Heavy enough to overfill and have water POURING out of my gutters when I backed into my garage. I just wonder if some water got driven into the control board and is making things wacky. I know it should all be sealed up but... Or maybe it just decided to give up after 5 years of use - certainly could be.
I took it to the shop on Tuesday. Their Minn-Kota guy was off yesterday, but back today so hopefully I can pick it up after work today. I probably would have just replaced the board myself, but with the trip coming up I figured it was worth having a tech look at it.
The only thing I don't like is that it works sometimes. It seems to usually work at home if it sits for a while. Take it out fishing and it quits right away. Thought it may be getting water in the motor casing, but that is dry. I don't think that would affect the L/R turning problem anyway. I won't trust that it has actually been fixed until I use it for a good weekend and have no issues.
I'm curious myself and will update everyone once I get it back.
Thanks,
Tucker |
