TIPS-TRICKS-ADVICEFOR YOURTROLLING MOTOR
One of the most common causes of motor assembly failure we discover when a motor is brought in for service is water in the motor assembly. This problem is usually caused by A) Fishing line that has wrapped around the motor armature and damaged the seal, and B) The skeg has been forced off center by running aground hard, or striking an underwater object or obstruction. This twisting motion will dislodge the o-ring seal and allow water to wick into the motor assembly.
We advise our customers to always check behind the prop before and after each fishing trip and check for line wrapped around the armature, and while there, check to make sure the shear pin is intact, in good shape, and removable in the event it needs to be replaced, and always carry a spare shear pin just in case. In the event your motor falls into the B) category, bring it in for service at once...do not attempt to twist or reset the skeg, the damage is already done and the motor should be serviced ASAP, the o-ring seal cannot be fixed, or reset, a new set of o-rings or seals should be installed by the service center.When installing an extension to the power wire that goes from the trolling motor to your battery(s), never splice both the negative and positive wires side by side! Separate your splices by an inch or more, use adhesive lined shrink tube which extends 1/2 inch beyond your splice, and solder your splices, do not crimp power wires. Over time, the crimp connection will loosen, and conduction turns into resistance. As the current tries to flow through the loose connection, resistance is formed......resistance = heat, loss of power to your trolling motor, and a possible electrical fire if the resistance is sufficient to create enough heat to melt your connections. This reaction can cause control board failure, and damage 5 speed switches. A few extra moments of care will easily prevent a very costly repair.
We advise our customers to always check behind the prop before and after each fishing trip and check for line wrapped around the armature, and while there, check to make sure the shear pin is intact, in good shape, and removable in the event it needs to be replaced, and always carry a spare shear pin just in case. In the event your motor falls into the B) category, bring it in for service at once...do not attempt to twist or reset the skeg, the damage is already done and the motor should be serviced ASAP, the o-ring seal cannot be fixed, or reset, a new set of o-rings or seals should be installed by the service center.When installing an extension to the power wire that goes from the trolling motor to your battery(s), never splice both the negative and positive wires side by side! Separate your splices by an inch or more, use adhesive lined shrink tube which extends 1/2 inch beyond your splice, and solder your splices, do not crimp power wires. Over time, the crimp connection will loosen, and conduction turns into resistance. As the current tries to flow through the loose connection, resistance is formed......resistance = heat, loss of power to your trolling motor, and a possible electrical fire if the resistance is sufficient to create enough heat to melt your connections. This reaction can cause control board failure, and damage 5 speed switches. A few extra moments of care will easily prevent a very costly repair.