Question Trolling Motor Problem

jwl81 · 05-25-2009, 09:59 AM

I have a Minn Kota Power Drive 70 w/ Auto Pilot.

My problem (in relation to the motor) is at full speed it begins to cut in and out. This typically only happens after several minutes (10 or so) of running the motor at full speed.

If I slow motor from full speed to 3/4 speed or less it runs fine, but when I go back to full speed it starts cutting in and out again. Also after I haven't gone full speed for 30 minutes or so I can go back to full speed with no problems for several minutes.

Any ideas what may cause this and a possible solution?

The motor is 4 years old, I purchased new and it has done this for as long as I have owned it.

Thanks.

**Mako** · 05-25-2009, 10:01 AM

Having that said, have you tried a new battery?

**Ty S** · 05-25-2009, 11:11 AM

Try to find someone with a foot pedal you can borrow to try. I know that these models have lots of problems with the foot controls.

Also does it by chance have a breaker switch installed on it?

jwl81 · 05-25-2009, 04:41 PM

I have not tried new batteries.

I was contemplating taking the batteries and getting them checked.

I will get them checked now.

It does have a breaker on it and if the batteries check out fine and/or it acts up again I will borrow a foot pedal.

What are you thinking with the breaker?

Thanks.

skeeter85 · 05-25-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwl81

I have not tried new batteries.

I was contemplating taking the batteries and getting them checked.

I will get them checked now.

It does have a breaker on it and if the batteries check out fine and/or it acts up again I will borrow a foot pedal.

What are you thinking with the breaker?

Thanks.

Well the only difference between the high speed compared to the low speed is the amount of draw on the battery I assume...So... What gauge wire do you have going to the battery? Do they get hot at high rpms. I don't know anything about trolling motors but I do know a little about DC electric power. If you're wire is fine and the battery is fine,Then I would try what ty said.

bradh · 05-25-2009, 08:27 PM

I was having problems with my foot control so I blew it out with my air compressor, took it apart and cleaned all the contacts with an eraser. I also started putting a dab of electrical grease on all the connectors. Works like a champ now.

jwl81 · 05-26-2009, 03:54 PM

I had the batteries tested today and they are fine.

Now on to the foot pedal.

DingerFlinger · 05-26-2009, 05:30 PM

I had the same problem a few years back but it was a lower speed. I took my foot pedal apart and found out the contact was worn in that area. I got very lucky and found a nearly new one on ebay for $25.

jwl81 · 05-26-2009, 06:50 PM

Well, I took the foot pedal apart and cleaned the contacts off. It did seem to be slightly loose.
I am going to take it out Thursday hopefully and test it out before we leave for a week in MN on Friday.
Thanks for the help.

jwl81 · 05-26-2009, 08:07 PM

We may never know... I decided to purchase a co-pilot system this evening. It was extremely easy to install and if it works the way I hope it does I will not be using the foot pedal anytime soon.

Outdoor_Joe_26 · 05-26-2009, 08:34 PM

Be sure and try it out before you go! I had a somewhat similar problem a few years ago. Ended up buying a new foot controller and that didn't fix it. It turned out to be a problem in the motor itself. I wanna say it was something with the board

jwl81 · 05-27-2009, 09:05 AM

I will have it out tomorrow to do a "systems check". Hopefully it is very uneventful.
Thanks again.

South40 · 05-27-2009, 09:59 AM

Copilots are nice but you'll want to have the foot pedal working also. There are times when the copilot is the way to go and there are times that the foot pedal is the way to go, like when you're running two poles from the bow and you want both hands free.

jwl81 · 05-28-2009, 11:37 AM

I did it again...

I used the co-pilot and not the foot pedal and the same thing happened.

After 5-10minutes the motor shut-off abrubtly and because of the co-pilot being used and stayed off until I turned it back on.

So it must be in the unit itself?

South40 · 05-28-2009, 01:56 PM

Yeah, it sounds like something is overheating in your internal control circuitry.

jwl81 · 05-28-2009, 07:06 PM

I called Minn Kota and they agree South.

I took the cover off the head and found two wires that had "sleeves" on them them except the sleeves had slid to expose the metal. I put sleeves back in place and used a little electrical tape to keep them that way. I than ran the "snot" out of the motor and had no problem. Hopefully it stays that way on the water.
MN here we come.

South40 · 05-29-2009, 09:40 AM

Great! Good luck in MN.

**buglem** · 05-29-2009, 10:21 AM

You'll love the copilot. I wish mine had the new button to turn the autopilot on and off but otherwise I won't fish without it! Never use the foot pedal at all anymore!

Hope the motor keeps working for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwl81

We may never know... I decided to purchase a co-pilot system this evening. It was extremely easy to install and if it works the way I hope it does I will not be using the foot pedal anytime soon.

South40 · 05-30-2009, 08:35 AM

I may have to upgrade if they have a button to turn on the autopilot. That's the major drawback is that if you're working in the back of the boat, fish on, whatever, especially on a windy day, the next thing you know you're doing circles. Turning on the autopilot would fix most of that problem.

jwl81 · 06-07-2009, 03:41 PM

Worked like a champ for the entire trip. Caught a bunch of eyes and perch. This was our first year of not catching very many pike. We only caught 4, 1 of which was 32 inches so they did make up for the lack of numbers. In previous years we would catch a handful of 18-24" per day.
The co-pilot worked great, I didn't even get the foot pedal out. I can see how I will still use the foot pedal if I were in closer to shore working a bankline.
Thanks for all the help.

05-25-2009, 09:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Trolling Motor Problem I have a Minn Kota Power Drive 70 w/ Auto Pilot. My problem (in relation to the motor) is at full speed it begins to cut in and out. This typically only happens after several minutes (10 or so) of running the motor at full speed. If I slow motor from full speed to 3/4 speed or less it runs fine, but when I go back to full speed it starts cutting in and out again. Also after I haven't gone full speed for 30 minutes or so I can go back to full speed with no problems for several minutes. Any ideas what may cause this and a possible solution? The motor is 4 years old, I purchased new and it has done this for as long as I have owned it. Thanks.

05-25-2009, 10:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mako Mako is missing an old bald friend. Director Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A bit further south... Posts: 6,272 Thanks: 67 Thanked 450 Times in 303 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Having that said, have you tried a new battery? __________________ Be rude to a bully and he'll beat you up. Be rude to a geek and your computer will never forgive you.

05-25-2009, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ty S Ty S is sunburnt, bloody, and beat! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 6,117 Thanks: 508 Thanked 399 Times in 266 Posts	Try to find someone with a foot pedal you can borrow to try. I know that these models have lots of problems with the foot controls. Also does it by chance have a breaker switch installed on it? __________________ Ducks Unlimited Waterfowlers Party , Norfolk, NE April 24 100s of decoys, 11 guns, beer, food, and good times included in the $25 ticket price. Contact me for details! Not just for duck hunters. Lots of different prizes.

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05-25-2009, 04:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I have not tried new batteries. I was contemplating taking the batteries and getting them checked. I will get them checked now. It does have a breaker on it and if the batteries check out fine and/or it acts up again I will borrow a foot pedal. What are you thinking with the breaker? Thanks.

05-25-2009, 08:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
bradh bradh is tying bucktail, twisting wire and thinking esox Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 577 Thanks: 332 Thanked 260 Times in 136 Posts	I was having problems with my foot control so I blew it out with my air compressor, took it apart and cleaned all the contacts with an eraser. I also started putting a dab of electrical grease on all the connectors. Works like a champ now.

05-26-2009, 03:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I had the batteries tested today and they are fine. Now on to the foot pedal.

05-26-2009, 05:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
DingerFlinger DingerFlinger is gaining more knowledge being here Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Omaha Posts: 154 Thanks: 36 Thanked 37 Times in 20 Posts	I had the same problem a few years back but it was a lower speed. I took my foot pedal apart and found out the contact was worn in that area. I got very lucky and found a nearly new one on ebay for $25.

05-26-2009, 06:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Well, I took the foot pedal apart and cleaned the contacts off. It did seem to be slightly loose. I am going to take it out Thursday hopefully and test it out before we leave for a week in MN on Friday. Thanks for the help.

05-26-2009, 08:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	We may never know... I decided to purchase a co-pilot system this evening. It was extremely easy to install and if it works the way I hope it does I will not be using the foot pedal anytime soon.

05-26-2009, 08:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Outdoor_Joe_26 Outdoor_Joe_26 is chasin' snows and looking for open water! Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Omaha Posts: 690 Thanks: 154 Thanked 183 Times in 149 Posts	Be sure and try it out before you go! I had a somewhat similar problem a few years ago. Ended up buying a new foot controller and that didn't fix it. It turned out to be a problem in the motor itself. I wanna say it was something with the board

05-27-2009, 09:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I will have it out tomorrow to do a "systems check". Hopefully it is very uneventful. Thanks again.

05-27-2009, 09:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
South40 South40 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Plattsmouth via Naper Posts: 123 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Copilots are nice but you'll want to have the foot pedal working also. There are times when the copilot is the way to go and there are times that the foot pedal is the way to go, like when you're running two poles from the bow and you want both hands free.

05-28-2009, 11:37 AM	#14 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I did it again... I used the co-pilot and not the foot pedal and the same thing happened. After 5-10minutes the motor shut-off abrubtly and because of the co-pilot being used and stayed off until I turned it back on. So it must be in the unit itself?

05-28-2009, 01:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
South40 South40 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Plattsmouth via Naper Posts: 123 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Yeah, it sounds like something is overheating in your internal control circuitry.

05-28-2009, 07:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I called Minn Kota and they agree South. I took the cover off the head and found two wires that had "sleeves" on them them except the sleeves had slid to expose the metal. I put sleeves back in place and used a little electrical tape to keep them that way. I than ran the "snot" out of the motor and had no problem. Hopefully it stays that way on the water. MN here we come.

05-29-2009, 09:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
South40 South40 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Plattsmouth via Naper Posts: 123 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Great! Good luck in MN.

05-30-2009, 08:35 AM	#19 (permalink)
South40 South40 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Plattsmouth via Naper Posts: 123 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	I may have to upgrade if they have a button to turn on the autopilot. That's the major drawback is that if you're working in the back of the boat, fish on, whatever, especially on a windy day, the next thing you know you're doing circles. Turning on the autopilot would fix most of that problem.

06-07-2009, 03:41 PM	#20 (permalink)
jwl81 jwl81 has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Worked like a champ for the entire trip. Caught a bunch of eyes and perch. This was our first year of not catching very many pike. We only caught 4, 1 of which was 32 inches so they did make up for the lack of numbers. In previous years we would catch a handful of 18-24" per day. The co-pilot worked great, I didn't even get the foot pedal out. I can see how I will still use the foot pedal if I were in closer to shore working a bankline. Thanks for all the help.