Opinion Needed Trolling motor/battery problem

**buglem** · 06-10-2009, 10:04 PM

This is definitely my year for electric battery/motor problems!

I just replaced the two trolling motor batteries that power my 24 volt Minn Kota Power Drive with autopilot. Upgraded them from Interstate series 27 to WalMart Maxx series 29. I took pictures of how it was wired before I took the old ones out and am pretty sure I have them wired the same way as before.

Tonight I took it out to test it before a trip this weekend and as soon as I plugged in the trolling motor it started running at full speed! It usually doesn't turn on until I turn it on with the co-pilot and even then it is at the lowest power setting. In addition, it was running full throttle all the time. Didn't matter if I turned the speed up or down, just ran full out. The other thing it was doing was not turning off and on consistently. Sometimes it was fine, sometimes it wasn't. I tried unplugging it, same thing.

The autopilot was working so I ran the motor down the lake for probably 20 minutes. After a while it started to consistently turn off and on but still no throttle adjustment.

Here is my question - is it possible I wired it wrong and caused this problem? That seems unlikely because the problem appears to be with the trolling motor itself.

The other thing I noticed when I uncovered the boat was that the towel I sit the motor on in the bottom of the boat when I'm not using it was very wet from the recent rain. I'm wondering if it possible got something inside the motor wet and caused this issue? Maybe that is why it started turning off and on better after it heated up a little and maybe dried out?

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm leaving on Friday for the weekend and the way it is right now will be a royal pain.

Thanks!

whisker · 06-11-2009, 05:19 AM

One thought:
If you left the foot pedal in the rain, it might have shorted across the speed contacts. If so, I'd take it apart and hit it with a hair dryer. The Minn Kota power drive foot controls are so touchy, it's best to treat them with a lot of TLC. IMO they need to re design them.

The upper housing on the unit itself should be 100% waterproof,....unless there's loose screws of course. If you think moisture got inside it, take it apart and dry it too,...can't hurt.

All this constant humidity has caused all kinds of headaches with equipment.

**buglem** · 06-11-2009, 05:46 AM

Thanks Whisker. I actually use a co-pilot so I know it wasn't the foot pedal that was the problem. I took the unit apart last night when I got home - it looked ok (of course I have no idea what I'm looking at

) and I took a fan and left it pointed right at the disassembled unit all night. Going to call Minn Kota today and try it again tonight.

bradh · 06-11-2009, 07:42 AM

Your input voltage should be 24V just like it was with the old batteries. I'm pretty sure you wired it up right by the sound of it. Check with a multimeter if you are worried. I ran the lower part of my trolling motor into a log this spring and caused the lower unit on my Minnkota Powerdrive to take on some water. When I pulled it out of the lake water ran out of the top. I thought I had really screwed it up. I took the lower unit apart, cleaned it and blew it out with my compressor. Works like a charm now. I picked up one of these for when I get time to put it in.

Minn Kota Brush Kit 3.5/8 iInch Diameter Motor

Here is a diagram.

Minn kota Trolling Motor Parts: Minnkota parts Bow Mount- Power Steering

If you click on your exact model on the bottom of the page you'll get a nice pdf exploded view. Hope this helps.

**holdemplyer** · 06-11-2009, 07:58 AM

Did you try running it WITH your lucky hat on?

**buglem** · 06-11-2009, 10:30 AM

Minn Kota says it's a bad control board. There goes $100! Hope I can get it here by the time I leave tomorrow!

thumpper · 06-11-2009, 11:16 AM

That is a bummer on the control board.. However I woudl also check the 'plug' that you plug the motor into up front. Maybe something got in there that is loosing the connection from time to time..

HOWEVER that wouldn't answer the question as to why it'll only run at full speed.

**MA Machine** · 06-11-2009, 03:27 PM

Is the control board in the head of the motor or the foot pedal? I've heard of that control board going out on more than a few Minkota motors. Usually when you get wrapped up in weeds or long periods of heavy loads.

**buglem** · 06-11-2009, 04:19 PM

It's in the base of the unit (the part attached to the boat), not the head. Luckily I was able to find one locally!

**buglem** · 06-11-2009, 10:26 PM

Quick update. After picking up the part tonight and replacing it in the motor, it again runs like a champ! Just in time for the trip tomorrow.

bassackwards · 06-12-2009, 09:42 PM

Really be sure to check your connections are very tight they can cause other things to go bad by feeding faulty power.

catmanjeff · 06-15-2009, 05:28 AM

I have heard that walmart batteries are made by exide which are way lower quality than an interstate battery. I was told this by a certified mechanic. I have a new interstate battery and have only charged it once this year. If you have a chance to return yours I would do so immediately.

Harold · 06-15-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmanjeff

I have heard that walmart batteries are made by exide which are way lower quality than an interstate battery. I was told this by a certified mechanic. I have a new interstate battery and have only charged it once this year. If you have a chance to return yours I would do so immediately.

Don't believe everything you hear, catman. My decision on a Deep Cycle was made by comparing PRICE, WARRANTY and the returns HASSLE should it be necessary.

Harold F.

E-mail on the way...

06-10-2009, 10:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
buglem buglem is sharpening the Guillotines!!! Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 191 Thanked 341 Times in 183 Posts	Trolling motor/battery problem This is definitely my year for electric battery/motor problems! I just replaced the two trolling motor batteries that power my 24 volt Minn Kota Power Drive with autopilot. Upgraded them from Interstate series 27 to WalMart Maxx series 29. I took pictures of how it was wired before I took the old ones out and am pretty sure I have them wired the same way as before. Tonight I took it out to test it before a trip this weekend and as soon as I plugged in the trolling motor it started running at full speed! It usually doesn't turn on until I turn it on with the co-pilot and even then it is at the lowest power setting. In addition, it was running full throttle all the time. Didn't matter if I turned the speed up or down, just ran full out. The other thing it was doing was not turning off and on consistently. Sometimes it was fine, sometimes it wasn't. I tried unplugging it, same thing. The autopilot was working so I ran the motor down the lake for probably 20 minutes. After a while it started to consistently turn off and on but still no throttle adjustment. Here is my question - is it possible I wired it wrong and caused this problem? That seems unlikely because the problem appears to be with the trolling motor itself. The other thing I noticed when I uncovered the boat was that the towel I sit the motor on in the bottom of the boat when I'm not using it was very wet from the recent rain. I'm wondering if it possible got something inside the motor wet and caused this issue? Maybe that is why it started turning off and on better after it heated up a little and maybe dried out? Any advice would be appreciated. I'm leaving on Friday for the weekend and the way it is right now will be a royal pain. Thanks! __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

06-11-2009, 05:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
whisker whisker is 100% sure that daylight savings is a dumb idea. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: n.e. nebraska Posts: 521 Thanks: 271 Thanked 400 Times in 139 Posts	One thought: If you left the foot pedal in the rain, it might have shorted across the speed contacts. If so, I'd take it apart and hit it with a hair dryer. The Minn Kota power drive foot controls are so touchy, it's best to treat them with a lot of TLC. IMO they need to re design them. The upper housing on the unit itself should be 100% waterproof,....unless there's loose screws of course. If you think moisture got inside it, take it apart and dry it too,...can't hurt. All this constant humidity has caused all kinds of headaches with equipment. __________________ Press #1 for English Press #2 to be disconnected until you learn to speak English Last edited by whisker; 06-11-2009 at 05:24 AM..

06-11-2009, 05:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
buglem buglem is sharpening the Guillotines!!! Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 191 Thanked 341 Times in 183 Posts	Thanks Whisker. I actually use a co-pilot so I know it wasn't the foot pedal that was the problem. I took the unit apart last night when I got home - it looked ok (of course I have no idea what I'm looking at ) and I took a fan and left it pointed right at the disassembled unit all night. Going to call Minn Kota today and try it again tonight. __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

06-11-2009, 07:42 AM	#4 (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	Your input voltage should be 24V just like it was with the old batteries. I'm pretty sure you wired it up right by the sound of it. Check with a multimeter if you are worried. I ran the lower part of my trolling motor into a log this spring and caused the lower unit on my Minnkota Powerdrive to take on some water. When I pulled it out of the lake water ran out of the top. I thought I had really screwed it up. I took the lower unit apart, cleaned it and blew it out with my compressor. Works like a charm now. I picked up one of these for when I get time to put it in. Minn Kota Brush Kit 3.5/8 iInch Diameter Motor Here is a diagram. Minn kota Trolling Motor Parts: Minnkota parts Bow Mount- Power Steering If you click on your exact model on the bottom of the page you'll get a nice pdf exploded view. Hope this helps. Last edited by bradh; 06-11-2009 at 07:51 AM..

06-11-2009, 07:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
holdemplyer holdemplyer is waiting on open water Director Join Date: May 2007 Location: hunting for Kenzies MA gill!!! Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 6,088 Thanks: 850 Thanked 1,389 Times in 821 Posts	Did you try running it WITH your lucky hat on? __________________ "So I says to Mabel, I says... I'll continue this later." Waiting on the shadow to materialize.... Gone, but never forgotten.

06-11-2009, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
buglem buglem is sharpening the Guillotines!!! Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 191 Thanked 341 Times in 183 Posts	Minn Kota says it's a bad control board. There goes $100! Hope I can get it here by the time I leave tomorrow! __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

06-11-2009, 11:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
thumpper thumpper has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 372 Thanks: 4 Thanked 47 Times in 38 Posts	That is a bummer on the control board.. However I woudl also check the 'plug' that you plug the motor into up front. Maybe something got in there that is loosing the connection from time to time.. HOWEVER that wouldn't answer the question as to why it'll only run at full speed.

06-11-2009, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
MA Machine MA Machine is Thawing his brain out 2008 Catch and Continue Finalist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lincoln NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,006 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 1,230 Times in 634 Posts	Is the control board in the head of the motor or the foot pedal? I've heard of that control board going out on more than a few Minkota motors. Usually when you get wrapped up in weeds or long periods of heavy loads. __________________ The only 2 things keeping me from going pro are skill and luck.

06-11-2009, 04:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
buglem buglem is sharpening the Guillotines!!! Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 191 Thanked 341 Times in 183 Posts	It's in the base of the unit (the part attached to the boat), not the head. Luckily I was able to find one locally! __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

06-11-2009, 10:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
buglem buglem is sharpening the Guillotines!!! Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 191 Thanked 341 Times in 183 Posts	Quick update. After picking up the part tonight and replacing it in the motor, it again runs like a champ! Just in time for the trip tomorrow. __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

06-12-2009, 09:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
bassackwards bassackwards has no status. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: lincoln Posts: 206 Thanks: 148 Thanked 54 Times in 32 Posts	ground Really be sure to check your connections are very tight they can cause other things to go bad by feeding faulty power.

06-15-2009, 05:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
catmanjeff catmanjeff is CRAZY Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 29 Thanks: 145 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I have heard that walmart batteries are made by exide which are way lower quality than an interstate battery. I was told this by a certified mechanic. I have a new interstate battery and have only charged it once this year. If you have a chance to return yours I would do so immediately.

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