Trolling Motor Issues

[BassinAround]

HI everyone, I am new to the forum. I ahve a couple of questions and hope you all can help me out.

I have a 2009 Stratos with a Motorguide 82 lbs thrust trolling motor. The trolling motor has around 150 to 175 hours on it and has a foot pedal. I had the prop for the trolling motor come off the spindle in the water a couple of months ago and haven't used it since.. I replaced the prop with a new one that came with the boat (same size). I took the boat out couple days ago and trolled for around 2 hours. I had no issues until the end when I stopped getting power to the trolling motor. My setup is 24 volt series batteries which were just replaced 7 months ago. I have a toggle switch installed in the hull for on-off to the trolling motor. It also acts as a circuit breaker. I replaced this thinking maybe it was the switch today. With no luck I still do not have power to the trolling motor. I checked all of the wiring under the foot pedal and in the top of the trolling motor. I also checked the connector in the bow which still looked good. If I turn off the toggle switch on the foot pedal and turn the circuit switch on in the rear (hull) I have no issues. When I turn on the toggle switch on the foot pedal it trips the circuit switch in the hull. It has to be grounding out somewhere on the trolling motor or the toggle switch on the foot pedal is bad. Has anybody else had an issue like this? Also any direction on what else to look for is appreciated.

 

[gm280]

Welcome aboard BassinAround :welcome: Great to have you aboard.

If I understand your problem correctly, you have power to the hull mounted switch but once you turn the switch on the trolling motor pedal, the hull mounted switch/breaker trips? Sound like maybe the switch on the trolling motor foot section is shorted or defective. Have you tried changing that switch? If you do decide to change that switch, make sure it is a direct replacement type switch so it can handle the current your trolling motor is drawing. Also the hull mounted switch, is it capable of handling the current your trolling motor is drawing. If it is, no problem... But a 24 volt system that delivers 82lbs of thrust is using some serious current... Make certain those switches are fully capable of that amount of current! JMHO!

 

[BassinAround]

Thanks for the welcome. Yes that's what is going on. I have not tried replacing the foot pedal switch. I have already replaced the hull switch thinking it was that. Is there really much more that it could be? Its basic wiring but I have just never heard of a foot pedal toggle switch going bad.

 

[gm280]

Thanks for the welcome. Yes that's what is going on. I have not tried replacing the foot pedal switch. I have already replaced the hull switch thinking it was that. Is there really much more that it could be? Its basic wiring but I have just never heard of a foot pedal toggle switch going bad.

There is an outside chance that the motor is the problem and once you flip the foot mounted switch, it see a very low resistance and pops the breaker switch on the hull. If that is the problem, then you are going to go into the foot motor assembly and see what is causing that. Yes it could be motor wiring burnt and needs replaced or rewound. But check the things you can on the foot section first to rule that out...

 

[BassinAround]

Thanks GM280.. I will be checking the foot pedal on Sunday. Any ideas where i can get a new switch for the foot pedal toggle switch? I have been looking online and can't find anything

 

[gm280]

Don't know if you have removed that switch yet or not, but lots of time those switches have their manufacturer's name on them with the part number. Use those things to search online as see who offers them. There are also lots of trolling motor repair places on the net that could have them. If you don't follow up with the same capable switch, it will work, but for a very short time... But first verify that the switch or switches are your problem first...