minn kota all terrain 12v 55lb

[dieselcat]

i have above trolling motor on my 1996 landau pro 17,aluminum bass/crappie boat.a friend of mine has a lowe that is damn near identicle but has same trolling motor except its a 45lb.when i first put my 55lb on my boat it would darn near throw me out of the boat on #5 which is max and now my buddies 45lb on #3 goes better than my 55lb does on #5?just doesnt make any since to me...
i took case apart and looked at magnets and armature all looks brand spankin new still.anyone have any experiance with power loss on a trolling motor and can point me in the right direction?

thanks in advance!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: minn kota all terrain 12v 55lb

Battery is likely going bad or there are some bad electrcial connections. Just because a charger or meter says its fully charged does not mean it can "hold" a charge. Check voltage with the motor on any higher speed setting. Bet it drops like a rock. Also spin the prop by hand. YOu will feel a slight jerkiness as you turn it but the prop should turn quite freely. If it seems to be binding, then the bearings have tightened up or fish line is wrapped tightely around the shaft between the prop and housing. That can cut the seal and water gets inside. Remove the prop to check for line and remove it as it really gets wound tightly. That binding also causes very high current draw which kills the battery and slows the motor.

 

[dieselcat]

Re: minn kota all terrain 12v 55lb

Battery is likely going bad or there are some bad electrcial connections. Just because a charger or meter says its fully charged does not mean it can "hold" a charge. Check voltage with the motor on any higher speed setting. Bet it drops like a rock. Also spin the prop by hand. YOu will feel a slight jerkiness as you turn it but the prop should turn quite freely. If it seems to be binding, then the bearings have tightened up or fish line is wrapped tightely around the shaft between the prop and housing. That can cut the seal and water gets inside. Remove the prop to check for line and remove it as it really gets wound tightly. That binding also causes very high current draw which kills the battery and slows the motor.

guess i should have specified a little better,batteries are new,already checked for fishing line all is well.im leaning towards bad/old wireing.it looks like the trolling motor wireing is 10gauge and i can see a couple spots that have been repaired in wireing.so im assuming i will probably need to rewire.
does anyone know of a reasonably priced place to buy 6gauge wire by the foot/bulk?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: minn kota all terrain 12v 55lb

10 gauge wiring is too small for a 55# motor. Need nice, new #8 all the way with good solid connections on both ends. Shoddy splicing and too small gauge wire turns power that should go to the motor into heat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: minn kota all terrain 12v 55lb

I just picked up some #8 at NAPA for .99 per foot, I have no idea if that is a good price or not, but the cost is low enough that it doesn't matter much.