Trolling motor don't troll??!!!

[gajpb]

I was just out fishing and all of a sudden, my trolling motor just stopped working. Checked the battery and it looks good, plenty of juice. Looked beneath the pedal and coudln't see any issues there, everything looks ok. Any ideas?? I have no clue about boat electricity, etc., but nothing was burning, no funny smells, connections look okay. Before I get someone to take a look at it, what can I do? Again I know nothing--is there anything in particular I should look for as far as fuses, etc.?? By the way, it's a 43Lb thurst  Motor guide, factory model on a three year old Bass Tracker 165. Thanks

[Muddpuppy]

On my Minn Kota there is a breaker reset button built into the back of the foot pedal that sometimes throws, that you just push back in.    I also have a replaceable breaker box on the side of the console that my motor is wired into and some breakers in the battery compartment in the boat.    Usually resetting the motor works.  

You maybe able to find something on Motor Guides web site for trouble shooting or manuals.

[bass hunter]

I would first check my connections from the trolling motor to the fuse then back to the battery.Second i would take the prop off the motor to see that there isn't anything wrapped around the shaft like discarded fishing line etc.

 Depending on the year of the boat and if it was stored outside in the elements.

Battery cables can corode a friend of mine found that out when he bought a used boat.I hope these answers will help you out.

                                                    BASS HUNTER

[gajpb]

Thanks--all good help. I just hope I know what I'm lookign at.  :-[

[cabela10]

All great responses.  I would recommended cleaning the connections on the battery posts.  I know I have had the problem before, where I keep getting some white mildew buildup on one of my posts and it cuts off my juice to the trolling motor.  

When you push the pedal for your trolling motor, does it still make a noise?  If so, it's most likely your connections to the battery and you should get a wire brush and polish those things up and reconnect.  I'm guessing that should fix your problem.  If that is the problem.

I'm guessing you might have an older, smaller boat since it's only a 47lb thrust trolling motor that you might not even have a circuit breaker inbetween your trolling motor and battery connection.  I'm using a Lund right now, and factory doesn't send them with a circuit breaker between them, so I had to install breakers when I upgraded to a 101lb thrust minnkota and a new Lowrance X18color locator.

[gajpb]

The only noise the pedal makes is the click--there is no "electric" sound or the whirring of the motor, as if it's trying to work. And its actually a newer boat, a 2002, and the trolling motor came with it. I thought about the connector build up issue and that may be it, I'll check it tomorrow. But the wierd thing is I was trolling along at about half speed. Took my foot off the pedal for whatever reason, and then when I went back to trolling nothing happened. It just didn't work. There was no stuttering or dying down, just dead all of a sudden. And I'll be honest, I have no idea if there is a circuit breaker, but there is, underneath the console, a fuse panel with a series of fuses in there. But before I call anyone to take a look, I'll clean off the connectors. Also I have a meter that I touch to the connectors that tells me how much power is in there, and it lit up full. Would it still do that if there were a bad cell in the battery?

[cabela10]

I had the exact same problem.  That click is the exact same thing I had.  I was in a tournament and everything was working great. I let off the pedal and went back to it a split second later and I had nothing except, CLICK.  Your trolling motor isn't getting enough juice to make it work, because of the mildew buildup on the post.  

Clean off your posts really good and everything should work perfect for you again.  Your breaker should be located right by the battery, maybe a foot up the positive wire cable.

Like I said, I bet if you clean off those posts, you will be back in business.  Get a good wire brush and clean everything that is metal that comes in contact with those posts, even the post itself.  You won't get any shock from it, so don't worry about electrocuting yourself.  Just dig in and clean those posts.

[FisinCrazee]

I have an 04 Tracker 165 and if you will take off the small aluminum sheet at the front of the front platform (one that has the male plug of the T/M power wire in-10 screws hold it on) you will be able to get to the wires coming into the plug. There is a male/female connector about 10 inches from the large connector that is screwed to the aluminum sheet. Make sure this connector is tight. Also, while you are under there, if that m/f connector does not have a plastic tie hooked around it to hold it together I would put one on to save future problem. Next - There is an in-line fuse in the positive (red) t/m wire back at the battery connection in the bilge. There is a mainline fuse and then on the side in the same connector plug there is a standby fuse. Think it is somewhere in the 30 amp range. Just can not remember. Always remember to replenish this extra if you have to use it. On the water is not the time to remember you need a replacement.

I hope your problem is corrosion at the battery as mentioned earlier in thread but if not, the above are the only two places I can think of in the T/M wire where you could experience a connector problem. I also have had problems with corrosion in the socket that you plug the t/m into (mentioned above). The male prongs will turn very green and it will be hard to insert the plug from the t/m. Clean good and place a verrrrry light coat of grease on them to retard future corrosion - just like on battery posts.

Tight lines Bob

[gajpb]

Great!! Thank you all for the info--I'm out of town this weeknend but shoudl be back on sunday to give all of this a try. I'll let you know. Thanks again!! Anything I can do to save some $$!

[gajpb]

Well, tried the wire brush thing on the posts and nothing. Have a freind who works at AUtozone, so I'm taking the battery in this mornign to see if it has a bad cell. Hopefully that's the fix--yes it costs money, but I'd rather spend thatl get a better battery, thatn haul the boat around to a fix-it guy here who will charge me just to look. I'll keep you posted inf you're still interested.

Also, checked the connections and everything looked ok.

[Chris]

check your plug where the motor plugs into the console you might have knocked the wires loose also take the prop off and check to see if you picked up any fishing line.

[gajpb]

well, battery is fine--but the problem is bigger. Put in a new fuse (figured it out myself) and it blew immediately. Put in a circuit breaker, plugged everything in, put my foot on the trolling motor, and-- *click*-- tripped the circuit breaker. So there's a short somewhere, but I have no idea where or how to find it and what to do once I do. The worst part about it is I have next week off from work and my @!*trolling motor seems to be dead. And all the marina's around here are packed because of a BFL tournament this weekend. Should I just buy a whole new trolling motor??  :'( :-[ :-/ > >

[BASSMACHINE]

No don't buy a new trolling motor! I would bet that the connection on the trolling motor "where it plugs in @ the front of the boat has been knocked loose and your ground and hot wires are touching" unscrew that plug in and pull it out if this has happened you will only need to rewire it and start fishing!

[gajpb]

Ok, before I fo out to take a look, what exactly am I looking for? From what I remember, both wires are insulated and therefore even if they are touching, I wouldn't think it would matter? But I'll take a look. Thanks.

[ernel]

Do you have a volt/ohm meter? If so check for voltage at the reciptical, and first point of contact in the foot switch. You should see where the leads from the t/m plug tie in with the switches for the t/m.

Check the wiring by simpily disconnecting the wiring from the battery and and unplugging the t/m. Place the two leads from the v/o meter to the two battery leads and check for a short. The meter should read OL. (open line) If there is a low value number, zero or a beeping sound then you have a short in the wiring between the battery and T/M. It could be in the wires or the reciptical.

Next use the v/o meter to check between the plug and the first point of contact in the foot pedal. You should be able to unhook the d/c feed from the pedal and read an open line. If all of  these check good then you may want to consider sending the t/m in for repair.

[gajpb]

It was a short in the trolling motor, an easy fix for the boat guy I had look at it. Should be out on the water agin tomrrow!! Finally!!