Minn Kota rope cord

[gim]

How many of you have replaced the original rope to deploy and lift up your bow mount?  More specifically, I think its the rope that comes on the maxxum, fortrex, edge, and ultrex.  I still have the original rope on my maxxum but I can see that its starting to wear out and I may need to replaced it with a heavier  duty cable cord.

[Hez]

I was thinking about this today.  I try not to yank on mine too hard - it's not young in age.  

[BrianinMD]

my boat is less than a year old so not really an issue but just an fyi. The Ultrex comes with a metal core pull rope. No dealing with regular cord

[gim]

9 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

The Ultrex comes with a metal core pull rope. No dealing with regular cord

Didn't now that thanks

[WRB]

G-Force makes a good SST Nylon jacket rope with handle for your trolling motor.

You need to strap down the handle so it doesn't beat your rods up on the deck when running fast, typical with all the larger handle replacement cords.

Tom

 

[Bluebasser86]

I have the G-Force handle on mine and really like it. Easy to install and makes lifting and deploying much easier. 

[tander]

I replaced mine 2 weeks ago. I wanted the G Force setup but it would not work on my boat. I ordered some 3/16 inch double braid poly rope and found a handle that fits snowmobiles on ebay, big handle like the G Force. Both were about $14 total and I got both in blue to match my Cool Foot and Troll Perfect, really pimped out my trolling motor.

 

[Ski213]

When my oem rope broke I used 550 paracord as a temporary/emergency  fix. I have heard that paracord is a bad idea as it will degrade quickly due to u.v. That wasn't really my experience with it though and the paracord was working fine at a year and a half when I replaced it with a g-force setup. I believe there are a couple options other than the g force that are spoken highly of as well. 

 

If you have concern about your rope I would do something sooner rather than later whether it's temporary or permanent. When mine broke it was a real surprise. Nothing bad happened but I could see where the rope breaking at the wrong time could end up with the operator in the water. 

[TOXIC]

I use the G-Force but I am very careful.  I was told by a reputable TM repair shop that TM ropes are designed to wear out and break so that other more costly components don't break.  A designed weak link.

[WRB]

On September 25, 2017 at 4:25 AM, TOXIC said:

I use the G-Force but I am very careful.  I was told by a reputable TM repair shop that TM ropes are designed to wear out and break so that other more costly components don't break.  A designed weak link.

Falling out of the boat or backward into the boat you can break somethings if a cord snaps, a latch and spring isn't going to break in a trolling motor and that is why newer models use jacket SST cords.

I am sure most anglers don't abuse their equipment, there is always few that do. G-Force handle isn't indestructible but it is helpful lifting the motor.

Tom

 

[Fishing Rhino]

Designed to break?  That's interesting.  I don't think it's smart, but it is interesting.  I've had two new Nitros that came with Motorguide trolling motors.  Both had cords that broke before they were a year old.  Both for the same reason.

 

The last plastic guide they passed through had a casting ridge which chaffed through the cable.  I sanded the ridge smooth, and increased the radius on the plastic part through which the cord passed and replaced the cord with polypro of the same diameter.  I made it a foot longer than the standard cable.  If the cable broke, what remained would be the same length as the original cord.  I'm five years into the replacement cord and not so much as a scuff.  

 

As for the metal core cord, it won't break leaving you high and dry, but you will need to replace it, should it ever chaff through the outer layer.  It won't take long for the metal core to groove what it passes through at the chaffing point.

 

Here's an emergency fix should you experience a broken cord, using the two pieces that remain.

 

Join the two pieces using what else?  A fisherman's knot.  Remove the cord and join the two pieces with the aforementioned fisherman's knot.  Then, remove the pull handle and install it on the longer end of the knotted pull cord.  The cord will be about five inches shorter, and the joining knot will be a few inches from the pull handle, but it will get you by. 

 

Be sure to see how the cord passes through the various components before you remove it.

[TOXIC]

I believe my info from (Jones Trolling motor in TX) who has been in business for many years was that it's much easier to replace a broken pull cord than the pull pins and associated mechanisms on the internal portion of the TM.  With all of the built-in and aftermarket "lift assist" components on current TM's, I don't see as many breaking pull cords or the need to use the excessive amount of force to retrieve the TM.  And yes I have gone elbows over teakettle with a broken rope!!   

[J Francho]

16 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

And yes I have gone elbows over teakettle with a broken rope!!

 

Me too, and I once saved my partner from smashing his head into the port side console.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  I don't remember what paracord I used to fix mine, but it was similar to what was there before.  Not too hard a fix for something that could really hurt you.

[Tucson]

I just replace mine with some appropriately sized cord.  I keep an eye out for any wear spots but so far no problem.

[3dees]

my fortrex is still new so my cord is fine for now. I like the G-Force handle but not the price. went to Home Depot lawnmower dept. same handle with a different label. 7.00.

[iabass8]

You can find the G Force handle at Lowes, Tractor Supply, and a lot of other vendors. It's called Good Vibrations Start me up handle. It's the exact same handle /w a different label on it that the Gforce handle uses on theirs but for less than 10$. You can also find the Good Vibration handle if you look online in a bunch of different colors. You can make the exact same set up as the GForce handle (without the Gforce logo) for less than 17$.