Problem stowing new Ultrex

[Tennessee Boy]

I was out this weekend for the 3rd time with my new Ultrex trolling motor.  As the day went on,  it got increasingly more difficult to get the motor to lock down when deployed.  By the end of the day,  I had to stand on it and jump a few times to get it to lock down.  When the time came to pull it up and call it a day,  the thing would not release to allow me to stow the motor.  I'm a big guy and I did some serious pulling on the cable but it would not release. I tried every tool I had on the boat but could not get the latch to budge.   I started trolling back to the marina and along the way found a guy on his dock that had access to some tools.  Was finally able to get the latch to release with a crow bar.  Anyone else had issues like this with the Ultrex or other Minn Kota trolling motors?  I haven't had time to work on it since I got back but I'm hoping lubing all the parts will prevent this from happening again and I may start taking a crow bar with me on the boat.

[A-Jay]

Call Minn Kota 

A-Jay

[Scott F]

My first call would have been to Minn Kota. I'd have called them while I was trolling back to the marina.

[Tennessee Boy]

40 minutes ago, Scott F said:

My first call would have been to Minn Kota. I'd have called them while I was trolling back to the marina.

Well I would have had to troll 3 hours to get cell phone coverage on the lake.  I've been trying to call them all day and all I get is a busy signal.  I'm sure I'll eventually get through.  I'm really just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

[iabass8]

Mine is effortless to stow and deploy. 

[Tennessee Boy]

Well I finally got through to Minn Kota.  The guy was very helpful.  He said he could only find two instances of this issue in their call database.  He said engineering had suggested on a previous call that the mount might not be secured evenly to the boat. It might be either torqued or it could have a high spot that in preventing the locking mechanize from sliding smoothly.  I think this is probably the issue.  I had a dealer install the motor.  They did not index the motor properly so I would not be surprised if they didn't messed something else up.  So now I have to decide if I should take it back to the incompetent people who messed it up or do I just fix it myself. ?

[tcbass]

2 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Well I finally got through to Minn Kota.  The guy was very helpful.  He said he could only find two instances of this issue in their call database.  He said engineering had suggested on a previous call that the mount might not be secured evenly to the boat. It might be either torqued or it could have a high spot that in preventing the locking mechanize from sliding smoothly.  I think this is probably the issue.  I had a dealer install the motor.  They did not index the motor properly so I would not be surprised if they didn't messed something else up.  So now I have to decide if I should take it back to the incompetent people who messed it up or do I just fix it myself. ?

 

 

Best thing I did was add a Minn Kota Quick Release bracket to my Ulterra when I took it off for repair. 

 

 

Now, if I ever have to take it off again it's easy to do. Secondly, the aluminum bracket should stop torque issues also.

[A-Jay]

52 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

Best thing I did was add a Minn Kota Quick Release bracket to my Ulterra when I took it off for repair. 

 

 

Now, if I ever have to take it off again it's easy to do. Secondly, the aluminum bracket should stop torque issues also.

Yup ~ 

I added one to the initial install of the Fortrex.

I did replace the OE 'thumb screw' that secures the motor to the bracket. 

Didn't trust it.

Went with a S/S bolt.

A-Jay

 

[Scott F]

18 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yup ~ 

I added one to the initial install of the Fortrex.

I did replace the OE 'thumb screw' that secures the motor to the bracket. 

Didn't trust it.

Went with a S/S bolt.

A-Jay

 

Make sure you remove that S/S bolt frequently.  The stainless bolt will not play nicely with the aluminum bracket and will lock itself in place forever. 

[tcbass]

9 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Make sure you remove that S/S bolt frequently.  The stainless bolt will not play nicely with the aluminum bracket and will lock itself in place forever. 

 

What type of bolt are you supposed to use?

 

 

I used the short bolts that came with the quick release bracket to attach it to the TM and then stainless bolts to attach the quick release bracket plate to the boat deck. 

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

What type of bolt are you supposed to use?

 

 

I used the short bolts that came with the quick release bracket to attach it to the TM and then stainless bolts to attach the quick release bracket plate to the boat deck. 

I back plated the bracket to the deck mounting bolts - used S/S there as well.

 Also my motor comes off whenever the cover goes on so that thing is on & off there several times a season.

A-Jay

[Scott F]

27 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

What type of bolt are you supposed to use?

 

 

I used the short bolts that came with the quick release bracket to attach it to the TM and then stainless bolts to attach the quick release bracket plate to the boat deck. 

The bolts through the aluminum plate will be OK. The bolt that threads into the aluminum should be aluminum or galvanized to prevent galvanic corrosion.

[Rahlow]

42 minutes ago, Scott F said:

The bolts through the aluminum plate will be OK. The bolt that threads into the aluminum should be aluminum or galvanized to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Or blue loctite

[tcbass]

1 minute ago, Rahlow said:

Or blue loctite

 

 

That will prevent galvanic corrosion?

[Rahlow]

Yea, sorta “insulates” one material from the other.

[tcbass]

30 minutes ago, Rahlow said:

Yea, sorta “insulates” one material from the other.

 

Cool. Good to know. 

[Rahlow]

1 hour ago, tcbass said:

 

Cool. Good to know. 

Just make sure to coat ALL the threads, not just a drop or two,,,