Bow mounted trolling motor issue?

[mfoley312]

I have a 46# thrust Motor guide pro series mounted on a used 2010 bass tracker that I bought last year. I have it stored in my driveway (no garage) with a boat cover on it. I've already had a problem with the bow tilt switch shorting out due to water leaking in. The tilt switch and the wires to the trolling motor are right next to each other, so maybe something similar is occuring.

 

But the problem is that I feel like my trolling motor is much slower than it used to be. I have a brand new battery and I've taken the trolling motor and gone through all 5 speeds when out of the water and I can hear a faint change in pitch, but not a major one. I'm just wondering how I should go about testing this myself and what y'all would do. Thank you!

Edited July 4, 2019 by mfoley312
Changed brand of motor

[12poundbass]

Have you taken the prop off to see if there is any fishing line in there binding things up? 

[mfoley312]

10 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Have you taken the prop off to see if there is any fishing line in there binding things up? 

Yes! And it was clean as a whistle.

[TheRodFather]

There is a way to set the "timing" on the motor.  This may be worth looking into.  First I would check all connections for corrosion though.

[mfoley312]

13 hours ago, TheRodFather said:

There is a way to set the "timing" on the motor.  This may be worth looking into.  First I would check all connections for corrosion though.

So I looked up how to do this and went out to try it. I also went through all 5 speeds again, but now it sounds like speed 3,4,5 sound the same. And after I twerked with the timing, same thing happens.

Does this provide anymore insight as to what's happening?

Here's the underside of my foot pedal also.

[TheRodFather]

My guess would be that the little box you see there with the 4 red wires is a step resistor type of deal, where each wire has a different resistance value, meaning different amounts of voltage to the motor (like what's on the blower motor for the heat/ac in a vehicle to change blower speed).

 

I might try to find which wires are going to the motor, disconnect them and read the voltage values given during each of the speed settings, which would test that speed "dial" component and let you know if it is switching through all 5 speeds. That third connector from the left looks like it got hot at some point.

 

If you aren't up for that sort of thing, or don't have a meter, it might be best to take it to a dealer who is more experienced.  

 

Do not run the motor outside of the water (for long)  it will get too hot and maybe fry something due to lack of cooling water!

[mfoley312]

13 minutes ago, TheRodFather said:

My guess would be that the little box you see there with the 4 red wires is a step resistor type of deal, where each wire has a different resistance value, meaning different amounts of voltage to the motor (like what's on the blower motor for the heat/ac in a vehicle to change blower speed).

 

I might try to find which wires are going to the motor, disconnect them and read the voltage values given during each of the speed settings, which would test that speed "dial" component and let you know if it is switching through all 5 speeds. That third connector from the left looks like it got hot at some point.

 

If you aren't up for that sort of thing, or don't have a meter, it might be best to take it to a dealer who is more experienced.  

 

Do not run the motor outside of the water (for long)  it will get too hot and maybe fry something due to lack of cooling water!

Thanks for the comment! I have a voltmeter, I assume set it to ohms and red meter wire goes to the red on the motor and black wire goes to a ground or piece of metal?

I was also seeing things about a possible switch being the culprit, do you have experience with that?

[TheRodFather]

3 minutes ago, mfoley312 said:

Thanks for the comment! I have a voltmeter, I assume set it to ohms and red meter wire goes to the red on the motor and black wire goes to a ground or piece of metal?

I was also seeing things about a possible switch being the culprit, do you have experience with that?

Tough to speak to this over the internet, 

 

If you want to do it reading resistance, you would take the positive off the battery at a convenient location, and hook one of your leads from the meter to the wire going to the pedal/motor.

 

Then find the wire going to the motor (after the pedal), disconnect it, and hook your other lead to that.  Then turn the knob and you should see 5 different resistance values when clicking the speed dial to the 5 speeds.

 

You could also leave the system connected to the battery, disconnect the power wire going to the motor (after the pedal), and troubleshoot the dial by voltage.

[Shimano_1]

I'd try a different battery just to rule out the most obvious first. I've had a brand new battery be junk before.  Then I'd check all connections,  if it has a plug I'd start there. Probably something simple just a matter of tracking it down

[mfoley312]

I got dielectric grease, would using that on the plug help? 

[TheRodFather]

Dielectric grease on electrical plugs is always a good idea. Cant say if it will solve your problem, but it keeps terminals from corroding.

 

 

[Krux5506]

I'm sorry to sound pessimistic here but I had what I assume would be the same MG trolling motor on my 2010 Lund, also 46# thrust and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I had nothing but problems with it, and upgraded to an 80# Fortrex and it's a night and day difference. 

[FishinBuck07]

I just bought a 2007 Bass Tracker yesterday and it has this trolling motor on it also, sounds like I may be upgrading it sooner than I was hoping for with all the problems I am hearing about it.