Eagle Cuda 168

[ImaRapalabeliever]

Hey everyone

I have recently bought a Eagle Cuda 168 FF and mounted it on my 14 foot flat bottom jon boat.  I did exactly what the directions said (transducer on low end of the hull) I screwed the bracket in and covered the screws with JB Weld (looks pretty good).  The mount came with a bolt, 2 flat metal washers, 2 rubber washers, 2 ratchet washers and a lock nut, so the ratchets have letters on the A, B, C, D and you are supposed to line the letter A with the dot on the bracket (I did that) next I put the metal washer on the bolt first threaded the bolt through the bracket, put both rubber washers and metal washers on the left side of the bolt and put the locking nut on last, the directions say to snug the nut close to the metal washer and give it 1/4 turn, I did that.  So the transducer is mounted, but I noticed the directions said that the transducer should be loose in case it strikes something under water it wont break off.  This I understand, but the transducer can go up and down all most completely vertical, is this how it is supposed to be or did I get the hardware put on wrong?  Ant help would be much appreciated.  

[Catt]

Tighten the bolts down until you can barely move the transducer by hand; this is tight enough to still allow a stump to move it.

[ImaRapalabeliever]

Hey Catt

Even if I tighten the bolt as tight as I can the transducer is not effected between the two brackets there is nothing but a bolt and the transducer the washers are on the outside of the bolt.  So tightening down the nut only tightens the washers to the bracket.  I will try to post a picture.

[Wayne P.]

Mine was installed at the Tracker factory and they put the rubber washers on each side of the outside of the bracket against the bracket.

I see in the instructions about putting both rubber washer on the same end of the bolt with the nut.

Make sure that the ratcheting parts are assembled against each other on each side of the transducer and the positioning teeth of the ratchets are in the notches of the bracket.

Rearrange your parts like mine is done and tighten enough to squeeze the rubber washers at about 1/3 compression. Then test it for movement with some effort.

[ImaRapalabeliever]

Thanks for the info guys, I actually kept it the way it was and took it to the lake today it did great, when the boat is out of the water the transducer points straight down, when you put it in the water and start to move forward the propulsion moves the transducer horizontal to the hull.  Then when you slow or stop the transducer slowly drops back down and points right underneath the boat.  Perfect, plus if you strike something under the boat it snaps the transducer forward so it doesn't break off.

[Wayne P.]

You don't have it installed correctly, it should not move unless it strikes something. Water pressure should not move it at all. The centerline should be about level with the boat hull just like in the installtion instructions.

[ImaRapalabeliever]

Well I don't understand, I did it exactly like the directions say, and there's no way of tightening down the transducer the way it is set up, even the picture in the book shows it the same way I have it.  I guess I will have to put both rubber washers on either side of the transducer in order to tighten it down.

[Catt]

[ImaRapalabeliever]

AWESOME, thanks so much Catt, I see you have the plastic ratchets in the inside, changing mine now.  Pictures are so helpful.

[Wayne P.]

Catt, I see that your transducer is not fully engaged in the teeth of the ratchets as the peaks are opposite of each other rather than the peaks in the opposing valleys. Did you move it a little to take the picture or do you have it tightened so much that it can stay in that position?

[Catt]

Well Wayne they were in the proper position but apparently after they last encounter with a stump this is where they ended up after I pushed the transducer back down.

I never noticed it until I took the picture

[Wayne P.]

Catt, mine will probably look like that or tilted up in a couple of hours as I'll be fishing a flooded timber lake.

[Catt]

Good luck & kick bass