Bent Armature Shaft Minn Kota 70lb Maxxum

[Ryan]

Noticed my sneaker has been making funny noises especially in high speed.

Decided to check it out as I have not used my boat since March 2009 as I was in Zambia Last year.

It appears the Armature shaft is bent and this causes the prop to rotate in a eliptical motion as opposed to a nice uniform circular motion.

Should the Shear Pin not have broken had I hit a rock or something similar and this would have saved the shaft - well this is my understanding at least anyways.

I bought this motor in July 2009 when I had an accident involving my motorguide - what an awesome upgrade I love my new motor.

So I have basically used the motor for 8 months of the 19 month's that I have used it.

Anyone had similar problems with the Minn Kota?

Tomorrow I phone the South African Agents - wish me luck hopefully the motor still falls under warranty.

Would like to know if this is a common problem or not.

 

[Poenskop]

Good luck with the agents Ryan. I gave up on them.

 

[Ryan]

Just spoke to the South African Agents - my motor is still under warranty -YEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAAA

And they have the parts to do the repair.......

Fantastic.....

Thanks guys (With a big sigh of relief - thought this one was going to fall on my shoulders...)

 

[Fanie]

Hi Ryan,

Pine has a motoguide and his (trolling motor's) shaft :-D is also bent. We'll just press it right, but you have to understand that ANY shaft will get bent if it gets hooked in somewhere while the boat is at speed and the shaft has to stop it. The trollong motors are supposed to have a slip mechanism to compensate for accidents like that.

Look where you drive and don't drive where you look - stay out of the rocks :-D

 

[Fanie]

Charles Dunston fix trolling motors and have some spares if any one else have problems 082 430 2002.

 

[Mombakkie]

Ryan, have you taken the prop off and spun the motor without it ? Sometimes its the props that aren't 100%.

 

[Fishton]

Buy SA!

 

[Ryan]

Thanks - it is under warranty in SA.
The shaft is 100% bent - not the prop
Surely the shearpin should break long before the shaft bends?

 

[Fanie]

Not only have you a sore foot, but a bent shaft too !
Already sounds like an old crock to me eh Oom Ryan :-D

Maybe those were shearing pins in the old days, but I doubt if they do any more - probably because the new props all shread the weeds. If the pin shears every time the motor gets stuck you are going to replace plenty many pins. They are probably working on one that can cut through rock and stone too ;-)

If the armature shaft bends then it has to come from a considerable side force, and doubtfully just from the prop trying to turn against an object.

 

[Fanie]

I once had the privilege to see somone's prop disappear into the distant depths at the speed of white light when they forgot to put the pin in and the screw turned loose first time they switched on. A rather disappointing experience, but if that pin shears it is going to cost you a prop and wing screw each time... !