Re: Minn Kota Turbo 65 36lb 5 speed trolling motor stopped working-opened it up...he
Greetings IRSTEP -- I will answer your question first. The amount of current (amperes) your MinnKota draws from the battery is almost constant regardless which speed is selected. That is because the speed control uses wire wound resistors (called speed coils) to reduce the voltage to the motor on the lower speed settings. So the energy passing through the speed coils is wasted as heat. On the high speed setting, the motor will draw about 35 amperes. You should use a deep cycle battery (not an automobile starting battery) as large as you have room for and whatever your financial budget allows. To ask a question, you first enter the forum category such as Trailers and Towing, Propellers, or this one which is Electronics. Then click the New Thead button at the upper left. You then ask your question.
Wright Stuff -- that black box is connected to the twist grip and is the speed control but it is merely a multi-position switch. the first thing to do is using a test light or meter, check the red wire going into the switch to make sure 12V is present. Red test lead on the red wire into the switch, black test lead to the black (ground wire from the battery). If 12V is not present, the cable between the battery and the motor is bad. I suspect that's the problem as it is generally one or two speeds that are lost -- not all of them. To test the switch, set the speed control to OFF. Using a short piece of #8 wire, touch the red wire going into the switch and the red wire going down the shaft. The motor should run. If not, the motor is toast. If it runs on high speed the switch is bad and replacements should be available from MinnKota. Now repeat the test for each of the other wires touching one end of the test wire to the red wire into the switch, and the other end to one of the other wires. Any of the speeds (other than high) that don't work means the speed coil(s) for that speed are burned out. Speed coils are wire wound resistors that are located in the motor housing. They too may have replacements available.