Re: Minn Kota smoking
Unless you are electrically savy, have a VOM (a multi-tester), know how to use it, and have a schematic of the board and motor control circuitry you would be advised to have MinnKota service make the repair. It is then THEIR responsibility to determine WHY. Compare this to replacing a fuse for example. Fuses blow because the circuit drew too much current. Simply replacing the fuse will likely cause it to blow again. The issue needs to be determined. I don't have a schematic of the board you mention, and I'm not familiar with the internal wiring on that motor. But if the board smokes only when the motor is running, then I would start by checking connections (loose or corroded) on the board. The wires that run down the shaft to the motor may be chaffed. Next, the board is probably smoking because the motor is drawing too much current. Sound familiar? Turn the motor off, then turn the prop by hand. If it seems to be binding (turning hard) then the motor bearings have tightened up or there is fish line wrapped around the shaft between the prop and motor housing. The lesson to be learned is that STOP operating the motor until you determine what's going on. Apparently the board is not yet fully toasted if the motor still runs. Does it smoke on ALL speeds?
