Trolling Motor Grinding/Friction Noise

[kgreek]

I have a Minn Kota Edge 45. My son ran into some weeds and mud, and shortly thereafter the prop stop spinning. I took the motor apart and notice the brush assembly was broken, so I replace the brush plate holder and assembly. This fixed the prop issue, but now when it spins there is a grinding noise. There's defiantly some friction somewhere. On speed 1 the prop tries to turn, but can't. Something is holding it back. The prop spins on the rest of the speeds, but the speed doesn't seem consistent. There's a noise and the prop seems to wobble slightly.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[dingbat]

Remove the prop and check motor shaft for straightness. Could have bent the shaft

 

[kgreek]

I’ll check the shaft. Thanks

 

[cyclops222]

Do not be surprised if the electronics start failing from the friction overload.
Buy a new trolling unit.

 

[ESGWheel]

There is definitely something binding as you suspect (like bent shaft per Dingbat and also per your wobbly prop) or some contamination that interferes with its rotation (ie between the rotor and the stator > the stator is magnetic and may have some metal debris from the old brush holder stuck to it).

In speed 1 there is not enough 'umph' to overcome but once cranked up it does albeit with the noise. This is why Cyclops is cautioning about the electronics.

Like the replacement brush kit you got they also make ‘full’ kits with the rotor, seals, etc., like this link. And here is a you tube link of someone installing a full kit. So, a rebuild seems both doable and a cheaper alternative then new. Better yet, do the job with your son as a fun together project