Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

[johnruck]

Hi guys, my name is John and I am 26 years old.
I recently won a new nautic star bayboat in a fishing tournament. About 5 months ago I installed a motor guide riptide trolling motor. Everything has worked great up until saturday. All of the sudden, after pulling up to a fishing hole, i put down my trolling motor and it wouldn't work. Battery is fully charged so I am kinda baffled. The motor itself is running because i can hear it running, but the prop is not moving. I noticed when i have it out of the water, the prop is spinning real fast, but as soon as i set it in the water, the prop slows down then completely stops and kinda makes a grinding/whining noise . When i have it running and turn it off, i also noticed a whining noise for about 3 seconds after its shut off.

If anyone has had this kinda problem and have some advice, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance my fellow boaters.

 

[bandsawguy]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Take the prop off. Sounds like the drive shaft to prop connection is stripped and when there is pressure the shaft is spinning inside the prop hub.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Doesn't the shaft have a pin in it?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Doesn't the shaft have a pin in it?

Yes -- but just like shear pins on an outboard, a prop strike can break it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

You don't have a "Motor Guide" Riptide -- you have a "MinnKota" Riptide. With the motor turned off, manually rotate the prop. You should feel a very slight jerkiness since there are magnets in the motor and they cause that feeling as each armature pole piece passes. If the motor seems hard to turn, there is a tight bearing or you have a wad of fish line wound tightly between the prop and the housing. Remove the prop and check the shear pin and for evidence of fish line.

 

[johnruck]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

wow, thanks for the fast replies guys!
When i get home from work, I am going to look into your suggestions and post my findings. I greatly appreciate you guys taking the time out of your day to try and help me.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Minn-Kota's have a shear pin. Your symptoms describe a sheared shear pin.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Gee I thought I said that

 

[j_martin]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

Gee I thought I said that

You asked. I answered the rhetorical question.

 

[johnruck]

Re: Trolling motor spins great outside of water, but when set into water.....

broken pin!...attempting to fix it now, will update you guys.