[logandorn96]

My trolling motor has been acting up :'(

it's a bow mount 54lb thrust motorguide.
Bought it in November new

at first it wasnt running strong, so i took the battery to wal-mart and it was bad so i bought a new one. When i was using the new one it worked AMAZING but after the first 2 trips it went bad.

the batterys still good but the trolling motor goes bad after about ten minutes. but when i get home and plug it in it works fine, just in the water it doesnt.


any idea?

 

[firecat1981]

Is it a variable speed motor? Do you have a 50 amp breaker on it? How close is it to the battery? and what guage wire are you using?

 

[logandorn96]

yes variable speed, i dont know what a 50 amp breaker on it, the battery is in the console while the trolling motor is bow mount.

and i got the wire from my buddy at master repair so i think its good

 

[firecat1981]

If the trolling motor is quiting after 10 minutes and then reseting when you get home it might be over heating. The wire you are using might be to thin a guage to run that long a distance, find out what guage it is. Also the resetable 50 amp breaker is needed on all variable speed TM's, my motor guide wouldn't function right without it for some reason.

http://www.amazon.com/MotorGuide-accessories-50-amp-manual-breaker/dp/B000N9XMZS

 

[logandorn96]

what does it actually do?

 

[firecat1981]

It's just like a breaker in your house. Before your trolling motor over heats it will pop and you can reset the breaker. If your TM over heats to many times you will fry it, this will keep that from happening, but it's a safety measure and not a total solution for you since you are most likely already over heating. You really gotta check to see what guage wire you are running.

 

[logandorn96]

its really smeared on the part that is actually visable but i think it says 6.. its really think.

also where it the trolling motor plugs in into the female connector its corroded, will that make a difference

 

[firecat1981]

A bad plug will increase resistance and lead to malfunctions. Try cleaning out the plug and adding a breaker, I'm sure it will make a big difference. 6 guage wire should be ok, but still put that breaker in.

 

[logandorn96]

will do THANKS! ;D

 

[mark_gardner]

if your plug is napped out its most likely the cause of your problem, i would replace it as opposed to cleaning it and use some die-electric grease on the connections to help keep from getting napped out again, the marinco plugs are pretty good, the attwood plugs you find at places like walmart are junk

 

[logandorn96]

okay got a new plug, ordered that piece. But i have a question.

my trolling motor says 12volt but would using 24volt be better?

also, i just ordered that piece, but if that keeps it from overheating how come it only overheats in the water?

 

[firecat1981]

my trolling motor says 12volt but would using 24volt be better?

It depends on the size of the boat, but it means adding a second battery. Personally I'd stick with the 12 volt unless you need more power.

but if that keeps it from overheating how come it only overheats in the water?

It doesn't keep it from overheating, it stops it from doing damage when there is a build up of resistance. You are most likely running it longer in the water and the water adds resistance as well. I have been told several times that it is not good to run a trolling motor out of the water because there is no cooling factor.

 

[logandorn96]

good to know

 

[aflatsnut]

Battery tender has a plug that is very well made, check it out.

http://batterytender.com/marine/battery-connector-black.html