Minn Kota Foot Control

[Crappie Reaper]

Alright, I have an 55AP and I've been through FOUR (4) foot controls. It seems that the left or right turning direction wears out. I rarely even use the trolling motor and I keep the boat garaged. I'm getting burned out on buying replacements and don't want to go to a remote. Short of buying a new TM, is anyone out there familiar with this problem and is there a fix???? I can't even get through one season with a new controller. This is getting old fast.

[CrappieLab]

What is the model of your Trolling motor and have you contacted Minn Kota with this issue??

[Crappie Reaper]

AP55PD or visa versa...PD55AP Yes, I've contacted Minn Kota about this, but there hasn't been enough time for an answer back. I also mentioned the auto pilot that wigs out which is a known issue but according to Minn Kota rep I spoke with last year about the AP, my battery was not sufficiently charged. A fully charged battery made no difference. After researching the steering problem, I'm not alone. It seems that to own one of these units, one will need to purchase a new foot control on a regular basis. Granted, my TM is about 5 years old and the newer models may not have this issue. I don't want to go to a hand held remote, but it might be the cheaper way to go to continue using my TM, otherwise, I guess I could just go around in circles.

[kdlong]

That is why i switched to motor guide last year. The cable kept breaking. So for the motro guide has been flawless. I did step up to a 65 lb 24 volt when i changed. The minn kota i had was A 55 lb .

[Cane Pole]

I got tired of the crap too. Made my own. Still working too. You want the drawing? I got kinda sofisticated with my stuff.

[Cane Pole]

Throw the pedal in the lake and hang on to the cord. Bob it up and down a couple times. Get some of the crap out of it. This sometimes helps. Dont leave it submerged. Or, hose it out good with the water hose without pressure nozzle.

[Crappie Reaper]

Ok Tom, is this the picture of your pedal solution, or is this the antenna from the bad Lowrance antenna post? Answer is yes, I would like the drawing. I'm about to tear into one of my pedals and steal the steering wiring and come up with a left/center off/right switch to mount under my HDS8. The bestest foot control I had with that TM was the one that came with it. A most unfortunate thing happened one day while buzzing down the expressway and only discovered after I launched the boat. The pedal had blown out of the boat and when I found it, the only thing worth salvaging was the wire itself. I went fishing anyway, stripped back the insulation off the wires and started jumping them until I got a working combination. I had to tie two of them together in two places, figured out what the steering wires were and what the common wire was. I had no probs steering left and right jumping the wires, but I had no variable speed as I was stuck on high and it was higher than normal. Last year when I contacted Minn Kota about the Auto Pilot, I told the tech about what I had done to get the thing working by jumping the wires. He told me it was not possible and I laughed and politely asked him if he was a betting man. I still keep that old wire in the boat for emergencies.

So Tom, is there a spring loaded rheostat (knob) type switch that I could incorporate into my setup? I already know what color the steering wires are that feed the foot control.

[Cane Pole]

Ok Tom, is this the picture of your pedal solution, or is this the antenna from the bad Lowrance antenna post? Answer is yes, I would like the drawing. I'm about to tear into one of my pedals and steal the steering wiring and come up with a left/center off/right switch to mount under my HDS8. The bestest foot control I had with that TM was the one that came with it. A most unfortunate thing happened one day while buzzing down the expressway and only discovered after I launched the boat. The pedal had blown out of the boat and when I found it, the only thing worth salvaging was the wire itself. I went fishing anyway, stripped back the insulation off the wires and started jumping them until I got a working combination. I had to tie two of them together in two places, figured out what the steering wires were and what the common wire was. I had no probs steering left and right jumping the wires, but I had no variable speed as I was stuck on high and it was higher than normal. Last year when I contacted Minn Kota about the Auto Pilot, I told the tech about what I had done to get the thing working by jumping the wires. He told me it was not possible and I laughed and politely asked him if he was a betting man. I still keep that old wire in the boat for emergencies.

So Tom, is there a spring loaded rheostat (knob) type switch that I could incorporate into my setup? I already know what color the steering wires are that feed the foot control.

Let me get all the stuff and I will post it for everyone. This is a big issue with lots of folks.

YOU can steer with jumper wires .......

[Crappie Reaper]

Me kin maker go left or right, yes, I kin stear. I just need the right type of switch, one that is momentary, left and right that springs to center when not in use.

If I had that type of switch, I can consider it problem solved.

[Cane Pole]

you wanna steer with a toggle switch? I can make 1 toggle switch steer the boat.