Thread: Need help TM mounting motor guide to MK

BC
FedX just delivered my I-Pilot tonight. I am replacing a MG on my Tracker. I bought the MK quick release mounting bracket and I am doing away with those rubber mounts as I could never keep mine tight. I think I can access the underside of my deck to mount the bracket. From what I have read, the bracket makes it really easy to mount and to remove if you need to. Talked to my boat mechanic about the plug and he thinks the MK won't have a plug and I can reuse the one off the MG or take it to his shop and see if he has a plug that will match the existing female plug on the boat.
Plan to start working on mine this week.
This is the link to the bracket and the best price I could find. BPS and Cabellas as well as others carry it.
Minn - Kota Mka-21 Composite Pd/Ap Quick - Release Bracket And Mounting Adapter - 697085, Trolling Motors at Sportsman's Guide
SeaRay

SeaRay;

What model tracker do you have? I have a 04 PT175, and gained access to the underside of the forward portion of the bow where the TM mounts by removing all the screws that hold the sloped panel on where my TM plugged into the power socket and the tilt switch. This panel slopes from the main deck up to the forward hull deck. You should take the smaller panel that holds the TM plug out of the larger floor panel and disconnect all the electrical connections as well. It's just easier that way. The screws are buried/hidden in the carpeting, so just start looking. It will be about 8 screws total, 4 across the top right where the carpet meets the hull and 4 across the bottom side where it meets the main forward deck.

Might as well clear all the other stuff out of the way as you will need to lay down on the forward deck to be able to see up in there and get your arms/hands in there as well. Pm me if ya got ??'s.

BC;
You're gonna need some screws that will be large enough to handle the stress of the TM tugging on the boat, some fender washers, lock washers and get some Nylock nuts, these won't back off, so once you get things snugged down, they will stay snug/tight. MK customer service might be able to tell you what size is suggested/recommended, or whatever size will fit in the base of the TM. You can probably use the plug off your current MG TM if you want, or just buy a new one just like your current one at a marine dealer. Get some good butt connectors and heat shrink wrap to cover all the connections made. Should probably use SS to avoid corrosion.

I mounted my Terrova directly to the hull, so can't help with the quick release brackets. The base of the MK TM will stick out past the bow, so make sure you place it where you can still launch/load your boat w/o damaging anything. It's something you have to get used to.

Well, the saga begins. Unpacked the TM today and first thing I noticed is this dude is heavy and awkard. Took it to my shope and mounted the MK quick release bracket to it. No problems, except the screws provided are too short to use the washer under the locknut. With the washer in place, the nut would not tighten down far enough to engage the locking portion of the nut so I opted to do away with the washer to get a solid seat with the locknut. (This was all MinnKota stuff, so you would think someone would have fixed it by now, but no biggie.
If the rain will hold off I will attempt to remove the access panel so I can mount the bracket to the deck. Someone suggested I replace the fuse with a resettable one before I install. Might consider doing that if I could find the fuse. From the illustration in the manual, it looks like the fuse is inside the motor shaft (surely not????). Anybody had to get to the fuse?? If so, where is it and how do you access it?
Stay tuned.
SeaRay

OK by the way, Thanks jimp for the note on the panel. I have a 2000 model 16.5 Pro Team. My panel sounds just like you describe. Just hope I can reach far enough under to get the nuts on the mounting bracket bolts.
SeaRay

you should be able to reach the forward most mounting bolts/nuts without issue, but I got my wife to come out and hold the screwdriver on each of the 4 screws when I tightened 'em up as I mounted mine straight to the hull. A friend or 2nd set of hands could come in handy. I got my "resettable" circuit breaker at my local marine dealer for <$10 when I got my TM power plug there as well. SeaRay, I would take one of the supplied screws and go to the hardware store and get some longer screws/bolts and use those washers. My boat has wood up under/inside the forward portion of the bow, and you don't want those bolts coming loose or being pulled into the wood (on the assumption you have wood as well) when you tighten 'em up.

Day 2 of the Terrova epic:
Started on the boat this morning. Took the access panel off just like jimp said with no problems. Took the TM receptale off and went to my local boat shop and of course they did not have a plug to match it so I bought a new male and female to install. (I could have taken the old one off the old motor and spliced it but it was pretty beat up after 12 years) When I tried to solder the leads together I failed. I have never tried to solder wire that big together so either I did not know what I was doing or my gun was not hot enough. Off to Home Depot to buy some copper splice sleeves and back home(2nd trip, y'all counting?)
Got all the wires spliced together and got the I-Pilot ready to install. I was using the MK quick disconnect bracket so all I had to install on the deck was the little "puck" that the mating part sits on, 4 screws, piece of cake.
Thsi is where jimp's boat or his arm differed from mine. I could reach far enough under the front to get the 2 back bolts on and tightened down. I used the big fender washers under the wood deck here. It was the mating piece on the TM that had the short bolts, but the nut was seated on the aluminum channel so I was not concerned about not using a washer.
Could not get my arm past my elbow to reach the 2 front bolts!! Think!!! Get roll of 4" surgical tape left over from surgery 2 years ago, wrap arm real tight to compress and protect skin from scraping on the metal edge of the deck and back I go. Managed to wiggle past my elbow with the washer and nut and got the nut started. Take arm out to get wrench to hold nut so I can tighten it down.....Stuck!! Can't get elbow past opening...OMG now what?? Think..call 911..no, never hear the end of it. Strain, pull grunt, finally use right hand to push down on inside of left elbow and SQUEEEEze arm out. Little blood, lot of red skin but we are back in business. The wrench is long enough to reach the nut without going past my elbow so we are good.
Decided I need to take a break, ran to the Subway shop for a sandwich and regain my wits.
Went back and hooked up the power and low an behold it seems to work (with the remote anyway). Weather permitting I will put in the water tomorrow and see if I am smart enough to use the thing and also try out the foot pedal.
Oh yeah I also got the US2 interface so I hooked up my HB 525 DF and it seems to work, but will test it tomorrow as well.
SeaRay

ain't fishing fun. Once you get the hang of the Terrova/IP, you'll laugh at today. Congrats.

BAWHAHAHAHARoflRoflRofl Now that's a funny description of an install. (Probably not so funny to you and that red arm though.:rolleyes The didnt make boats to go sticking arms and such between those panels for sure. Glad you got 'er done. Now get that baby on the lake and start enjoying 'er.Thumbs Up