Like everyone said, tqake apart and clean real good, motor and housing, brushes. I just called up minkota and got my parts, wasn't that bad either.... BUT, one thing to do before you pull that houseing off, be sure to mark the bottom, toward the skeg and be sure to put it back on the exact same way. i didn't and when i put it back together the motor ran backwards,,had to take apart again and rotate houseing 180 degr. so the polarity would be right.