Ever lost your trolling motor prop?

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03-11-2010, 02:43 PM
Radioactive

Ever lost your trolling motor prop?

Was on the Rock yesterday trying to catch a few Crappie and learned a valuable lesson the hard way, so thought I would share in hopes of saving someone the same fate.
After a couple of hours and only one keeper I decided to switch spots, so I motored to a new area and decided to use the locator to find some fish or schools of shad. Since the transducer is mounted on the trolling motor, I dropped it in and strated idling around. After a few minutes I spotted several fish, so threw in a marker, killed the big motor and went forward to start fishing.

I pressed the switch on the foot control and nothing. I kicked the speed up a couple notches and nothing but a soft whine, so I pulled the motor up to have a look see and about fell off my seat! Prop, nut and pin were completely gone!:eek:
I guess the prop was windmilling in the water and loosened the nut is the only thing I can figure:confused: Yes, the prop nut was tight. I usually check it every trip when securing the gear

I like the transducer on the trolling motor, but think I will find a different spot for it after this. I already busted one mount last year when I didn't pull the motor up in time while retrieving a lure near the shore, so not going for a third, and possibly more disastrous occurrence!
03-11-2010, 03:15 PM
CatFan

Yep! Fortunately I had a spare. I just fired up the big motor because I was fighting the wind and it was gone in just a few seconds.
03-11-2010, 05:01 PM
feelay

been there, done that.
03-11-2010, 05:28 PM
Fishtaco

Makes ya want to build one of Cane Poles transducer mounts. LOL

Makes me want to build one... I just need to find a cheap trolling motor bracket.
03-11-2010, 06:24 PM
Wannabe...

No...cause the first thing I do when I get a new TM is remove the factory nut and put a nylock on it. :)

Wannabe...
03-11-2010, 06:26 PM
REDBOAT

So what happened? Did it Just Fall off?? I do not see how it windmilling in the water would make it fall off.. wouldn't the prop just spin the same way weather it was under power or not?
03-11-2010, 06:40 PM
rocket rich

I'm with the lock nut too. i lost one years ago
03-11-2010, 06:48 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

No...cause the first thing I do when I get a new TM is remove the factory nut and put a nylock on it. :)

Wannabe...

Ua smart feller.;)
03-11-2010, 09:05 PM
Wiskers

I lost 2

I lost 2 props in 1 week. :mad: The last 1 I put lok tite in the nut. Been on there for 2 years now. Was it a Motor Guide?
03-11-2010, 09:05 PM
Radioactive

Yep, just fell off. I guess it is possible the prop nut worked loose since I last checked it, but the windmilling was the only logical thing I could think of that caused it. If the motor happened to turn with the prop in front, as in pushing the boat backwards instead of pulling, I think the water would cause it to spin in the opposite direction than normal. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I can comment on that.

You can bet I'll do like Wannabe and put a Nylock on the new one. $30 buys a lot of minners:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDBOAT

So what happened? Did it Just Fall off?? I do not see how it windmilling in the water would make it fall off.. wouldn't the prop just spin the same way weather it was under power or not?
03-11-2010, 09:07 PM
Fisherman_Wantabe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

No...cause the first thing I do when I get a new TM is remove the factory nut and put a nylock on it. :)

Wannabe...

:eek:
03-11-2010, 09:07 PM
Fisherman_Wantabe

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDBOAT

So what happened? Did it Just Fall off?? I do not see how it windmilling in the water would make it fall off.. wouldn't the prop just spin the same way weather it was under power or not?

:D yea!
03-11-2010, 09:15 PM
Radioactive

Yep, it's a MG. Loctite is good, but might eventually loosen because of the frequent exposure to water. (I'm paranoid now) 1 Nylock comin' up:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiskers

I lost 2 props in 1 week. :mad: The last 1 I put lok tite in the nut. Been on there for 2 years now. Was it a Motor Guide?
03-11-2010, 09:31 PM
Fisherman_Wantabe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioactive

Yep, it's a MG. Loctite is good, but might eventually loosen because of the frequent exposure to water. (I'm paranoid now) 1 Nylock comin' up:D

What? If you loctite it, then it will be there! Water don't effect loctite!
03-11-2010, 09:52 PM
Radioactive

I stand corrected. I thought I remembered reading that it wasn't recommended for more than occasional wetting, but it could have been on a different product.
Another couple of years and I can hide my own Easter Eggs:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fisherman_Wantabe

What? If you loctite it, then it will be there! Water don't effect loctite!
03-11-2010, 10:18 PM
BamaMan

I had my trolling motor prop fall off on the way to a no gas motor lake one day. I had put the boat in the water and put the trolling motor down in the water and the boat would not move. Me and the wife took the boat home. We then went to walmart to get new prop. Got new prop home and it did not have the pin. Went back to walmart exchanged the prop got back home put on new prop. This time I used a nylon lock nut on it. Never happened again. When I got my MK with I-pilot it came with a nylon lock nut with it.
03-11-2010, 10:53 PM
Fisherman_Wantabe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioactive

I stand corrected. I thought I remembered reading that it wasn't recommended for more than occasional wetting, but it could have been on a different product.
Another couple of years and I can hide my own Easter Eggs:D

After loctite sets up it's there. That's what I've seen.
AS for your eggs!!
03-11-2010, 11:23 PM
Hoosier Hog Daddy

Hmmm.... I see these shows like the one on midwest crappie where the guy is running crankbaits using his 9.9 kicker to push the boat , but also using the bow mounted trolling motor at the same time to steer it with his co-pilot . Minn Kota however....

I haven't had this problem...But I did learn not to try to work (take off) prop to remove line , while on the water. My pin was loose in the motor shaft and fell out in the water. I was up that well known creek.
03-12-2010, 12:23 AM
Milo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioactive

Was on the Rock yesterday trying to catch a few Crappie and learned a valuable lesson the hard way, so thought I would share in hopes of saving someone the same fate.
After a couple of hours and only one keeper I decided to switch spots, so I motored to a new area and decided to use the locator to find some fish or schools of shad. Since the transducer is mounted on the trolling motor, I dropped it in and strated idling around. After a few minutes I spotted several fish, so threw in a marker, killed the big motor and went forward to start fishing.

I pressed the switch on the foot control and nothing. I kicked the speed up a couple notches and nothing but a soft whine, so I pulled the motor up to have a look see and about fell off my seat! Prop, nut and pin were completely gone!:eek:
I guess the prop was windmilling in the water and loosened the nut is the only thing I can figure:confused: Yes, the prop nut was tight. I usually check it every trip when securing the gear

I like the transducer on the trolling motor, but think I will find a different spot for it after this. I already busted one mount last year when I didn't pull the motor up in time while retrieving a lure near the shore, so not going for a third, and possibly more disastrous occurrence!

Yep happened to me too. After a morning of good fishing the wind started blowing pretty good so I decided to head back to the dock. I got about 1 mile from the dock and ran out of gas :( I thought no problem glad I got the trolling motor I'll just troll in. Went to put the trolling motor down (Motorguide) and discover I forgot to put it up.:confused: Turned it on and no movement pulled it up and you guessed it no prop.:eek: Got out the paddle and after about 45 minutes paddling against the wind making no progress with about 20 Bass boats blasting past me:mad: the ranger finally came by and towed me in:o. To top it off I ended up in the hospital the next day and out of commision for a week with a bad back from trying to paddle against the wind. Needless to say the two things I always check is that the gas is full and the trolling motor is up and prop nut is tight!;) My wife still kids me about it to this day.:D
Milo
03-13-2010, 10:02 AM
Radioactive

New prop is on and a Nylock nut is on that puppy this time:o It used to have a three blade prop, but opted for the 2 this time just to see if there is any difference in performance. I noticed that the blades are longer, but don't extend past the skeg so it might have more bite in the water, not that it needed it in the past. If the motor was turned a bit to side when I kicked it in high it would really jerk the boat around, so it didn't lack for power.
Trolling motor races, anyone?:D
03-13-2010, 10:24 AM
beagle man

yep what are the odds