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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.
What is the model of your Trolling motor and have you contacted Minn Kota with this issue??
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.
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 .
I got tired of the crap too. Made my own. Still working too. You want the drawing? I got kinda sofisticated with my stuff.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z..._1292Small.jpg
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.
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
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 .......
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.
you wanna steer with a toggle switch? I can make 1 toggle switch steer the boat.
Is it momentary? Yeah, that works. Maybe it's something I can pickup local? Or, stick on top of the circuit board with a couple of popsicle sticks left and right under the Minn Kota peddle. I bet I could rig that. Those springs are old hat for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
Disconnect the wires to the steering motor and hook motor to the switch center pins.
wire power and ground on both ends of the switch with opposite polarity. Fuse 12v at 3A.
The motor has locked rotor current of 1.2A typical. Radio Shack #275-709
I drew this with paint on my laptop. I ain't too good at finger painting.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
Simple enough a beaver could do it.
And that switch goes both ways? (unlike me) What's another switch within reach of me. The switch I used for the LSS-1 was one of the extras I ordered when I built the boat. It's a Green LED Marine switch and it wasn't too hard to wire since I had 6 others to look at. I just didn't have room on my original switchboard and stuck in by my AHH-OOOO-GAH horn button.
Thanks! Now I gots me a new project, the cool thing about it is that I can wire the thing so that if I ever get another foot control, I can save the modified by just unplugging it. Maybe I should just re-work the entire thing and mount it so I can operate it with my knee. First knee controlled TM on the market!
Switch has to be a double pole double throw center off momentary. That what this switch is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
Wire needs to be 22 guage or bigger (not larger).
You could possibly splice the circuit motor wires into the existing wires and not disconnect the steering motor. That way you could use either the switch or the foot control to steer. Bu
it I wouldn't suggest doing this yet.
You read my mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
I can't edit my previous post. Ignore it.
Call me before you decide to splice. I will need to check a couple of things first. May have to use a toggle switch to select which to use.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
pm sent, or you can call me while I still awake.
I will call tomorrow. Got to stop and help Brenda with exercises and dress her for bed. 20 year ago, it woulda been fun..haQuote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper
I have an rt70apcp to be here any day and it doesn't come with a pedal, but does come with the co pilot. After seeing this, I'm not so sure I need to spend the money for a self destruct piece of ....gear. If you all had it to do over, knowing the options stated in this post, would you spend the $ for a pedal? I'm not against home grown solutions. CP, where do I get the pedals for your system? It looks like I might need to start getting my parts together.
Skeet, my MK is an older unit. I didn't find any recent issues of newer models having troubles. Most foot control problems are with the older units. I think it was just a poor design. But, there are several issues about the turning and speed controls if you do a search. Here's another member with the same issue on an older MKTM.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/kansa...ml#post1481091
I found a remote setup for $100, but I don't want one. I like the hands free version.
Looks as if this problem has been ignored by Johnson Outdoors Minn Kota division. Their only fix is to buy a new foot control. At $70 a pop, it's getting expensive trying to keep a $500 trolling motor functional. The steering issue doesn't even cover the Auto Pilot for the year model I have. If I choose to use it, I better be right next to the TM. With no notice at all, it will start spinning erratically on it's own. So, one of the main options I bought this motor in the first place is virtually worthless.
If anyone wants to Dog a Customer Service when having problems, I would suggest dogging Minn Kota. I've yet to hear back from them and have read other articles where people are still waiting for a response. I guess I'll have to call them.
Skeet, I can't remember. Boat is at the lake, but I can't get away right now. The switches were made by Linemaster. They are industrial type switches. Plastic type, but sturdy. I believe they are aqualines. They are not sealed and use a real microswitch for contacts.
I will get the info when I get to the lake and look at what I did.