Faulty Ulterra magnets

Well Dale Hollow was a bust. Not because of the fish but my Ulterra trolling motor would not stow. So there I was having to cross a lake that was white capping with the motor sticking straight up in the air. Got back to ramp and went through the manual stow procedure. Got it strapped down and headed home. Called tech support and seems my motor....and many others...have magnets that can fall out. So was told when I take it in they will install new magnets along with whatever else was wrong. Well the service center I have to use told me could be a week or more to get to me and find out what is wrong.....didn't want to be without a boat for that long so fixed it myself. Reseated magnets...reoriented the head and all is good...for now. Just a heads up about the Ulterra with the faulty magnets. If you call with your serial number they can tell you which magnets you have. Since mine is working again going to use it until it breaks again.

Regards

Oh my, how old is your Ulterra? Have they corrected this at the factory or they still building with this flaw? Did they say the replacement magnets will be a permanent fix? Sorry for so many questions but I'm getting ready to install one on a pontoon boat.
Thanks
Kevin

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Originally Posted by Twobrokefarmer

Oh my, how old is your Ulterra? Have they corrected this at the factory or they still building with this flaw? Did they say the replacement magnets will be a permanent fix? Sorry for so many questions but I'm getting ready to install one on a pontoon boat.
Thanks
Kevin

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Mine was bought in August of 2015...it has the old magnets. What concerns me is why would they not do a recall. They have a fix and when a motor goes in there is a service bulletin at the authorised service centers that says to put the new magnets in....so I was told. But there needs to be a recall on that. What happens when warranty runs out and magnets fall out? I am going to call them tomorrow and ask about this. Yes it has been corrected on newer models. They can tell you by the serial number.

Regards

They upgraded mine when I sent it back to the factory. I jammed my stow when I accidentally ran it into the bank. When you've got the stow screen up and you wait too long, the stow button becomes the rabbit button, and this can produce bad results. Anyway, MK repaired mine and had it back to me in about a week. I was very pleased with their service, and really like the Ulterra.

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Originally Posted by rockmike

They upgraded mine when I sent it back to the factory. I jammed my stow when I accidentally ran it into the bank. When you've got the stow screen up and you wait too long, the stow button becomes the rabbit button, and this can produce bad results. Anyway, MK repaired mine and had it back to me in about a week. I was very pleased with their service, and really like the Ulterra.

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I really like mine also....just seems to me they should do a recall. That way I could take it to the service center.....be out of service for a couple of hours instead of a week. I don't want to have to take mine off of the boat and send it in. Since it is working now I don't think Tracker Marine Service Center can help me...they can't fix it if it ain't broke....LOL.

Regards

Exact reason I stayed away from the Ulterra. My Terrovas and now RipTide have never failed to stow. I won't use any TM but MinnKota but I can't afford to be without a TM because of a bad design issue or if I forget to move a rod holder and jam something up. I decided to give them a few years to work out the kinks before I would consider a self-deploy model.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

Exact reason I stayed away from the Ulterra. My Terrovas and now RipTide have never failed to stow. I won't use any TM but MinnKota but I can't afford to be without a TM because of a bad design issue or if I forget to move a rod holder and jam something up. I decided to give them a few years to work out the kinks before I would consider a self-deploy model.

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Understand that....but I have what I have so have to deal with it. Not about to go out and buy a new trolling motor because I have had one issue with it. I fish as much as most guides...maybe more than some....so it has served me well so far. I was able to fix it myself and am back on the water. I am not a guide but since all I do is fish I don't want to be off the water either. Now if I get a series of failures it may be wise to look elsewhere but right now all is good.

Regards

Sure makes it nice for us old folks to not be on the bow of the boat stowing a trolling motor on a rough day.

So exactly what is the "manual stow procedure" for Ulterra ...

Rickie

Called Minn Kota and they informed me depending on serial number of trolling motor there is an update....they don't like to use the term recall. The update is for the magnets and a belt block in the head of unit. I was told to call my service center and inform them. I did that and they told me they would do that and order the parts. But I cannot get same day service on installation....even though it is less than a hour to do the updates. Tracker Marine Service Center does on a first come first serve basis. So boat will have to be left there maybe just a day or two. The good news is I can do this at my convenience.


Regards

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

So exactly what is the "manual stow procedure" for Ulterra ...

Rickie

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Rickie the Ulterra comes with a card for emergency stow procedure. It can be done on the water depending which side trolling motor is on. You have to remove the right hand side plate of the base....two phillips screws....easy enough...but my motor was installed on right side of boat so it was over the water so doing it out on the water was a no go for me. Then there is a 3rd screw on manual release arm that the card instructs you to take out. You lift up on the bottom plate and it will slide right up onto mount. Secure with strap and head home. It took me a while to decipher the instructions but if I had to do it over again it would take all of 5 minutes and I would be on my way.

Regards

I need to check my s/n tomorrow. I have han no problems. I registered mine at purchase for warranty. Shouldn't this be enough to find out about the need to fix?

I have had no problems with my unit. I like. Great for old folks.

I called. MK is sending me some replacement magnets. The glue is not holding so I was told by a MK service tech. I will put them in myself. My work will not void the warranty. No dealer necessary.

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I called. MK is sending me some replacement magnets. The glue is not holding so I was told by a MK service tech. I will put them in myself. My work will not void the warranty. No dealer necessary.

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Not hard to do...wish they had given me the option to do that.

Regards

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Rickie the Ulterra comes with a card for emergency stow procedure. It can be done on the water depending which side trolling motor is on. You have to remove the right hand side plate of the base....two phillips screws....easy enough...but my motor was installed on right side of boat so it was over the water so doing it out on the water was a no go for me. Then there is a 3rd screw on manual release arm that the card instructs you to take out. You lift up on the bottom plate and it will slide right up onto mount. Secure with strap and head home. It took me a while to decipher the instructions but if I had to do it over again it would take all of 5 minutes and I would be on my way.

Regards

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This could be scary when the TM craps out with a wind blowing the boat into riprap ...

This design needs ...well... better design ...

Even Einstein said the impossible just takes longer to figure out ...

I'd be modifying that mess myself ...

Rickie

Getting ready to purchase this afternoon or first thing in the morning. Should the vendors know if they have anything in inventory that still has the old magnets? I hate to buy something brand new that they already know needs a retro fit.
Kevin

I would get serial number off unit you are buying and call Minn Kota. I doubt vendors know anything about this.


Regards


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I have 2 trolling motors mounted on my boat. One on bow and one on aft. I mostly use the aft TM for reverse thrust (if need be). I can hand till or remote the TM aft. 40# thrust, but it will move my Pondtoon boat quiet well.

Reverse thrust is a blessing when mixing spidering and old age,