Trolling motor just clicking, not turning

Hello,

I’m having issues with the trolling motor. It started a like a year ago, it will randomly not work, I will push the GO button on the foot pedal and it just clicks with no go. It’s a 74lb thrust new minnkota with 24volt setup. I’ve always fixed the problem by cleaning the posts on the batteries or just recharge the batteries, but this time, it’s not working. We had some place install everything about a year or so ago, some place in Blaine, I think, off of Central Ave, again I think, something like FISH-LECTRONIS or something like that. Sorry, that’s all I can remember.

But the trolling motor, what could be the deal, I checked all the circuit breakers, it has those shortcircuit stoppers right at the batteries, so that isn’t the deal. Trolling motor will rotate, just will not turn the propellor. Any help or a place here in Minnesota, close to the Woodbury area would be great. Thank You… I need it by May 20th for the FOM tourney on Balsam Lake.

If this is a power drive model, my first guess would be a bad pedal. Those PD pedals poop out pretty frequently, and I’ve had at leaast one instance that sounded just like the symptoms you’re experiencing.

The good news is that a new pedal will fix your problems….they’re about $65. Maybe you could borrow a buddy’s PD pedal (or a pedal from the place that did your install) and see if your problems disappear…if so, replace the pedal and away you go.

Thanks, I’ll try that, I do believe it’s one of those cheap pedals. the Minnkota powerdrive

On mine when the conection gets bad it will turn but have no juice.
I have to wire brush the crap out of the connections every couple months even when they look good.

Time for a co-pilot

Hold on a second…I’m confused .

You said you have a new 74 pound thrust, 24V Minn Kota in your original post. First, the only 74# trolling motor Minn Kota made was the 74 Maxxum, 24V. I say “made” because as of last year Minn Kota doesn’t make any 74# motors. They all went to 80 and 101’s.

So, if it is in fact a 74#, then you have a Maxxum and not a Power Drive. That would mean your pedal is made to steer your motor with CABLES and not electronics. The way you can tell is by the height of the pedal. The PD pedal is very low profile only being an inch or two off the deck. The Maxxum pedal is tall, in the range of 5-7″ off the deck.

The guys are right though, the electrical boards in the Power Drive’s pedal have failed on occasion, but you said this is new so it will certainly be covered by a warrantee.

One thing is certain though, you ARE getting power to the motor so it is not a breaker issue.

I have owned both of these motors and can probably help if I know exactly what you have.

You know, after re-reading your post… I had a 74 Maxxum (3 years ago) loose all speed control. It was 100% or 0%. When I took it in to my regular Minn Kota guy, he also changed the GO button on the pedal because they were having issues with them not working. I told him mine was fine but he changed it to the upgraded button anyway because it was under warrantee…

One more thing, I don’t know how close to Rochester you are, but….

I once had a motor break on me while pre-fishing for a tournament in Wabasha, MN and had to trailer all the way to Rochester to a place called Lake Sonic because they were the closest authorized repair center. Long drive…great people though.

If you live any where near Bloomington MN, you can certainly bring it to here:
Motorclinic
They fixed my trolling motor last summer. Told me it would take 3 days, it took 3 hours.

You can go to the Minnkota website to find a close dealer and take it to an authorized dealer. If its under 3 years old (i think its 3) it will be under waranty. I had the same thing happen to a maxxum 74 and they put in a new circuit board and also upgraded the go pedal to the new one- sounds like what they did with dnort’s. Shouldnt cost you a cent under waranty.

My bad… I just went out to the garage to look… it’s a 65lb thrust PowerDrive with the cheap foot pedal, that’s electric.
So you’re thinking it’s just the foot pedal and it needs to be replace. I think this would be my 4th pedal then… 3 with the old PowerDrive and now this would be the 1st for the new PowerDrive… When I finally get a bass boat, it’s obviously going to have a Maxxum.
The other pedal problems were due to other reasons… like sand getting under the pedal and making things not work, then other various things.

Ditch the electronic steering if you want durability and reliability… . Maxxum all the way!

I also replaced the foot pedal on my PD 65 within the last 2 years. Last weekend, my TM would turn but not spin the propelor. You may have already tried this, but I unplugged the foot pedal and plugged it back in (wiggling it around some). It began to work again. I’m assuming I had a bad connection in my plug in for the foot pedal. I’m not looking forward to replacing my TM. Those babies are expensive. KK

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Ditch the electronic steering if you want durability and reliability… . Maxxum all the way!

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Yeah, I know… If I had the extra $500 for the Maxxum, I would of gotten that. But since I’m only in a 18foot Lund. Spending money on the Maxxum just didn’t seem appropriate. When/If I finally get a Z Comanche, I will get the best, obviously. 60thousand dollar boat, here I come.

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I also replaced the foot pedal on my PD 65 within the last 2 years. Last weekend, my TM would turn but not spin the propelor. You may have already tried this, but I unplugged the foot pedal and plugged it back in (wiggling it around some). It began to work again. I’m assuming I had a bad connection in my plug in for the foot pedal. I’m not looking forward to replacing my TM. Those babies are expensive. KK

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Yeah, I had the same problem, and it wasn’t the first time it has happened. Maybe like the 4th time with two different electric Minnkota trolling motors. I think they should seriously upgrade those pedals.

I have tried everything to make it work, but this time, it just doesn’t seem to want to turn the propellor.