LX-5 Problems

  • ForrestGump
    Posts: 8
    March 4, 2015 at 3:00 pm #1519646

    The bottom started fluctuating on my Marcum. Now the bottom will constantly move, for ex. between 15-16 feet the bottom red band bounces back and forth. It’s absolutely killing my eyes. I can still see and catch fish but obviously this isn’t normal. I’ve tried it fishing flats and tried using the NBT to no avail. Bottom is constantly moving. Also when I’m fishing 19 ft I try and use the 20ft setting and it wont show bottom. Also zoom seems useless to me on my unit. It doesn’t show the bottom on the left hand side ever and on the right side of the screen it only uses 50% of that side. The bottom is where the 5ft mark is on the unit.

    I’ve only had this unit out SIX times… I’ve taken good care of it after each use and was gentle while using the unit. I know I need to send it in but with maybe five weeks left in the season it couldn’t have come at a worst time.
    Doing some reading this is a huge problem with the LX-5, friends I’ve taken to and other folks have sent there’s in multiple times; sometimes in the same year.
    Where o where is the quality control? I love the features but if the future I have to look forward to with this unit is failure after failure, I’ll go elsewhere. Once my warranties up I’ll be paying around $100 everytime it breaks.
    I’d like to know is there some permanent fix for these motor issues?

    targaman
    Inactive
    Wilton, WI
    Posts: 2759
    March 4, 2015 at 4:15 pm #1519685

    I’ve replaced a motor in a 2006 lx3, a 2010 lx5, and a 2012 vx1p. Same thing you are describing. Needless to say I’ve lost confidence in the product.

    dairycat
    Posts: 169
    March 4, 2015 at 4:32 pm #1519693

    I had the same problem first time out this year. Quick fix from Marcum, new motor. BTW unit was brand new.
    Chad

    benelli-bob
    Eagan, MN
    Posts: 311
    March 4, 2015 at 5:09 pm #1519703

    Forrest
    Sorry to hear your having issues if it means anything I have the following units and all have worked perfect.
    LX-5
    LX-7
    Showdown 5.6 DB
    Troller 2

    I’m sure the guys at Marcum will take good care of you. I would not have bought this many Marcum products if they were not reliable. The LX5 is the one I purchased first and it has not had an easy life.

    WarEagle
    Posts: 210
    March 4, 2015 at 6:43 pm #1519749

    I have had an LX-5 since 2003 and it has performed flawlessly!

    Kent Tau
    Posts: 205
    March 4, 2015 at 7:49 pm #1519778

    There is no permanent fix. It will wear out and you’ll have to fix it again. Its just a matter of when. Many that didn’t have much issues, own their unit from at least 4 years ago. So the older units seemed better.

    My lx3tc were the same as yours. New at the beginning of the season. Had both the motors on both units replace at the end of season.

    archerj
    NULL
    Posts: 51
    March 4, 2015 at 8:20 pm #1519792

    forrest I feel your pain I have an older 5 that started doing that in 2013. It has been back to Marcum 6 times since for the same thing. I just got it back last week in fact. I used it last weekend and it worked fine, but I really doubt it will last. There were times they sent it back and within a few minutes it did it again. Last year alone I sent it in I think 4 times. Customer service has been pretty good (with the exception of not fixing it). I paid the service upgrade fee only once, and they have covered shipping a few times, and it has always been fast service. I’m guessing its a matter of a junk part from overseas, but it shouldn’t take years to rectify.

    Mine will actually change the noise it makes as it starts to fail. there was a couple times I thought I had a diesel motor in mine )

    I said last year that if it failed again that I would sell it and buy a vexilar, but I haven’t done it yet. When it works its awesome!

    ForrestGump
    Posts: 8
    March 5, 2015 at 12:50 pm #1520135

    I don’t understand it at all. There’s a huge problem with this motor in this product, possibly 1000s of people sending them in repeatively each year and nothing has changed in the quality? What’s the real deal Marcum…
    I got the lx-5 over the lx-6 or lx7 because I thought I’d have less problems not more. Anyone own either the lx6 or lx7? Any serious problems with those units?

    Not sure if it’s worth getting it fixed if it’ll just keep breaking. I really enjoy the features but you can’t claim to be the best if you don’t preform the best.

    Mudshark
    LaCrosse WI
    Posts: 2973
    March 5, 2015 at 1:35 pm #1520152
    ForrestGump wrote:

    I don’t understand it at all. There’s a huge problem with this motor in this product, possibly 1000s of people sending them in repeatively each year

    You really need some kind of numbers to prove this is the case….until then it’s all is’s just conjecture….

    I would estimate,based on the 3 ice fishing sites I go to,the number might be in the hunderds…but that is conjecture also…

    Every company says it’s the best…..it’s called marketing…It’s up to us,the consumer,to pick what works for us……

    ForrestGump
    Posts: 8
    March 5, 2015 at 1:50 pm #1520159

    I get it and I love the product but I don’t want to keep setting myself up for failure. In my opinion, there products are the best feature wise.
    I know the customer service is great and that’s why I asked about problems with the lx6 or lx7 because I’d like to look into trading mine in or selling it and paying the difference for one of those units.
    Just having a rough season; Failing augers, units, hubs, drills, and countless others.

    crappie55369
    Mound, MN
    Posts: 5757
    March 5, 2015 at 2:27 pm #1520175

    i own an lx-5 and it took a dump on me this year after 2 seasons. marcum fixed it for free (which i would expect). became disillusioned and considered switching to vex and heard from a few people the new vex is nothing to write home about. im starting to accept that there is no “perfect” product out there and as a consumer you just hope your unit lasts. im not done with marcum and i appreciate that they fixed it for free but im no longer a card carrying, chest punping marcum advocate. When working though the LX-5 is a great unit!!

    Mudshark
    LaCrosse WI
    Posts: 2973
    March 5, 2015 at 2:45 pm #1520183

    Your right I think…There is no perfect…

    I’m an advocate of buying the best I can…no matter who makes it….for now its Marcum…but if someone come out with a superior product I’ll be all over it… wave

    Everything seems to be gamble now…..

    Doug Larsen
    Minnesohtah
    Posts: 630
    March 5, 2015 at 2:55 pm #1520186

    I stuck with Marcum this year after many issues and got a smoking deal on an LX6 – I have 2 years of warranty so I guess the features are worth the pain for me but there is an issue for sure with Quality Control. Is the Marcum agreement with Rapala like the agreement with Otter that just expired or did Rapala actually purchase Marcum and take over manufacturing?

    I don’t like to speculate but that is what it “feels” like with a race to the bottom.

    Andy Fiolka
    Boise, Idaho
    Posts: 543
    March 5, 2015 at 3:23 pm #1520205

    Rapala and Marcum only have a marketing agreement. They are still two independent companies.

    Ryan N
    Posts: 28
    March 5, 2015 at 3:32 pm #1520208

    I bought a LX-5 as a backup to my LX-7. I’ve used it a few times just to check it out and I really like it. However, it did make a trip back to Marcum because it had bad brushes. I was getting a serious delay with the lure. I have used it since and it seemed to work.

    I’ve used the LX-7 all winter and so far it’s been really good. I really like it.

Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.