Ulterra issue

FYI: the I was coming in today in some big waves on lotw. Hit a nasty wave and a plastic nut on a worm gear that is for the stow and deploy broke and the motor self deployed. That equaled a bad day. Had to lay on the front of the bow in 4-5′ waves to try to lift the motor up vertically and tie it up so I could get in. I called fishlectronics to tell them to order the part so they have it when I get back into town. They said no problem they have plenty already in stock. My guess is, it an issue for several people. I will buy a couple, so if it happens again I will have it and it won’t screw a trip or tournament.

There is a very good repair shop in International Falls, if you are up there for a while might want to check if they have the part.

I’m headed home today and fishlectronics said they have several. Hopefully it is just that part and nothing else.

mojogunter wrote:

. Had to lay on the front of the bow in 4-5′ waves to try to lift the motor up vertically and tie it up so I could get in. I

Easy to imagine this in my head and looks terrible. Glad ya got back alright with motor.

mojogunter wrote:

FYI: the I was coming in today in some big waves on lotw. Hit a nasty wave and a plastic nut on a worm gear that is for the stow and deploy broke and the motor self deployed. That equaled a bad day. Had to lay on the front of the bow in 4-5′ waves to try to lift the motor up vertically and tie it up so I could get in. I called fishlectronics to tell them to order the part so they have it when I get back into town. They said no problem they have plenty already in stock. My guess is, it an issue for several people. I will buy a couple, so if it happens again I will have it and it won’t screw a trip or tournament.

Coming into Arnesons? We were the Skeeter right behind ya. Nasty ride coming across the lake. Ive seen a terrova come loose on my buddies boat and rip the whole motor off but didn’t realize it could happen on the ulterra.

Do you happen to have a picture of the part? I just bought a 2019 trophy 185 with an ulterra and could see myself doing this!

Years ago had a Motorguide with the spring loaded “claw” type retainer semi-deploy on my Ranger in heavy waves while running the backwaters. The waves caused the TM to bounce in just the right rhythm for the retainer to release and the motor raised half way in the air. I was alone and knew if I slowed down it would deploy, but speeding up didn’t lay it back down either. Bad words and slowed down and then wrestling with the clutch to release to straighten the motor from being tucked under the hull so I could stow it – all the while bouncing in the waves and drifting down the side channel.

So yes, I second the recommendation to add something to LOCK the TM down in heavy waves – if this plastic part failed once, the next one will also likely fail.

Yes that was me in front of you. I had it secured down with minnkota mount. That didn’t hold and it still slid forward.

I will take a picture of it and post it tomorrow.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Wouldnt you lock your motor down with a ram mount or something in conditions like this?

I had always used a RAM trolling motor support with my Terrovas, but stopped using them with the Ulterra – essentially because with the Terrova I was walking up front anyway to deploy the motor so it was no big deal to apply/remove the RAM support. Now that that I don’t have to walk up front with the Ulterra I stopped using the support. I’ve convinced myself it wouldn’t self-deploy due to the motor holding it up, but I guess I should re-think that idea. I don’t know if I’ll add the RAM support, but raising it up to maximum height before stowing would keep it out of the water even if it did inadvertently deploy…

After repairing the ulterra I think two waves ended up doing the damage. The first wave pulled the trim belt out at the bottom. With no belt holding the shaft in place, the motor slid forward past where it rests on the base. On the next wave with the motor past the end of the base the force put on the deployment worm gear plastic nut breaking that and bending the bracket. All this being said my minnkota support only is good to keep the head from slamming into the top of the boat rail and does nothing to hold the shaft from going forward. I will have to buy a new support that firmly holds it place. If you fish big water and have an ulterra, you may want to look into a support arm too. The picture is where the plastic piece was broken out of the bracket. The bracket was bent as well.

Michael C. Winther wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
Wouldnt you lock your motor down with a ram mount or something in conditions like this?

I had always used a RAM trolling motor support with my Terrovas, but stopped using them with the Ulterra – essentially because with the Terrova I was walking up front anyway to deploy the motor so it was no big deal to apply/remove the RAM support. Now that that I don’t have to walk up front with the Ulterra I stopped using the support. I’ve convinced myself it wouldn’t self-deploy due to the motor holding it up, but I guess I should re-think that idea. I don’t know if I’ll add the RAM support, but raising it up to maximum height before stowing would keep it out of the water even if it did inadvertently deploy…

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What year of ulterra is this? Not sure if my 2019 is the same. Right now I’m using the strap that comes with it and tying it down to the rail on my trophy

It is a 2019 Ulterra. Here is a picture of the broken part, and the replacement parts installed.

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Here is the support I have.

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I had to repair my 2017 Terrova due to some broken plastic bushings and steering parts. After seeing this and others complain about broken plastic parts I think minnkota may have sourced a lot of their parts to a subpar plastic molding co.

There’s places plastic just shouldn’t be.

Red Eye wrote:

There’s places plastic just shouldn’t be.

I don’t disagree but my point is that parts that were not breaking in the previous generation are now as frail as a dragon flys wing.