Yeah, I will be pulling my old lx5 out for the rest of what’s left in the season. My 3i is jumping the bottom two feet at times which makes it hard to know how deep you’re fishing. Think you know where you’re at, and then it sweeps two feet deeper. Can anyone say frustrated!!
Don’t think I like the display in the direct sunlight. I am a hole hopper. I am also not sure about the battery life as I know the largest unit can push 1 amp/hr draw.
My 3i was fine the first few times but now is jumping more than ever. Bad motor again it would appear. AARRRGGGHHHHH!
Got number two back (motor and transducer this time). In less than a week for repair and working fine now. Glad it was covered outside the warranty window. Don’t think a transducer should also fail after being used maybe 25 times over two years.
Got my unit back yesterday and it worked fine. I am saddened to hear that I still might need help with this same issue on this unit in the future. Two other units to send in for me at the present.
I sent my unit in and noticed that I definitely had something loose that was rattling around in the case. Wondering if that contributed to my issue as it looks like motor timing is the typical reason?
Sending unit in for a new motor. They also are going to fix my 3tc under warranty and it will be $80 for the 5. I shared my love for their technology and disappointment with the reliability (motors, chargers and ducers). The customer rep said they are always trying to improve things. I am feeling that they may be too diversified with too many skus/product lines to keep all these balls in the air at the same time.
Yeah, I was thinking it was the motor. Thought maybe a mount or other technology piece versus the component itself, but I am sure someone will chime in. My ’09 5 only does it occasionally, my son’s does it more frequent and my new 3i does it about 50% of the time. I am concerned that they have not taken care of this issue from their end (design/engineering, components) as I know it has been as issue over the years. I agree that Vex is more reliable overall, but I still love my detail over theirs. Only other issue I have had with Marcum has been with the charger from the 3tc model.
tie direct (loop knot) for my pannies
SM Lazer for me…..light weight, more metal than the honda and the blades last for a long time if you stay out of the dirt. I’m a hole hopper and cant imagine dragging around my old jiffy any more. 
LX5 for me and not looking at my Vex any more. I think that it does boooger some of the Vexs but that is their problem and not something that should keep you from running a great unit.
Number 10/12 Diamond jigs
I think that most machines do well in the cold though there may be some models more challenged. I know that my buddy has a Polaris 500 that he hates (cold blooded, eats belts), but that is just his experience. I personally have an 04 arty 500i (carb). It has never failed me. I even tried pull starting it when it was 20 below a couple years back and second pull fired up w/o even hitting the primer. Good Luck!!
Sounds like some good news on the battery draw side. I have the lx5 and always take along two batteries just in case (7 amp size). The cold really seems to play havoc with the meter/performance. Thanks for the info, James!
I bought mine from Reeds in spring of ’09 for the same $300 bill. I thought about buying more than one at the time as the price was crazy good.
Anyone figuring out how much battery life/time you are going to get with these units? With the 4800 watts I am thinking it might be limited though the screen will save some power I’m guessing over the other units. I know they are sending them with the 9 amp battery so that will help also I’m sure.
After my 20 minute wait on the line with Lowrance the other day, I relayed to the tech rep the sentiment of more and more owners about their support. She said that Lowrance was aware of the issues and was working to make things better. She said that many of the parts for the older units (three years old to me is not that old) are/were produced through subcontracting measures and that with the economy downturn that these parts/companies are not always available. I said that maybe rather than giving a guy a $150 credit toward a $1000 unit that he paid $800 for two years ago, that they may want to do more since it was not my fault?? She said they are striving to do better.
I have 2.1 and have found the mode setting. Will see if this helps when I get out this weekend.
I’ve got a 25c doing the same (not working below 15 feet of water). My lcx 17 does just fine on the ducer, but I’m wondering if it still could be the ducer (the 25’s processor is more finicky than the 17’s ?????)
I don’t remember seeing the fishing mode section….I will look into that as well.
17 works fine all the time, 25 works deeper than 15 feet all the time (including at high speed)
Beautiful fish, congrats! Wife is going to be excited
I’m guessing!!??
What kind of lures are guys using with success out there?? Mt experience is always a tough bite, but I love the quality. Any details, guys?? Thanks in advance.
I know with the freshwater shrimp we would curl the hook into the back from the back and then back through the back from the underside. This seems to keep them on the hook more than one fish. Might use the same approach with these unless they could be threaded.
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I emailed them 2 weeks ago about my LX-5 battery from the Reeds sale and have yet to hear back from them.
I had the same problem with the same issue. After about five more emails, the battery was replaced. In their defense, they may be going through an adjustment period. Still very frustrating when you’re the one involved.
I’ve heard about the plastic flighting breaking in real cold weather. Also had read something about the oil leaking out if left sitting in the wrong position?? I’m more than happy with my regular Lazer. Not worth the extra money for more plastic and no mixing to me.
Just got back from a slowwww day on the pond. No one was out there, so I am guessing that the weekend was slow also? I caught two small eyes, a number of little perch and little tullies. Tried three different flats and ended up leaving early to go panfishing on the way home. I guess I should have been there last week.
The six inch hole would only have a circumference of 18-19 inches. I remember reading that the Red River 33″ greenback had a girth of 25 inches. Something smells fishy?? The hole had to be bigger, didn’t it?? Anyhew, what a beast!!
I rely on the gun racks on the front of the wheeler for the auger. They are spaced apart far enough to hold tightly and then I strap each end in with a heavy load strap. On the back, I take off the Kimpex, put on the deep basket rack and head across the lake. I rarely use the house, but I think I can strap it on the back of the wheeler (I have the basket back there an inch higher than the rack of the wheeler). My gear can go in the house and I will not have to tow the house. By the way, I have the small otter Den house so the profile is very compact. I have never liked pulling a house and equipment across the lake.
