Anybody had issues with their minnkotas? Been through about 5 of them now. It’s all been the electronic control module that have been needing replacing over and over again. So I just keep upgrading to a better one. Was Finally able to get a fortrex just for it to be a burnt up motor that was hardly used. Should I switch to motorguide or keep giving minnkota a try?

I’ve only had minnkota the last 15 years.

The fortrex I had, I had problems with the bushings, the whole mount/arm was always kind of sloppy, but worked. Only other thing I ever had was a wire to the foot petal corroded and lost connection, that was an easy fix.

My Ultrex was 6 years old when I replaced it. Put derlin bushings in a few years ago and solved the pivot bushing issue. Switched to a Quest last November and loved it until a magnet broke in the motor last week. Should have a replacement motor next week.

Curious, when you are done fishing do you remove the power to the TM? Not simply turning it off, but completely disconnecting the trolling motor from the batteries when your charging them? Have not heard of someone having this many issues with main boards. I know several people with MK products, and knock on wood haven't heard of this issue. Everyone I know has a disconnect switch between their TM and the batteries. I have a plug, and it is pulled when I charge.

You should always turn the breaker off before charging. Even though the power switch on the motor is off there is still power going to it. Charging voltage can damage the circuit boards specially on spotlock.

Yes I do. I always disconnect it as soon as I get off the water and don’t plug it in until I get on the water. So it’s always disconnected when charging

You’re bound to have something wired incorrectly, I’ve never read of this problem and I’m all over these electronics pages.

Are you running lithiums?

Having trouble with my ultrex replaced cable and armature,now when you press pedal either way between 90 and 180 degrees it has a mind of its own and takes off. Then the pedal is stuck all the way down and you have to turn head manually to get pedal unstuck. Thought it was steering sensor under pedal replaced it and still same thing.Guess I need to look at control control board. Should have just bought a new one and all and all would probably bought another Minn Kota these motors get a lot of abuse! As far as turning off breaker seems like Skeeter would have put it in an easy spot to access if it was necessary. Anybody got any help on my ultrex I would appreciate it.

Been using Minn Kota since 2009... Only problem I've ever had was water in the motor... I hit a log at a pretty good speed and cracked the composite shaft above the motor. On my most recent Fortrex the cable jacket became brittle and cracked in 3 places... I've always charged my batteries and never unplug the trolling motor, sometimes I remember to turn the side switch to off, but rarely... I've have had lithiums for the last 2 years without any problems... If you're having these problems and it all on the same boat, you've got something wired incorrectly... Dan

Bought my Skeeter used in 2013 with a new 24v 80# Fortrex and have put it through he77. Have replaced bushings once and the directional arrow.....that's it. Still works great.

Never had an issue..... last 2 are Maxxum Pro and a 24/80/52 Ultrex

/\this/\ Been doing that for 2 decades....

had nothing but minn kota for decades, last was a 112# fortrex and it was running great when I sold it and went with garmin.

if you do swap out, go garmin, they are worth the extra imo. had a couple of problems with my force, one of the first in Texas at the time and their customer service was outstanding.

they replaced the entire tm when I had a pc break while programming the compass, it was a defect in the programming.

I have been real happy with mine.

Hop along, do you think Garmin mount/arm is better? I always hated my fortrexs bushing falling out