Trolling motor problem
 

Hi,
I have a 2006 MinnnKota Riptide 101 hand operated saltwater trolling motor that is beginning to give me some intermittent problems. I have a floor mounted on/off switch and sometimes when I step on the switch the motor does not turn on. When that happens I can hear a slight clicking noise. Can't tell for sure if the noise is coming from the switch or the head of the trolling motor.

Do you think I have a bad switch or something more sinister?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Charlie

Bypass the foot switch and see what happens ...

Hydro

Those foot switches do go bad. They are also the easiest thing to check.

Are you saying I should remove the switch and connect the wires so the motor is constantly on and then turning the motor on and off using the variable speed control handle? I have never removed the switch, does it only have two wires?

Hydro, I appreciate your reply and advice.

Charlie

OK guys, I finally had time to listen to the clicking noise, in a quiet environment, and have determined that the noise is coming from the head of the trolling motor rather than from the switch.

So now my question is....is this noise normal, and I just have never noticed it, or do I have a problem?

Thanks again for any advice you can offer.

Charlie

The switch is an add on, spliced in series to the TM on the positive lead...

You should be able to dig around and see where it was spliced in...

Hydro

IMO.....no the noise is not normal. Several years ago, I heard a "crackling" type sound coming from the head of my trolling motor. It made this noise for 10-15 seconds and then the trolling motor stopped working.

The circuit board inside the head had fried. This TM board also directly connected to the handle. I bought the part [circuit board & handle] on line for $ 100 [$125 locally] and changed it myself.

it is time to go through your connections. You will probably see that you have good voltage, put you are probably not getting the amps you need because of a bad connection. and the bad connection could be anywhere from the battery to the wires in the trolling motor.

I had mine, at one time, connected with 3 foot switches. It was a nightmare trying to keep it running on all the switches. I don't have any right now. I am contemplating adding one......

I spend a cool fortune keeping my motor guide running. One time it was the butt connector in the head. If you haven't went through all the connections lately, I would start there. check voltage first, if you have a way to load test the amps, do that too. then go through all the connections. take apart, clean and lube and put back. when you have gone through them all. retake readings and try it out. The clicking will probably be gone. BTW you need over 36.5 volts for it to work without a hitch. At least my motorguide is finicky with low voltage.

That switch having bad contact will do that in a way. It's not giving your TM a full 12/24v because of the contacts. Test the wire going into your plug with a meter and then from plug to switch and then step on switch and test from switch to tm. Another way is charge your batteries and if the TM has the battery meter check on it then check it and see if its showing a full charge. If not your battery(s) may be bad or dead cell not giving your TM full continuity at all times

Mine was doing that same exact thing today while fishing! I cut the foot push button off and taped the wires together and it worked fine for the rest of the day! Hope this helps

Thanks
 

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Charlie

What was the fix?

mines an 07 and im on my 3rd big foot. thats prob what it is. like everybody said its the easiest to check first

check your wiring up to the tm. ours ended up being our plug on the bow. had to change male and female sides. ours was doing the exact same thing you talking about.

Sorry, I should have told everyone the fix. I have fished a number of times since my original post and have had no problems with the trolling motor switch. My conclusion was that when the problem first appeared I think the boots I was wearing had pretty aggressive soles and I was not making good contact with the switch. After listening to the switch in a quiet environment I was able to still hear the clicking noise but the switch worked every time I pressed it by hand. The comments from some of the responses is that the clicking noise is normal. I had never noticed the noise on the water because it was never quiet enough to hear it.

Thanks again for everyone who took time to offer advice. This forum is a great source of information.

I hope all of you have a great Easter.

Charlie

God I hate big foot switches

U have one on urs? Lol. Hahhhaaa

Its by passed! Worm!

That may be the problem with your Tm. Need more big foot! Big foot or bust. I fish alot solo! It's great for me. I love it.

No my charger is burnt. No big foot and that's one less thing you gotta fix later. Pointless if you ask me.