Vantage problems

[WaveWacker]

With the soft water season long gone for me, it's time to take inventory of things that need a little fixing on "the rig". Biggest issue started at the end of the season. My Minnkota Vantage started a little squealing and then slight grinding noise down in the lower unit. Happened even when out of the water. Took it apart, pulled shaft, wiped things down (not that there was anything to wipe down). No signs of any water in the lower unit at all. Put it back together and no noise. Sweet right? Well, the next trip out it started doing it again. Any ideas as to what it may be and/or how difficult to fix? I could take it in to the authorized service guy in the neighboring town but being halfways handy (or think I am is probably more true) thought that I may try to tackle it myself.

Thanks

[Casey Sunsdahl]

check or replace the bearing on the armature.. or if it is a bushing lube it up.. check that the brushes are wearing ok (should be cupped the shape of the armature).. make sure that no wires are rubbing (sometimes happens on 80 and 101 lb motors)..

[minneman]

Sounds close to what mine was doing this spring, turned out to be a loose magnet, luckly it wasnt broken ($$$), and was reglued in place. $80 for the fix and a once over on the whole unit. also found a loose screw that would sometimes cause a jam on the up/down mech, been working great ever since.

[Phred52]

Hey WaveWacker, If this is your 'down time', I'd suggest you contact Minnkota directly. Come on south and do some shopping while they rebuild your troller. They're in Mankato, Mn.,Cust/ walk in service is GREAT! You have Mankato (Scheels and Gander Mtn), Owatonna (Cabelas and Mills Fleet Farm) to shop while you wait . Chances are, you won't get out of Mankato before Minnkota's done. They'll go over your motor thoroughly and give it back like NEW!! If you take the motor apart on your own, that'll void the warranty. Phred52

[WaveWacker]

It's a 2001 74lb model so warrenty is not a question. Just so that I'm clear on the vocab. FV can you explain more as to what parts (and where located) the armature, bushing and bearing all pertain to? Thanks a lot.

[delcecchi]

The Armature is the big steel thing with copper wire wound around it that spins inside the motor.

It has a shaft through the middle of it. Each end rides in a bearing of one kind or another. Also on that hunk of stuff is a commutator that controls the flow of current to the wires. The brushes are blocks of carbon that press against the commutator.

Sometimes ball bearings are used and sometimes just a sleeve called a bushing is used to support a shaft.

Inside the housing so that they are very close but not touching are a bunch of permanent magnets that are glued to the housing.

There are various seals and orings to keep water out.

If you want to know how it works, look up DC motors on one of the educational sites. I can't do it without drawing pictures and waving hands.

[Phred52]

WaveWacker, My Powerdrive was eating up my batteries so I hauled it over to Minnkota. The tech first ran it in his test tank (with an amp meter in line), then he opened the motor up, totally dismantled it, inspected it, took readings with his meter, reassembled it (replacing the all the seals and lubing some points) and then again test ran it for 2 hours or so. It's a 1996 vintage motor, this was in 2004 or '05. Total cost, $25.00, and my gas driving to Mankato. Never was a warranty question. If you open your motor up and find something, repairs will all be coming out of your pocket. I have NOTHING but praise for the Customer Service and Techs over there. Phred52