NEW MINNKOTA QUESTION please help

[jwmiller33]

i have a 55lb maxxum transom mount minn kota trolling motor that i have a question about... earlier this fall, the piece that you tighten and loosen to adjust how deep your shaft is in the water (don't know what it is called) broke. when i tighten it, it doesn't get tight, so my trolling motor is free to move up or down on its own, and it is definitely a problem when i'm driving the boat or even trying to use the trolling motor, because it doesn't stay put in the direction i want to go if i take my hand off the tiller, because that one thing doesn't tighten up.

so i called minn kota and got the replacement part and here it is:

i am confused as to how to swap this part out with the one that is one my trolling motor right now. this part slides onto the shaft of the motor, so you either need to slide it on from the top (by the motor head) or the bottom (by the prop), but i cant figure out how to get either of them off.

here is what my trolling motor looks like right now:

can anybody help me out and tell me which end it is that i can take off to get this new part replaced on the shaft? thanks!

[skyhawk]

Is the bracket actually broke or is the screw knob just missing? I've lost 2 or 3 of them over the years. If knob, its just a 1/4-20 thread and you can pick up a knob at the hardware store or home improvement store. If bracket is actually broken, then i would take off the top and see if you can unplug the wires to the motor. I wouldn't take off the motor end as that has to be waterproof and the chances of resealing that would be slim imho

[jwmiller33]

skyhawk-the threads that the screw thread into are stripped. i have the screw knob and an extra one...

ya that makes sense that the top should come off because the motor end is waterproofed.. i will try to mess around with it today and get back to you and let you know if i figure out how to do it. thanks for the help

[jwmiller33]

i called minn kota this morning and figured it out.. had to take the 6 screws out underneath the top motor head and got the new part switched out

[jwmiller33]

now i am trying to replace the seals on my minn kota and i have a diagram of how everything goes back together... but i cant seem to get the armature to securely go back in with the two bushings that have springs that hold them securely against the part of the armature that sticks out into.

does anybody know a minn kota dealer in the twin cities that works on minn kotas? i would rather just take it to someone and pay to have them do it right, so i'm not back at square one with water in the housing if i try and do it myself unsuccessfully.

if someone knew what they were doing, it would probably only take 5-10 minutes to put it back together. does anybody know a dealer or someone that is familiar with these trolling motors that would be of help to me? thanks for your time

[walleyewild]

Fish Electronics in Fridley, and the Motor Clinic in Bloomington

are the 2 minnKota repair shops in the metro area I know about.

WW

[jwmiller33]

walleyewild-thanks for your help! i called both places and they were both very helpful. problem solved!