autopilot spinarama

[leechlake]

The minnkota autopilot on my boat at times has a mind of it's own. Always in big waves but also on glass the thing will be working fine and then it loses it's heading and starts spinning. I stop it and exactly 3 seconds later it starts spinning again, I stop it count to 3 and again the spinning. It's done it in Minnesota, SD, and Canada so I don't think it's some sort of issue with magnetic fields in the area. Any answers would be great.

[Dave]

From previous threads, I think they stated there's a circuit board inside that's gone bad.

[crestliner17]

Bring it to a mincota dealer, I had the same problem and they reset the pots (voltage) and it has worked since ($20.00 fix) I was also told if it loses its marbles there is a $80.00 part that will repair it, an additional $20 to install. I would recommend the service center on their HSOforum located in Hutchinson, he is a trained service person and does it out of his garage. Great serivce and honest.

Mg

[Moose-Hunter]

Leech...

I'm sorry, but I have to chuckle a bit here. I know how maddening it must be to have this happen. However, I can't help but see the visual on this.

You're just motoring along. Tending to the matters at hand. And then...... Z-I-N-G......

Although the trip a Minnkota service center will probably solve the problem, but have you thought of possibly contacting an excorsist? Seems they had pretty good luck with spinning heads in a movie I once saw. LOL!!!

All in good fun, pal. I hope you get this problem solved.

[leechlake]

Moose, the minnkota is still a far cry from the fire in the portable this winter. I also think I got a new feature from minnkota...the oscilating fan feature, back and forth back and forth.

[tomfromblaine]

OK I just have to ask what happened in the portable??

[leechlake]

tom, I tried to find this in the fm archives with not much luck, I finally typed in FIRE and found it:

Triple Play...got that beat. I moved my portable one day. Started the Mr Heater cooker/heater up and went to set a tip up. Minutes later I notice an orange glow coming from the portable. I unzipped and witness a nice sized fire which occurred because the hose to the propane was touching the medal of the heater. After a moment of panic I put the fire out. The hose was ruined. So...I then attached a 1 pound propane tank to the heater and commenced fishing. About 4 minutes later the heater got really cooking and started the rubber residue that was still on the heater on fire again. I kind of panicked and attempted to throw the heater into a hole, it bounced off of the ice and then blocked my exit (the other side of the house had a frozen zipper. I put the fire out luckily without injury... packed up and went home before I really hurt myself.