trolling motor problem

chris k

chris k

Active member
Hello all well I have another question once again. I went out on the lake today with my son to do some fishing and hit a log with my trolling motor it happens but this time the boat didn't keep going. When the prop is out of the water it spins fine when its in the water it spins very slow or not at all. Just looking for some info or how to fix before I start working on it just got back from a 2 mile row. Its a 55lb thrust minikota trolling motor
 
Chris,


Back the nut off the shaft, pull the prop and inspect the shear pin. I think you will find it has sheared. Best to carry spares with you on board your boat.
 
Thanks that is what I figured it was just have never had it happen. Going out to tackle it now.
 
Okay I been messing with this thing trying to get the prop off I can not get the nut loose is there a special tool I need I have tried everything and have looked online for an answer and can not find anything that will work please help.
 
Chris,

Is the nut on your motor a metal nut or is it plastic? It should be a low profile wing nut made of black plastic. There is a slot in the end of the shaft which is there for a screw driver to keep the shaft while you spin the nut.

If it is plastic and it will not screw off, then the threads must be stripped in the nut. You should be able to very carefully cut down thru the plastic to split the nut. I would use a sharp wood chisel and line up the edge of the blade with the O.D. of the shaft and push the chisel parallel along the shaft. You may need to do this 180 degrees apart in two places on the nut.

A new plastic nut is not expensive and it doesn't have to be torqued down real tight to hold. Somebody must have over tightened the nut that is on there now.
View attachment prop nut.jpg
 
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and before i catch an ear full the tub of water under it is beacause it runs fine out of the water and i felt like i was going crazy so i had to test it in the water and was not going to carry the motor and btry down to the lake.
 
Chris,
What tool are you using to remove the nut? Is the shaft turning when you turn the nut or is the nut just too tight to loosen?
It looks like someone has used a self-locking steel nut which is ok but you will need something to hold the shaft from turning. As I said before there should be a slot in the end of the shaft for a screwdriver. (I can't tell from your picture if the shaft has a slot or not) Use a screwdriver to hold the shaft and a box end wrench to turn the nut. If a box end wrench will not fit down in the recess then you may have to use a socket on the nut. Only thing is you still need to stop the shaft from turning.


You have two options;
(A) use a socket but grip the socket with a vise grip around the O.D. of the socket. Put the screwdriver down thru the center of the socket to hold the shaft.
(B) use a socket but drive it with an impact wrench. The impact may spin the nut right off with out turning the shaft.
 
yes there is a slot for a screw driver and i have tried that the entire shaft spins. i am going to have a friend try and give me a hand i have had the motor for a year and had no problem with it the guy i bought it off of must have put this nut on it. if i cant get the nut off i was thinking about cutting the prop off so i can get a good hold on the shaft in order to get the nut off. maybe with a second set of hands ill be able to brake it free while he holds the screw driver thanks for the help i cant believe how much of a pain this little nut has become. have you ever heard of a thing called a "prop key" i did a search and found an article that mention a pro key?
 
Chris,
A prop key will not help in this case. The prop key is simply a tool to get a grip on the plastic wing nut which is supposed to be there. I'd highly suggest that you replace the nut that is there with the right nut for the future.
 
i will definetley replace it how do you feel about me cutting the prop off in order to get a good grip in the shaft to remove the bolt. as a last resort effort to repair it.
 
Chris,
Yes, that would be a last resort option. A new prop will set you back around 25 dollars. A small air grinder with a cutoff wheel might be able to slice away one side of the nut with out damaging the threads on the shaft. Might have to slice off two sides to get the nut to release.
View attachment nut.jpg
 
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thats a good idea but i would hate to mess up the shaft accidently cutting into it. i am sure it would cost more to replace the shaft rather the prop
 
Put a screw driver bit on a rachet so you have some leverage to keep the shaft from spinning while you back the not off with a box end wrench. A wrench will win over a screw driver every time.
 
I would lock the head of the motor and prop in that vise surrounded by a towel or old blanket and get a 12pt socket looks like 9/16" some penetrol and a breaker bar also Maybe try reverse thread?
 

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Maybe try reverse thread?

I was just thinking that same thing....
Click to expand...

The threads on this shaft are right handed. Clockwise to tighten--- counterclockwise to loosen. No reverse threads in this situation.
 
I would lock the head of the motor and prop in that vise surrounded by a towel or old blanket
Click to expand...

Yash,
Right now the shaft spins within both the motor and the prop (shear pin is sheared). Locking either or both of these in a vise will not stop the shaft from turning.
 
when i get home i will attempt to cut the bolt off. if i cant seem to make a clean cut ill cut the prop not going to take a chance of destroying the shaft thanks for everyones input on this.
 
I would lock the head of the motor and prop in that vise surrounded by a towel or old blanket
Click to expand...

Yash,
Right now the shaft spins within both the motor and the prop (shear pin is sheared). Locking either or both of these in a vise will not stop the shaft from turning.
Click to expand...
makes sense I didn't even think of that at the time I gotta quit posting while at work LOL. But for that problem if you have access to a welder tack a piece of stock to the end of the shaft and hold it with vise grips? If you have enough meat left?
 
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