Problem with Electric motor

[Toni]

I was fishing Clear Lake today and was going on the fastest speed on the electric motor when it start to wobble (vibrate). I stopped it lifting it out of the water to see what was wrong. I didn't see anything. I put it back down and turned it on but the vibration was really bad so I watched the propeller. It was barely turning even though I was on 5. I paddled a ways. Then these nice people came by and asked if I needed a tow. So I got in quicker.

Does any one know what might be wrong? Came home and took the prop off. There was nothing in it.

[fishingmachine]

Same problem happened to me last night it makes a grinding noise when i go.

[Toni]

No grinding noise here at all. My son got it to run by by-passing the switch (its transmission). But that doesn't even work now.

[papamike]

you could have lost a seal and got water in the motor

[EastsideRedneck]

If it is an older motor, one of the brushes may have worn out/chunked off... has it gotten knoocked around or abused lately? Another thought is if you recently changed how far it sits in the water, on my early 90's M-K w/ a stainless shaft it will wildly wobble at the highest speed setting if most of the shaft length is on the water end.

[ChrisB]

Is the brass pin that connects the prop to the propshaft still intact ???

[Toni]

you could have lost a seal and got water in the motor

Didn't see any water or even moisture.

[Toni]

If it is an older motor, one of the brushes may have worn out/chunked off... has it gotten knoocked around or abused lately? Another thought is if you recently changed how far it sits in the water, on my early 90's M-K w/ a stainless shaft it will wildly wobble at the highest speed setting if most of the shaft length is on the water end.

Everything inside looked good, to my untrained eye. No it has not been abused. It sits the same as it always does. It ran at the highest speed for between 5-10 minutes. That was the only thing that I did different.

[Toni]

Is the brass pin that connects the prop to the propshaft still intact ???

That pin was there. If I were to imagine the pin coming out, that is what the vibration felt like.

[papamike]

Like eastside said it could the brushes inside the motor. can you turn it by hand? if it feels rough or is bound up it might need brushes. or the switches up by the top might be broken or just loose. the top cover comes off easy enough if you have a meter you could check the connections. there should be electric motor shops in your area if your not sure how to check the wires.

[Toni]

Like eastside said it could the brushes inside the motor. can you turn it by hand? if it feels rough or is bound up it might need brushes. or the switches up by the top might be broken or just loose. the top cover comes off easy enough if you have a meter you could check the connections. there should be electric motor shops in your area if your not sure how to check the wires.

Yes, I turned it by hand. That is ok. He took the top off and everything was connected.
He by-passed the switch (which is the transmission) to go directly to the battery and the prop turned fine but then it stopped. My thought was that it might have had a voltage regulator in the thing that tripped with the direct current.

There is suppose to be a place in Yelm that works on Minnkota motors. I called and it was an answering machine and I left a message but no call back yet. I called yesterday about 3pm. The other place is in Shoreline. That is quite a distance from me.

I had hoped that someone had also had this problem and could say "well the switch costs $150 for labor and all. Might as well get a new one."

[HillbillyGeek]

I know exactly what's wrong because I have the same problem.

The vibration is not coming from the motor. It is being caused by a small gap between the lower shaft bushing and the shaft itself. It doesn't look like a permanent fix will be easy. I was thinking about trying to cram something into the gap as a short-term solution.

Here's a pic:

[HillbillyGeek]

Ok, I read your original post again and it looks like your problem isn't just vibration. Losing power is an entirely different problem (assuming your battery is charged and you have good connections). Buying a new motor might be your best option.

Sounds like you've already checked the prop. They sometimes get fishing line twisted around the drive shaft which can cause MAJOR problems. Eventually the twisted blob of line will chew through the seals and your motor will fry. (Braided line is the worst.)

[northfork]

Just a thought. Maybe the bearings/ bushings. Does the shaft have a lot of side to side or back and forth play in it?
It may only vibrate when it is under a load, as in pushing water.
if the bearings are going out it will also take out the brushes.
If theres a lot of slop in the shaft it won't be worth repairing.

[Toni]

Well since it won't turn the prop any more there isn't any back and forth play.
Anglers Choice in Yelm didn't call me back. They are a registered service place for Minnkota.

My son and I went to Sportco last night and got a new 46lb thrust motor. Took it out tonight at Harts Lake. No fish to bring home but we didn't have to row the boat.

Thank you all, for your help.