Hey I have a minn kota that worked great for the longest time but now it is not working.  i will admit that it sat all most of the winter outside uncovered.  I pulled the top off of it and checked the top connections for corrosion but there was none.  COuld my problem be somewhere else, like down in the bottom of the motor close to the prop?  What about the thing in the head of the troiling motor on top where all of the wires come in?  What is that thing and could that be the problem?  I have never messed with a troiling motor before so I wanted to ask you guys first.  I have plenty of tools but I lack the knowledge to accurtely diagnose the problem.  It makes no noise, but when you move the connectors around on the battery they spark a lil.  With that I figure power is at least going to the motor just not being transferred to the prop.  Oh yeah sometimes it will kick on just for a second.  ANy help would be great.  

Sorry this was so long

Thanks for the help guys. ;D

Buy you a cheap digital voltmeter that will read at least 24 volts DC and make sure you are getting voltage at the connections in the top of the motor.  If not, start tracing backwards until you find the bad connection.  It could be in your plug, your battery connections, or the foot control.  It could even be a broken wire but that is not likely.  Since it sat uncovered all winter, I would suspect the connections in the foot control, the male, or the female plug.  Since it will come on momentarily, it sounds like a loose or bad wiring connection.  You could just try wiggling things and you may find it that way.  Good luck and let us know what you find.

What kind of Minkota is it? If its a power drive/autopilot I would bet it is the petal. That is why I got rid of my minkota, I was replacing the foot petal almost every year if not twice a season.

Its not the one with the pedal.  It is bow mounted but has a handle on it to control the direction and power level.  I do have a voltmeter I can hook up to it to check the power.  Good ideas guys thanks.  Ill let you know if I can get it going and what was wrong with it.  If anyone else has an itching desire to help feel free.

Sounds like the battery terminals are corroded thats very bad.

Garnet

No, the battery terminals are fine.  Its a new battery.  The trolling motor connectors are still silver even.

Check if the motor will work on high bypass. Just a light probe and start checking for current.

Garnet

Check if the motor will work on high bypass. Just a light probe and start checking for current.

Garnet

High Bypass??  How would I set that test up

Some have a setting called high bypass. If not check ever speed setting. Also take a stick or something and turn the prop 1 full turn. Don't do with your fingers you might loss them.

If it will operate at 1 setting and not others it's the board (expenive). If you make a turn with the prop and it starts working you have a dead spot in your motor most times can be repaired but can be new motor.

Garnet

i recently picked up a used 30# minn kota, but it was for salt water.  the problems sounds like the exact same problems we were having.

at first we throught it was the prop that was coming loose, so we changed that, along with new hardware.  you can pick it up for $15 at a local sportstore.

unfortunately it was not that.

since i picked up the trolling motor for $20, i decided it was such a small price that i could take it apart and see what the problem was.

like you, if i gave the thing a shake, it would turn on.  in the beginning, it would turn on for a long period of time.  as time went by, the power disconnection happened more frequently, and for longer periods of time.

i gave up and took it apart.

i noticed inside the prop area there is this thing that spins [sorry i dont really recall what it looks like].  i think it was round and has 2 wires coming out from it.  well 1 wire was basically worn out, so i assume that was the thing that was causing the loose connection.  looks like a simple fix.

if the repairs are 50% of the cost of a new motor, i would suggest getting a new one.  like me, you dont want to be stuck out on the lake without a trolling motor.

good luck

Hey thanks guys.  I still have not worked on this thing, I have been busy.  I will work on it first thing in the morning.  If I cant get it going I think I will try to take it back to wal-mart.  I have had it a while so they may not take it back.

Okay so I got my test light this morning and started poking around on this thing.  I checked what I call the "brain" of the trolling motor underneath the top head.  You know the part that doesnt go in the water where you turn the handle for the power.  All of the wires tested good.  So I took the lower prop housing off and checked the two wires that are running to two magnets that, I assume give the motor its power.  They tested good as well.  Although I grounded to the battery for that lower test.  Was that right?  So now I am thinking that the motor may be dead. So more help would be great.  Ill check back in a few mins.  Thanks guys

Sounds like the selector switch may have gone out on you.  I have seen this happen before on a transom mount MK.  If memory serves me correctly, there sould be one wire for every speed on the selector switch.  Depending on how labor intensive you want to be with it, you could install another selector switch and see if it solves the problem.  Also, make sure all the connectors on the wires in the top part (the "brain") are clean and fit together snugly.  Just a little bit of play could cause the intermittance.

That turn the motor on and manully turn the prop is to check for dead spots on your armature. If your brushes are good you can still have a dead spot.

If you start turning the prop and the motor starts running thats a dead spot. Don't do with your fingers.

Garnet

Alright! Problem solved!  After messing around with the motor I have decided that a bad gasket is the cause.  Water was entering the lower unit and the brushes and armature were very dirty.  A good wipe down and cleaning along with some lubrication is going to do the trick.  Specifically the brushes were corroded and locked in place off of the armature!!

Thanks to everyone that helped me keep my mind working on this one.

You may want to replace those brushes if they are old. Brushes are the life-blood of DC motors.