I just put a PowerDrive 70 on my boat, the stow feature is pretty smooth, but the deploy is ridiculous.  The grip release handle is OK, but it takes too much force to push the shaft loose.  Any insight on this TM, will this loosen up or should I have gone w/Motor Guide?

I've got the same problem with my 55 MK Powerdrive, although it's new also.  If it doesn't loosen up soon, I'm considering removing that dang locking handle and installing a Rod Saver strap to keep the trolling motor secure when its up and out of the water.

The handle on mine isn't the bad part, it was at first, but I adjusted the collar that it clips onto.  I can release the handle but the shaft won't slide through without a struggle.  Minnkota actually said to try putting Armor All on the shaft.  Tried it, didn't help.

check your mounting job - most often the culprit is alignment.

I have a one also and was pretty ticked after spending all that money and had such trouble gettin that sucker down to the water. I have gotten used to it though.

Use armor all on the shaft. That will help a bunch but when that starts to wear off and it gets hard again, I just get down on a knee, grab the lever and bump it with the inner side of my free knee. I have come to do it that way rather that jerkin my back out!

:-/

check your mounting job - most often the culprit is alignment.

Nope, not in my case! Had the problem right from the start.  I had a dealership mount the brand new MK PowerDrive 55 Trolling Motor I bought from them when I bought my boat. I took it out for the first time the other weekend, and when I went to put the TM down, it only went about 45 degrees until the shaft hit the bow. The unit barely went into the water and the shaft couldn't lock. So the TM was mostly useless because every time I used the foot control, the TM came up out of the water (I looked like Muddy_Man holding it down and steering that thing with my hands). I LOOKED LIKE A MOOK!

I called the marine and they said ooops, they screwed up, and they were willing to fix it if I brought it in (75 miles away). I said if it was anything else, I wouldn't mind taking it back, but the problem was sheer carelessness on their part. I suggested they send the guy who did it wrong out to my house to fix it yeah right! Because of principles, I wasn't willing to take an entire day to get the thing repaired, so my son-in-law and myself redid the work ourselves. Everything is good now and alignment is correct, but I still have the problem described in the post.

I have the wireless Motorguide which I think has a similar stow/deploy system.  On mine, I "pop"  the other end of the shaft for a little leverage and it seems to release the business end.  Rather than using a steady push, try a quick pop.

good luck

Larry

My Power drive's deploy system finally fixed itself after 6 years when it went overboard.

Best day of my fishing life.

I have a 2004 74 power Drive and mine doesn't have the sliding problems being discussed I never have had to Armorall the shaft and although to get it off the deck takes a little effort I have had no porblems with it.

I'm having the same problem deploying my new ap/pd/us2 70.  This is not a misalignment issue, seems to be a Minn Kota issue.  After paying almost 1K seems it would almost deploy itself!!  I thought the "effortless stoy & deploy" would help my back at the end of the day, pfft!!  If it tourney season wasn't around the corner I'd send it back!!

As I mentioned previously, MK suggested Armor All on the shaft, tried it this weekend.  It works, glides right out.  For those of us that have been strong arming and putting our back into it deploying our TM's, be careful to steady your feet after you apply it, slides really easy, don't want to follow it in the water.