I have a problem with my Minn Kota Edge 40 pound thrust motor.  There is a huge jump in power between the 4 and 5 speed setting.  I am using it on a 17 foot Bass Tracker.  Speeds 1 through 3 are so slow as to be almost unusable.  Speed 4 is OK as long as there is very little headwind.  Speed five will just about jerk you out of the boat when you start.

Minn Kota is sending me a new switch, but I am afraid that the problem may be the speed coil.  I noticed on the Bass Pro Shops Web site that someone else complained of the same problem.  

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I had a 40lb All Terrain, it was the same way.

I'm afraid that's probably the way it was made and there may not actually be anything wrong but who knows?

My AT is similar.

Speeds 1 and 2 are very slow. I use these most of the time unless it's windy.

Speed 3 jumps up pretty good.  I use this when the wind is blowing.

Speed 4 is another jump from 3.  I use this if the wind is really howling.

Speed 5 really takes off.  I only use this when moving from one spot to the other on the TM.  

Just something you get used to.

Same here.  Mostly fish on one or three depending what I am throwing and move with five to next good spot.

that is why I Like a "veriable" speed motor, like my MG Digital. You can fine tune it to the speed you need anytime.

I hated that with my older MG & MK I had, one speed would be to much, but next would not be enough

My 40lb Edge is the same way on my welded 1548MV Jon. The first two steps are worthless, step 3 is were I'am at most of the time. Step 4 is used on windy days and step 5 is only used for rapid transit like from one side of the cove to the other...I make sure I'm sitting down and the motor is pointed foward before ingaging warp drive..LOL!

My Minn-Kota is the same way. I switched to a kipawa prop and the problem is more pronounced. I can now use speeds 1 and 2. Speed 2 is faster with Kipawa than the stock minn-kota.

Olebiker

That is one of the biggest problem with a fix speed trolling motor.   They make a aftermarker switch that you can put in line and it will turn you fix speed in a variable speed.

Olebiker

That is one of the biggest problem with a fix speed trolling motor. They make a aftermarker switch that you can put in line and it will turn you fix speed in a variable speed.

Got any idea where to get one?

I have a friend who works on trolling motors.  I will see what he has.   Bud

this couldn't be more than a variable resistor the more voltage dropped across the resistor the more voltage to the engine.  I will do some resistance voltage check when I get home and post them.  I'm thinking you can drop one in pretty easy.  Who knows you probably could go a little faster then the 5 setting its probably lower voltage for reliability, or maybe they just bump the voltage up and call it next higher thrust model.  Not saying it would be a 54 but maybe a 30, 34, 36, and 40 are the same motor.

Minn Kota used to make a stand alone maximizer. You would wire it between your motor and battery and leave your motor on high and change the speed using the maximizer. You can find them on ebay once in a while.  This one has an end date of 11/21/07.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-MINN-KOTA-MAXIMIZER-FOR-FISHING-FISH-FOR-DAYS_W0QQitemZ190174195923QQihZ009QQcategoryZ384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have not seen them anywhere else for awhile.

Thats just a big adjustable resistor (POT) with some fancy lights I could make a kit to do that for 30 bucks in a nice box with a voltage gage for a little more.

great idea dont have to even hack into the POT in the handle!

Now you got me thinking

The maximizer is just a little more than potentiometer. A pot justs decreases the voltage to the motor and turn the rest into heat. Works well but very wasteful and kills the battery.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/view.asp?url=/support/faq/general&pt=8

The maximizer is an actual electronic speed controller that gives full voltage to the motor all the time and just changes the ratio of on time to off time to change the speed. For full speed the power is applied all the time.  for 75% power the maximizer turns the power on for 3/4 of a second and off for 1/4 second. For half speed it applies full power for 1/2 a second and off for a half a second. for 1/4 power it is on for 1/4 second and off for 3/4 of a second. My times may not be correct but it should give you an idea.  This gives the motor full torque over the full speed range and saving battery power at the same time.  

great article