I have a minnkota edge 45 that appears to have the directional gears come apart inside the head. There’s a service center 30 miles from me but they’re booked out a ways. Looking at the schematic it doesn’t look too bad but I’ve learned from reels that they’re just a parts list and not necessarily showing assembly order. Are there any pitfalls or “gotchyas” to look out for if I crack it open myself? Tyia for any insight offered. 

Let me know if you need anything on that one.

 

My former boss and I are still fishing buddies, and he is the central Florida Minn Kota rep and decades long repair tech. He and I will be fishing together in a few days down in central Florida where the shop is located.

 

If you have any trouble Greg is a phone call away.

Never been into a Minn Kota, but have done a complete rebuild on a couple of Motorguides and an Evinrude.

 

They aren’t bad at all to work on, take pictures as you go on disassembly. Good opportunity to clean things up, and put some silicone grease on all the seals and moving parts. 
 

If you don’t have one, get one of those silicone/magnetic collapsible parts trays. It’s a virtual guarantee that any screw or piece dropped will be next to impossible to source a replacement for.

I helped a buddy replace some gears in the head of his Edge a couple of years ago.  I don't remember all the details but it was easy.  

I took my MK Maxxum 70 apart 10 years ago to replace part 142 (142 1 2282500 CONTROL BOX)  which is where the shaft exits the bottom. It wasn't too bad for my first time inside a trolling motor.

  It was cracked from us running the boat into a sand bar hard enough to flex the shaft enough for the running prop to hit up under the hull :).  The top with the arrow is part 71 (71 1 2280201 CONTROL BOX COVER)   

(16' Grizzly with two trolling motors running full blast with 2 200-pounders, added decking, too much gear, lunch, etc. We were doing over 4 mph.)

 

I did take it to the local MK service center because although it was running after I fixed the control box it was still lightly ticking. 

 

The replaced the bent (1 2-100-128 ARMATURE ASSEMBLY 24V) and it's been running fine ever since. They had one in stock and had it back to me the next day.