Deploying my trolling motor

[airshot]

Recently downsized to a smaller outboard fishing boat so needing some new to me helpfull information...My boat came with a Minn Kota 55 lb V2 bow mount trolling motor, it works great but, is there a trick to deploying this motor that I dont know? Your supposed to push down the release, push down on the shaft and slide forward to deploy it out of its storage cradle. I have pushed, tugged, yanked, and have a super difficult time getting it out of the cradle!!! Once it is out, it moves quite easily. At the current difficulty, not sure it is worth the trouble.. Know, I know it needs to stay put while underway, but there must be an easier way to release it. I had an older version mabey 20 years back that poped out of the cradle easily. Sprayed silicone lube for plastics all over the shaft and cradle as suggested in a post, but not much help. Any tricks I need to know????Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[RMClark]

I just installed a new 55 lb Powerdrive on my boat, and I ran into this issue right away. I also encountered this issue on a resort rental when I was on a fishing trip two years ago. Apologies if this is something you already know, and if your mount and deployment mechanism is different, then my apologies again for not knowing that.

The motor lower unit when in the cradle is very snug. My issue at first was that I didn't press down on the locking latch all the way when I wanted to deploy the motor. Pics help illustrate what I'm talking about.

The latch when in the stowed position:



Note that the bottom portion of the latch will push forward when the upper handle is pushed down fully. It will "kick" the motor partially out of the cradle and allow you to push the motor out fully so it can swing down into position. Pic of the lower portion of the latch pushing the motor out of the cradle:


Hope this helps.

Goodluck!

 

[airshot]

Yes, it helps a lot!!! Also realized the plastic was dry and sticky from UV rays, so grabbed some "plastic grease" that I use in my R/C toys, that makes plastic parts shiney and slippery. Rubbed this into the shaft and lever and all plastic parts I could reach including the cradle itself.....viola ..it now deploys with very little effort. The dry plastic was binding and sticking horribly. Your pics made things more clear ( thanks for posting) also twisting that collar more toward the head a turn or two helped with that extra push when operating that lever !! Now I know I will need to reapply some lube every so often to keep things working smooth, but so worth the effort !!

 

[garbageguy]

I just went thru a similar situation when a friend put his older trolling motor on our 14 ft aluminum boat. I wasn't releasing the force on the coupler while simultaneously pressing the release lever (didn't want to break it). Fortunately, the OK to use a bit more force, a little water lube, and a few times to loosen the old gal, worked wonders. Glad you're out boating!