Help! Motorguide wireless trolling motor dead...

[jrampey]

I'm looking for a little help until I can call a motorguide service center Monday.

While fishing I apparently overloaded the motor. I was rotating it and bumped into a log... it shut off. I disconnected the power and reconnected. When I reconnected I got a continuous high pitched sound and if I push the voltage check button all lights come on. Pushing buttons on the wireless controller does nothing. I disconnected the motor. I packed it in and came home - plugged it in again and I still get the high pitched sound, and all of the lights come on if I push the voltage button.

Anyone had this happen before? Its still under warranty so I'll be calling Monday morning.

 

[John_S]

Re: Help! Motorguide wireless trolling motor dead...

I have run mine aground and tripped it, but when I unpluged and pluged back in again, just one normal beep and was OK again. Sounds like yours is more serious, and will probably need MG service.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Help! Motorguide wireless trolling motor dead...

The way most modern motors control speed is by turning the motor on and off very fast. The percentage of the "on" time is what sets the speed. this is called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). It sounds like what you are hearing is that PWM frequency. I would send it back for repair. (and I am an electrical engineer with the tools and skills to fix it.) I would make sure that the motor shaft turns freely. It is possible that the motor shaft is bent and is not able to turn freely. If so, you are probably screwed, as warantee will likely be void. Good luck.

TerryMSU

 

[John_S]

Re: Help! Motorguide wireless trolling motor dead...

The Wireless is a PWM cotolled motor, and it is conceivable to cause the screach, but given you get it as soon as you plug in (motor should not be trying to run), probably says the control board is shot. As with most things today, they wo'nt repair the board, just replace it. You should check the prop, but also the plastic/composite nose cone. Make sure it is not cracked or had a deep cut in it. It could allow water into the motor. Hopefully you are close to a MG service center.

My impact was at full speed on a shale/gravel covered bottom, so surprised yours failed only bumping a log. On any logs I've bumped, it just kept running.

 

[jrampey]

Re: Help! Motorguide wireless trolling motor dead...

I called a service center this morning and described my symptoms... their diagnosis is a fried circuit board... still under warranty (whew) so, off to the shop.

Thanks for the input