Minn Kota Edge 12v 45lb trolling motor inner shaft upgrade?

[DunbarLtd]

I bought a Minn Kota Edge 12v 45lb thrust bow mount foot control about a year ago and i guess a screw came loose on the inside and damaged the main shaft and now i need to replace it. Ive torn into the unit and its pretty simple to understand. The main shaft is simply threaded into the motor housing and easily replaced.

But my question is with these units there are optional shaft lengths. I think they come in 36", 42", 45", 50" and 52". I have a 42" at the moment but since I am replacing it I would like to upgrade to the longer 50" shaft. I found a website that sells the 50" at a cheaper price than the 42".

Does anyone have any experience with these units to know if the shafts are interchangeable without having to buy a complete new unit with the longer shaft? Looking at the specs from the various models the only thing that looks different to me is the shaft length?

 

[Silvertip]

Going to a longer shaft may require lengthening the wires that run inside it. Make sure you seal the threads where the shaft enters the motor. Bad things happen if water gets in the motor housing.

 

[DunbarLtd]

Going to a longer shaft may require lengthening the wires that run inside it. Make sure you seal the threads where the shaft enters the motor. Bad things happen if water gets in the motor housing.

I didnt even think about the wire length. Its obvious now that you mentioned it. There isnt much wire to begin with so I think I will just go with the standard 42" shaft. And yes I was planning on using 3M 5200 on the shaft threads before screwing it into the housing. Unless you think there is a better way to seal it?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[gm280]

DunbarLtd, lengthening the wire really is easy. You could simply buy some wire the same gauge and some crimp splices and add a few inches of wire and it will work perfectly. Not a huge problem to do that. Just an opinion.

I can't say for absolute certain, because I never changes a shaft, but it would seem the only difference would be the shaft length and wires. The same threads will work on the motor housing and the shaft should attach to the head unit in the exact same way the old one did. JMHO

 

[DunbarLtd]

DunbarLtd, lengthening the wire really is easy. You could simply buy some wire the same gauge and some crimp splices and add a few inches of wire and it will work perfectly. Not a huge problem to do that. Just an opinion.

I can't say for absolute certain, because I never changes a shaft, but it would seem the only difference would be the shaft length and wires. The same threads will work on the motor housing and the shaft should attach to the head unit in the exact same way the old one did. JMHO

Hmmm. Yeah If thats all it will take I may consider it. Butt splices would be a piece of cake and then some heat shrink. I guess Im wondering how it will sit in the bracket? Is the motor head supposed to rest on the bracket? What if it overhangs, is that okay? Right now with the shaft as far down as itll go it rests just on the edge of the bracket when stowed. Im not sure there would be any support for the motor head if it were to extend past the bracket when stowed?

 

[gm280]

Hmmm. Yeah If thats all it will take I may consider it. Butt splices would be a piece of cake and then some heat shrink. I guess Im wondering how it will sit in the bracket? Is the motor head supposed to rest on the bracket? What if it overhangs, is that okay? Right now with the shaft as far down as itll go it rests just on the edge of the bracket when stowed. Im not sure there would be any support for the motor head if it were to extend past the bracket when stowed?

You can adjust the position of how the trolling motor stores so that the longer shaft is positioned at the head of the unit and not the motor end. Just a thought.