Pinpoint steering problems

[RUDY]

I have a 300 series Pinpoint bowmount that delevoped a problem when I was on the water yesterday. It seems that when I tried to steer to the right (toe down) the motor developed a mind of it's own. The direction of the motor would go quickly to a 9:00 position and then swing back 270 degrees to point almost completely backward. I tried unsuccessfully to recalibrate the foot pedal but nothing seemed to work. Does anyone out there know of any potential fixes short of sending the unit into a warranty center. Is there a way to "reboot" the head of the trolling motor? Is this a foot pedal problem? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Rudy

[Chipper]

Does you motor still work? I have a 2700 series and had roughly the same problem. The problem was a seal in the lower unit that shorted out the steering system in the motor and then the whole motor. I think the motor is "rebooted" when it goes to the stow position and then it does not remember anything else. This might be the problem. I had to send it in and they gave me a new remanufactured motor and no problems since then.

[RUDY]

Chipper,

Thanks for the reply. The problem just started yesterday and the motor worked for about 5 minutes before the problem started. The motor was still working at the end of the morning although steering went to ##### in a handbasket. From what you're telling me, it sounds like the motor is the next to go. Maybe it's possible that the motor seal deteriorated over the winter and I didn't notice the problem until water started to seep in after some time had passed which would explain why the motor worked initially. I was planning to try it again tomorrow to see if the problem persisted. I'll let you know if the motor fries.

Thanks,

Rudy

[eyedoctor20]

Rudy,
I have mine in the shop right now for the same problem. I am talking to them Wed. to see if they found out anything. I will let you know.

[RUDY]

Don,

Thanks for your post. I live in Illinois, do you know of a good repair center to send the unit into to have it repaired? I saw on Motorguide's website there was a repair center in St. Louis but they seemed unhelpful when I talked to them about the problem yesterday.


Rudy

[Big Fish]

Check the cable from the foot control to the motor. If you can make the motor go nuts by wiggling the cable or the connections, you probably need a new foot control. (The cable comes with.) They took care of it for me.) cw

[RUDY]

CW,

Thanks for the post. I actually put a new bracket (Big Water Gator) on the boat this year and come to think of it, I did take off the foot pedal when I installed it. Maybe I didn't put it back together properly. I'll check the connection again.

Rudy

[Gboes]

I sent my 3700 pinpoint to the St. Loius shop for a main cable replacement a couple of months ago. After I knew that he had recieved the motor I then called the shop to see if everthing else checked out okay. One of the questions that I was asked was if the steering would sometimes wander in other directions by itself and if it did that some of the units had a problem with the processor or I guess "the brains" of the thing. He quoted me $80 to replace it. I'v never had that problem, just remember him asking the question. The shop said they had replaced a few of them. Good luck and good fishing.

[Big Fish]

It took me a while to find it, but I narrowed it down to the end of the cable on the foot control after a lot of moving the cables around. Once I found the spot I could make the motor go wild by bending the cable in the right spot. Pinpoint replaced it promptly. cw

[EsoxProSport]

I do not know where in Illinois you are, But I know MinnKotas are serviced at a Buffalo Grove Location(NW Suburb of Chicago). Near My Home. You May want to find out if they service Motorguide and or Pinpoint also.

[eyedoctor20]

Rudy,
I talked to the service peole today and they said it was the cable.
You may want to check with the Motor Clinic in Bloomington MN. The first time I had work done there I got the motor back the same day. Their # is 952-881-0898