speed control problem Minn Kota Edge hand control

[swump]

I bought a new MK Edge 45 hand control bow mount last year. From the start I had trouble with the speed control. Things were fine for speeds 1 to 4,but when I twisted the grip for top speed (5), the motor dropped down to speed 3. If I twisted hard , sometimes I could get speed 5, usually not. It didn't happen all the time, but when it did it tended to stay that way for hours.

The MK phone rep was helpful; he sent me a new controller for the head; no fix. I sent the motor back and they couldn't make the motor repeat the problem (I've had hours at a time when it didn't happen). They problem eventually repeated when I put the motor back on.

I tried re-wiring my boat (battery to t-motor), in case I had a bad wire splice; no fix. I tried connecting the motor to another battery with just three feet of wire and no splices; it took a while but I got the motor to malfunction. At this point I called MK and told them I wanted a new motor. After some hesitation, they agreed and sent me a reconditioned motor (made my smile turn upside down). The new/reconditioned motor performs about the same! I get the lower speed on 5. If I twist hard it goes to 5. Then the problem goes away entirely!

Has anyone had this or a similar problem with Edge or MK motors? Could it be my boat wiring or battery, or is it more likely the motor? Any suggestions for diagnostics?

Tired of going slow.
Swump

 

[JMichael]

Hard to believe that 2 different trolling motors plus an additional speed control all exhibit the same symptoms and the problem be with the TM. I'd look at any and all connections from the battery up and any other connection points as well as wire used. I'd also try to get my hands on another battery for test purposes.

 

[TNtroller]

might try "load testing" the batteries you've used with these TM's. It does seem odd that both TM's and the changes made to one of em would do the same thing. You are using deep cycle batteries right ???? :?:

 

[swump]

might try "load testing" the batteries you've used with these TM's. It does seem odd that both TM's and the changes made to one of em would do the same thing. You are using deep cycle batteries right ???? :?:

Both are deep cycle marine batteries (Costco) fully charged and well maintained (ie kept charged).

Could this not be a manufacturing or design flaw with this motor? It also seems very odd that a really hard twist (pushing hard on the stop) would kick the motor into 5th speed, for both motors and all three speed controllers (but not all the time). On the other hand (so many hands) I've not seen reports of similar problems searching this site nor doing the google.

The load test sounds like a good suggestion.....

 

[JMichael]

Do you have a breaker or anything else incorporated into the wiring from the battery to the TM? If you do, just for testing purposes, remove any and everything so that you have nothing but straight wire from battery to TM. Be sure to replace breakers after your test.