Trolling Motor Not Working

[FishyItch]

I have a 28 lb thrust trolling motor that came with my 14' v-tin when I bought it many years ago. When I went to college my boat sat outside and the trolling motor went in the basement. It's now 6 years later and I'm planning on fixing up my boat for this next season. The problem is the trolling motor doesn't work anymore. It has been stored dry and upright the whole time, but now when you hook it up to a battery...nothing happens.

I don't remember the exact details of my actions when I discovered this, but I'm pretty sure I did everything that was common sense...like cleaning the contacts for example. Also, I may or may not have heard a "click" upon cranking the motor on when it was hooked up to a power source.

My question is this... Is there a common fix to this problem? Does anyone know of a trick I should try? My uncle gave me a 17 lb thrust when we found out the 28 didn't work, but I'd like something more than a 17 lb and I don't want to have to buy a trolling motor. Would it be inexpensive to have something look at it? Where would I even get something like repaired (if it was cheap enough)?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bassboy1]

Will the prop spin relatively freely by hand, or does it seem to seize or bind?

I doubt it would be worth getting looked at, if you can't tear into it yourself and fix it. Figuring 60 bucks an hour, plus whatever parts are needed, you may as well go buy a new Endura 30, or look for a lightly used on on C-List.

 

[FishyItch]

That's sort of what I figured. A trolling motor seems to be in the cheap-enough-to-buy-used-but-too-expensive-to-fix range.

Also, I guess I don't remember spinning the prop by hand, and I'm about 50 miles from it right now.

My craigslist search has now expanded from just an outboard to a trolling motor too for my spring mod.

 

[huntinfool]

I promise you it is something simple. Try truning the motor by hand. Is this a foot control or hand control? If the prop will move and it is hooked up and still not running, then it is more than likely either a switch or the speed control. Both are fairly cheap and easy to replace, but you will have to have a small amount of mechanical skill and/or be able to follow directions.
Let me know when you get back to it and can check it out more.