How To Take Apart A Minn Kota Trolling Motor?

There is no telling what may go wrong on a fishing trip, from getting plastic stuck in the motor to hitting rocks or trying to reel in a fish heavier than your trolling motor’s capacity. If you are trying to get a Minn Kota trolling motor repair, you’re in luck.

Minn Kota creates small motors that are a DIY-er’s dream come true in the sense that it is fairly easy to disassemble and reassemble. You can find parts for the motor very easily and get them delivered to you in no time.

However, just like any other piece of complex machinery, it isn’t advisable to embark on a trolling motor disassembly and reassembly adventure without a manual or guidance. This article will look at some of the more popular Minn Kota trolling motors and how to take them apart.

1. Minn Kota Endura C2

This 55-pound thrust Minn Kota trolling motor repair is fairly straightforward, which is why we are going to review it first.

Before you start, mark every part of the motor with a marker or masking tape to identify the different parts and their orientation later on.

1. Start by removing the nut behind the motor (away from the propeller) and scuff it down slightly. This is so that you don’t have any problems later on.
2. Next, remove the two bolts on both sides of the nut. These are long bolts, remember that it may take some doing if you are doing it manually.
3. Once both bolts and the nut have been removed, the armature can be pulled out easily.
4. You can see the bearings and the brush here, both held down by screws. Be careful of the white seal around the body. If damaged or not placed right, it may impact its ability to resist water.

Now, you can diagnose and repair the Endura C2 Minn Kota trolling motor. Here is a detailed guide on how you can do it on your own.

2. Minn Kota Endura Max

This is yet another very common 55-pound troll motor. A common problem with this motor is that it slows down, indicating a broken magnet (especially if you hear a coarse sound when operating it).

To diagnose and repair this Minn Kota Trolling Motor;

1. Remove the top cover first. You will find six long screws holding the circuit cover. Remove them with the help of a Phillips head screwdriver and gently pull the top cover off. If you are unable to, note that some older models used to have eight screws as well.
2. Once the head is removed, you will find all the circuitry therein.
3. If, after diagnosing, you conclude that the problem is with the motor, take a closer look and as mentioned above, mark the orientation.
4. You will need to pull out a pin that holds the propeller blades with the shaft. It can be found in a slot within the propeller.
5. Remove the top nut and file down the shaft with a 220-grit sandpaper. About half a minute of scuffing should be enough.
6. Pull out the top cover with your hand or with the pry bar.
7. Once the top is removed, you should be able to remove the complete motor as well to expose the magnet.
8. The magnet will have a few screws on it that you can unscrew to remove the brushes, spring, and the magnet itself.

And there you have it! Here is a video by Jeff to help you visualize the above steps and diagnose your trolling motor.

3. Minn Kota Riptide Trolling Motor

This is a 70-pound thrust trolling motor. One of the most common problems with this trolling motor is that a part within may break if you hit debris or rocks, which may require you to open it up and repair it.

You can disassemble the Minn Kota Riptide Trolling Motor easily by following these steps;

1. You will need a ½” hex socket wrench to take off the end-cap of your propeller. This step will require some effort, so just hold on to the propeller head and twist until the small disc comes off. Be careful; the headpiece is made out of zinc and may break due to corrosion.
2. It should expose the shaft a bit. Pull out the end-cap, and the shaft will then be exposed. Be careful when removing the cap; there’s a washer in there that may fall off.
3. You will find two bolts at both ends of the next cap. You will need a 5/16” hex socket wrench for this. Remember, these bolts go all the way through the assembly, so be patient when pulling these out. There’s a rubber washer on these bolts to keep the water out.
4. The next piece will come off automatically. A rubber seal will be holding it together so you will have to tug on it a bit. You will then see the magnet and coils.
5. You can pull the magnet out of the lower end-cap quite easily. It’s a bit heavy so be careful.
6. Simply lift it, and you will expose all the circuits. There is another, bigger seal here.
7. Use a T20 screwdriver to pull out the parts further. . There will be two screws here that you need to remove.
8. You will then be able to pull out the whole circuit. Just remember that it will be attached at the bottom with at least two wires.

Here is a video to help you visualize the same.

4. Minn Kota Edge 55

The Minn Kota Edge 55 is a 45-55 pound thrust trolling motor that often comes with a foot pedal.

This troll motor disassembly and assembly is fairly easy, but there is one complication to keep in mind; if anything inside breaks, it will most likely break other things too, and you will therefore need to be careful of that.

You can easily find the parts for this motor on eBay, Amazon, Minn Kota website, or any local parts shop due to the extensive use this motor finds. To take this motor apart, follow these instructions.

1. There are three screws on the shaft to pull out the head.
2. Remove the four bolts that hold the headcap in place (next to the handle). You can pull off the headcap after that to expose the wiring within. This is your control mechanism.
3. The Minn Kota Edge 55 has a 45” (3.75 feet) shaft that may not fit many boats. Just like the three screws on the top, there are three screws at the bottom that you can unscrew to pull out the shaft and replace it with a shorter (or longer) one.
4. If you are looking to repair the head (because of a broken head or a stiff throttle), you will find three screws holding everything in place with the help of a metallic plate. Unscrew those, and you’ll get better access to the wires.
5. There are two more plates that you can remove to remove and clean out the gears as well.
6. To repair the Minn Kota trolling motor’s bottom, refer to the same guidelines presented for Minn Kota Rip Tide’s lower unit.

Here is a video to help you visualize the process.

5. Minn Kota SP70

This 70-pound thrust trolling motor is, in every sense of the word, a monster. It’s big and very useful when looking to catch some big fish, or simply when going out on rougher waters. However, one problem that you might face – especially in colder regions – is that saltwater may make its way into the turning head.

Normally, this wouldn’t present a problem but if you live in a cold area, you will end up with freezing saltwater within the turning head, and need replacement.

1. Start by ordering a replacement part – otherwise, your trolling motor will be useless until the summer – when everything melts. However, even then, you will find that the turning head will be stiff until a point where you won’t be able to turn it even in the summer.
2. Now open the head of your Minn Kota SP70. There should be four Phillips screws along with a water seal holding them in place.
3. If there is corrosion on the wires, put some grease on them when reassembling.
4. There will be another longer screw at the base of its head. Unscrew it and simply wiggle the head off.
5. After this, you should be able to remove the shaft by simply pulling it out from the bottom.

The lower unit can be opened up just like other Minn Kota trolling motors. Here is a video to help you visualize the process.

Conclusion

Taking apart a Minn Kota trolling motor is easier than it seems – and if you mark the orientation and remember how you pull it apart, repairing and reassembling them becomes even easier. All it requires is a level head and presence of mind. The tools required can be found at any hardware store while the replacement parts can be found at the Minn Kota store or Amazon.

Happy DIY-ing!

Steve

I created this site to help people – to help you – with your boat problems. Instead of helping one person at a time, I want this website to be the “one-stop-shop” for everyone’s boating concerns. Read more.