Minn Kota Terrova Repair - Steering Assembly and Lift Tube Liner (Watch First Big Mistake Made)

Tried my best to video this repair. Not the best video but could save someone from my mistakes. To me it seems to be a pretty frequent issue with Terrovas and a pretty easy and cheap repair.
All parts ordered from lakeside marine @ lakesidemarine...
Parts:
Lift Output Tube
80lb Thrust Lift Assist
Any questions feel free to ask
#bassfishing #bassboatrepair #minnkota #terrovarepair

[@meadrenalinejunkie]

Good video. I need to replace my lift assist but I have noticed my Terrova has something yours does not. And I cannot even see it on the parts schematics..... between the connecting collar for the lift assist and the steering box there is a plastic sleeve that is on the shaft and around the metal strip for the lift assist. I find it odd, I cannot find it on anyone elses videos, I have looked at the bottom of the steering box and it is not from there. Maybe just a part they decided they no longer need to put on the Terrova's?

[@ydnarleec360]

Lots of mistakes...did not show removal or intall of actual part...

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

I agree I hate this video and will never self film an install or repair again. I leave it to show people how easy it is to replace the $3.00 part instead of the $200 assembly. I’ve replaced this piece twice now.

[@brittonsfireprevention3523]

So that part breaking made it so you couldn’t turn right or left right

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

There was enough plastic left that mine would catch and turn. Sometimes it would take a few seconds before catching which made it a very delayed turn

[@krisbommersbach3776]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned you replaced your broken insert with the wrong one. The insert for newer lift assist models has a way smaller cutout for the tab from the spring assembly. I’m guessing your steering has a huge lag from left to right now.

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

Your the first and honestly it was bad. I have the right ones to do it again because unfortunately it last a month before I snapped it off so I’m running w a broken one again and still don’t have a ton of lag. Don’t know when I’ll be able to make time to fix it but hoping to get someone to record it to make a better quality video.

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

Wasnt*

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

I actually figured out I put the wrong one in when I was uploading the video

[@krisbommersbach3776]

Your video actually helped me because I’ve been wondering if that old tube collar would fit in the newer steering boxes because then a guy could get an old style depth control collar and completely eliminate lift assist to gain that 4-5 inches of shaft length.

[@kobi1606]

​@@krisbommersbach3776 I just changed mine to version one turn and depth collar. I gained motor depth , head is lower and mostly when I was in bigger waves using spot lock, the motor would pop out of the collar.

[@steveenglish6639]

I am amazed you did this. I have a small piece broke off the lift tube liner.

[@BassinWithBigMalone]

I just had to change the polarization on mine. Was running in reverse. Not sure what happened. But its good now.

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

lol your not the first one I’ve heard of it being backwards. I wired one of my other ones for the back in reverse last year. Still haven’t changed it because the seals were new 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@perryc7575]

😜 "promo sm"

[@phillamoore157]

*God-bless the guys trying to do/film this by themselves...as you can see it's impossible.* I'm beyond astonished, not at just how horrible of a design this TM is, but given how easily that one part breaks. If this was a $200 TM, I wouldn't bother making the comment....but this TM is now $2K (uninstalled). I went through every issue you had, brother, and can't imagine trying to film this at the same time. *I have the Riptide, and I, by the grace of God, made it relatively unscathed all the way up to opening the steering box, at which point it's a whole different cesspool, than the standard Terrova.* The problem with the Riptide is that those aluminum bushings are so hard to get out, you'd think they were down-right welded into place. They can't be pulled out (or I couldn't find a way to do it, anyway). I had to continue breaking what was left of the steering sleeve, so I could expose a spot on the reverse side to tap the bushing out, which just goes on to destroy a perfectly good bushing, just to replace the $1.25 plastic steering sleeve. My guess is that all the main brands of TM's have their BS, at this point....but, based on this experience alone, I'll never own another Minn Kota. It's not the maintenance, or spare parts, disassembly, etc, etc.. It's how HORRIBLE the design is, and what they put you through to get access to the part. Once I'm convinced I'm doing the repair/breakdown/re-assembly properly, I'm going to try and put up a good video with the help of my wife (videographer). I hate seeing anyone go through what we've gone through for a $2.00 part. And, filming this while doing the repair is completely impossible. If I can pull that off, then I'm fairly certain it will guarantee me a spot in heaven. *And YES! YES! YES! Lakeside Marine has been absolute incredible for me, as well. I've been dealing with Brett, and he's kept an already disgusting repair job, from being even worse. Had it not been for them, I would've hurled this $2K POS in the dumpster already. So, kudos, again for dropping their name.*

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

Thank you man. Almost didn’t put this out because the footage is so bad at times but it gives the general idea if you have no clue. The really bad part is a month after shooting this video I broke the same piece again smh. I grinded it through the season but this march I’ll be doing the repair all over lol. It’s not even that it’s a hard repair it’s a very annoying one.

[@phillamoore157]

@@rkeyloroutdoors I agree... There are about 4 videos that you literally have to study, if you want to make it through this repair, somewhat unscathed. And, like I said, the Riptide once you crack open the steering box is a different beast (at least from the videos I've seen). And, that's to say nothing of getting the parts right, which thank God for Lakeside Marine. I'm just now going through my KZbin replies, but I'm very anxious to hear what one of your viewers said about just going without on that lift-assist which makes this job 1000x's more difficult. I've removed about 8" so far off my shaft. I'll test it out after the holidays here in FL, but I may take another 5" off, as I simply don't need it. That shaft material is very heavy/dense for what it is, so if removing close to 12" makes it significantly lighter, and I can go without that entire lift mechanism, I will definitely go that route. But, yeah, just to test out a new camera I just bought my wife, and between the two of us, I may try and get a decent video out there for everyone to view. It's just too difficult to try and repair and film at the same time. Like I said, you guys who attempt that are champions. Let me know what your experience is with that whole lift-assist part, and if you went without? I may try and experiment with it when I get the boat back on the water. I'll let you know how it goes.

[@cfmurphy57]

That spring is a POS. I have broken 2 of them. I run mine without it now.

[@rkeyloroutdoors]

Never thought of that. I broke this one because I’m an idiot and got in a rush but even getting the new one on was a huge pain. Any issues running it without it?

[@cfmurphy57]

@@rkeyloroutdoors I haven't had any issues. Both were replaced under warranty. They tried to tell me to let the motor down easy when I deployed it and that was probably my problem. I always let it down easy. It's just a bad design. I've been running mine without it now for about a year.

[@geewitit185]

Just broke mine

[@kobi1606]

CFmurphy, can you run your motor shaft all the way to the bottom, or will the cables from the head hit the minn kota cradle?

[@cfmurphy57]

@@kobi1606 I never tried it. I have the shaft set to the depth that I need.