Minn Kota Trolling Motor- DO NOT BUY!

This is an overview of the failure of a Minn Kota Endura Max 55. The electronics went out on it 2 months after the warranty expired. DO NOT BUY!
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The Fishing Educator

[@captanehook6927]

Buddy just found a riptide 55. Told it only had about 10 hours on it. Got it home, Since he didn't know anything about that stuff (his words) I gave him a hand going over it, adding quick connects. The adjutable depth collar was split (nfg). No biggie. Hooked up the battery, started it, ok... Took off the prop as it was quite nicked up. Wow! About 30 feet of braid wrapped around the shaft. Runs like it should now. Funny thing though, he still hasn't read any of his boat or gears owner's manuals. Maybe if more people could read, they wouldn't have so many problems.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Yes, it is amazing how 5min. of time can solve a lot of issues....good job!

[@rammone5241]

100% correct DO NOT BUY the 55 lbs, went through two in four years, ridiculous. The recent I bought last year, it was good first few months but then it started losing thrust. I thougt it was my batteries, nope. The control board is faulty an will not put out the thrust when it first came out the box, it still works but at half the thrust. I used to be a fan of Minn Kota, not sure where they are manufactuing these motors, not like it was before 2005. I had 45 lb I boght in 2005 and it lasted me a good 6 years of heavy use.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks for sharing your experience...good luck!

[@jilliangobrecht337]

What was it doing before you replaced it? I have this model, and when I hit the test battery, it just displays red bars, but nothing happens when I twist the forward or reverse.

[@TheFishingEducator]

No, it was completely dead.

[@danialcribb5242]

I took my Minn Kota Endura Max 45lb thrust out today. It ran for a little while then stopped. My battery was fully charged. I could hit the trolling motor on top, like where the battery indicator is and it would work for a few seconds, then stop working again. Then it just stopped working all together. Is this the problem that you had with yours The Fishing Educator? Does that mean the control head is bad? Thanks

[@TheFishingEducator]

Yes, I would look there first...could also be a loose wire. My issue was I trolled continuously with mine and burned up the lower housing unit.

[@Nostrafatu]

I have a 45 endura max, now I am getting worried...The problem with a lot of companies is that they choose to use cheap components at the expense of their quality. Minn Kota has a large market share so they calculate that defective trolling motors are ok since they will sell so many of them and only have to warrant a small percentage because they offer lousy guarantees. This part at $111 probably costs $25 and it is designed so that the whole thing has to be replaced. Total greed at the expense of loyal customers. Hopefully there are other brands that are better but as long as CEO's are incentive driven by only sales and not quality and loyalty we (the consumer) will continue to overpay for lousy products.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Great comment..thanks!

[@cliffledrew1904]

what were the symptoms ? Mine is skipping then shuts down .

[@TheFishingEducator]

It just stopped working....I think mine was over-used....did you run it solidly/continuously for a long period of time?

[@Teamogkstar]

I have the same one, had it since 2014ish, not had a single problem with it

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thank you for the comment.

[@coreymckibben913]

Did your wires on the inside melt together? In mine currently the black and white wires melted together in several different places, and then a red wire also looks damaged as well. I think your info has helped me solve the issue, but in comparison, I just wanted to see if your wires were melted and stuck together like mine were.

[@TheFishingEducator]

If I recall correctly, the did not melt together.

[@darr616]

What brand of trolling motor do you recommend?

[@TheFishingEducator]

I think Minn Kota's are still fine...this was just a bad one...got it on clearance. Now I know why.

[@juliosdiy3206]

Crap i just bought it, well can u tell me how u burned it up or what to avoid?

[@TheFishingEducator]

Biggest thing is to NOT run it at full throttle for a long period of time...I think that is what did it for me. I ran it full throttle, trolling, for 2 hours.

[@juliosdiy3206]

@@remigrace3462 mine is dead!

[@kmrjeep]

@@juliosdiy3206 yep only 5 months old mine just died today been out on the water half a day not running it hard and went to reverse and started cutting out then no reverse then forward also started cutting out I would start beating on it and would cut on but not fully and just did make it back to the boat ramp.

[@rogerlavigne4817]

@@kmrjeep same here. I had mine for a yr. Very disappointed

[@kmrjeep]

Actually found water had gotten down in the motor I was keeping it tilted with the handle straight pointing up and I guess some how rain ran down the handle and down the in the shaft filling the motor with water. I took it apart and cleaned everything and now just keep it stored in the down position so far it's not had any other issues this year time will tell though..

[@stevef7408]

Were you using an in line breaker?

[@TheFishingEducator]

No I was not...honestly, I think it burned up from overuse at running it in the highest speed for too long.

[@hdtripper1]

@@TheFishingEducator This is what I was told. They aren't meant to run at high speeds for any length of time for very long. You would think they would advertise this more and improve their products. I'm wondering if other brands have the same problem.

[@jaymz0074]

How's it running since you've replaced the head? Would you recommend buying one now?

[@TheFishingEducator]

I'd buy a new one...I have moved on from this motor and got a new one.

[@jaymz0074]

@@TheFishingEducator did you end up going with a different variable speed motor? What brand?

[@TheFishingEducator]

@@jaymz0074 I did...I ended up with a remote controlled unit from this company; so far it has done well....haswingoutdoor.com/trolling-motors.html

[@jaymz0074]

@@TheFishingEducator awesome, thank you

[@TheFishingEducator]

You're welcome!

[@jacksonlademann9968]

thats weird. i have a 50lb minn kota thats about 20-25 years old and it works like a charm. never had any issues.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Might just be this particular model.

[@darylquenet9957]

If it is that old it won't be a digital maximizer. It'll be the control board that burned up on him.

[@rottentodacore8489]

Yah just bought a used one of these. Thought I was getting a deal. Nope. No reverse, spins forward barely at max output. Not even sure it's worth salvaging or better just to cut my losses and go with something else.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Sorry to hear.

[@siryarwammowray3445]

👍👍👍

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks for watching!

[@expomm]

Thanks for sharing, I won’t buy that one, planning to buy Minn Kota 30lbs instead

[@TheFishingEducator]

Good choice!

[@maphyous228]

You can burn up a brand new trolling motor in a day. If you get into some weeds & don’t know how to operate it. Let alone 2 1/2 years. If you’ve ever had to row once. You’d know that $300 dollars is a cheap price to pay in comparison to how bad your arms & back hurt.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@skinnyslims5327]

Yeah but that’s besides the point this gentlemen is making. For $300 the motor shouldn’t smoke out in 2 years. There is clearly problems with this model, that’s all he is getting at.

[@chuck62830]

Same thing happened to me, 2 years and 1 month it died, with low hours. Very disappointed, I went and bought a 40 pound thrust and if it dies, I won’t buy minn Kota again. I think they are putting cheap parts on the control head.

[@TheFishingEducator]

I hope they have addressed these issues.

[@daleb5696]

I was going to purchase the 50# Traxxis but learned that the Transom mount is easily broke

[@TheFishingEducator]

Good feedback...thanks!

[@garywelker8398]

So. You get a bad one and now there ALL BAD ? lol

[@TheFishingEducator]

Maybe not, but this was a lot to spend to have it not work.

[@rhammons1]

@@TheFishingEducator I agree. I have had three of these 55's. And all went bad even though I stored them in my garage after use. I thought it was just my bad luck. One leaked and the motor head fill with water. Two just would not run even with fully charged battery. Thanks for your videos. I appreciate you not have us watch you remove all six screws.:)

[@screamingvteccc]

My motor was defective out of the box Returned it for a new one.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Wow! Quality control might be an issue.

[@screamingvteccc]

Yes the second one was good

[@robbgenaw6755]

I have a junker too. Sad really

[@TheFishingEducator]

I agree....they should last longer!

[@PRDMRE]

Wish I had known about the sealed in epoxy before I bought it. My throttle arm broke at the base, and the rheostat is sealed in the epoxy, which means the broken part that connects the throttle arm to the speed control rheostat cannot be replaced. But I will not buy another one if Minn Kota thinks I have to buy a whole control head for a simple plastic part.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Agreed!

[@brettswindell]

yep, same thing happened to me.

[@ottograff3986]

A $1.99 and a Minn lots warranty will get you a cup of coffee at 7/11.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks! I think.

[@razerburn4216]

Maybe you didn't take care of it I still have my old Minn kota that my grampa gave me 10 yrs plus

[@TheFishingEducator]

I took care of it....kept it in the garage, only used it a few times a year. Maybe they don't make them like they used to. :)

[@rhammons1]

Maybe they made them different back then.

[@brettswindell]

I have one and the switch went out but it's all fused together so you just can't replace the switch. POS - Never buy their products again.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks for the comment!

[@Cbill1987]

Mine went after a month

[@TheFishingEducator]

So sorry to hear this. :(

[@nllommertnl]

you say its $300 for it to last 2 years and 2 months. I say its $111.22 off maintenance for 2 years and 2 months. which isn't too bad. and condeming the product for being bad because YOU burned it up is kinda weird

[@TheFishingEducator]

Sorry, I have higher expectations from Minn Kota.

[@nllommertnl]

@@TheFishingEducator I get that it sucks that this happend to you. but there track record is nearly flawless. and telling everyone to not buy it because yours broke is kind of radical. but I understand your frustration. i have had my 30lbs for 3 years now and had nothing happen to it. are you sure your running it at the correct voltage? have you connected 2 batteries? if yes are you sure they are connected parallel not in series?

[@fuyt216]

Ive had one i use regularly this is my 4th season. Its been good by me. Maybe you got one made on a Monday.

[@TheFishingEducator]

LOL! Yes that is entirely possible. :)

[@brettswindell]

I've had one for less than a year, was a yr old when I bought it - the switch failed and you have to replace the entire assembly for just the switch.

[@christopherfilzen3739]

Your American flag is displayed improperly.

[@TheFishingEducator]

Thanks....I flipped it. :) Sorry.

[@jefflarsen7688]

I bought a mini kota 55 for about 500 dollar i love it so much its the best troling motor for the price