Minnkota troubles

[davo]

My mate and I have had a run of failures on our Riptide bowmounts. First the maximiser then the autopilot. Actually my mate has had two autopilot failures. Has anyone had similar experience? Ours are different models but both 24Volt 65lb

[pegasus]

Hi Davo- wow-sorry cant help with any thing on the 65lb but have a 55RTAP and it has been excellent over the past 4 years. Have Minn Kota looked after you with the problems?
regards
lew

[davo]

Yes we've been looked after but it's not a nice feeling. You've spent your money and considering it's nearly three years old I'm disappointed. I suppose it's because I use mine a lot and I going up to Mackay soon for some impoundment barra fishing so I don't need the dramas. I had a similar thing with Lowrance. Everytime I had holidays the sounder would die. We I fixed that one, I use Garmin now.

[Goodoochaser]

Hi Davo,

I have a problem with my 42 LB riptide bowmount, I posted the problem quite a while ago, looking for an answer, still living with the fault. When on auto pilot every thing can be fine for a while, then suddenly it takes off and starts spinning around, you have to react pretty quick and tap the foot control to stop the power cord wrapping up around the shaft, and get you back on course, bloody annoying!
I am wondering if that’s the same problem you had.
When you take the cover off the head and expose the auto pilot compass there appears to be 2 electronic adjustment screws, I have an idea they may be some sort of sensitivity adjustment but I'm not game to move them until someone can confirm that and which one does what.
Any clues appreciated.

Howard

[macca]

Howard

I have a RT55AP that does the same as yours. Apparently I have heard it is a common problem, something to do with the compass settings.

I believe you can send it back to bla and they will fix it. I have just been too lazy and have not wanted the hassle and put up with it.

Maybe give them a ring to sort it out, try this link, minnkota.com.au

Macca

[cjbfisher]

I've heard of many people sending their motor back to BLA to be fixed, but they still do the same thing.
I have a theory on why they do this. I don't know if it is close to the mark or complete and utter bullsh1t. Here it is.
The motors are designed and manufactured in the northern hemisphere. We live in the southern hemisphere (obviously). When the boat moves off course, instead of the motor moving to either the left or right to correct the direction of travel, it moves in the opposite direction until it reaches the correct position. ie instead of moving 2 degrees to the left, it moves 358 degrees to the right. A bit like the water swirling down the dunny the opposite way up there.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Chris

P.S. one way to fix the problem. Get a cable steer!

[mangajack]

From my experience I have noticed that the autopilot will take the long journey around to a heading if there is an interference with the magnetic field near the motor. I noticed my autopilot jitter left and right while not needing to travelling under high tension high voltage power lines and i noticed that if you are spinning with a chrome steel lure like the old toby spoons you will get a reaction also if you leave the lure near it or back cast near it. I havent had any serious dramas with mine yet touch wood.

Jack

[Goodoochaser]

Macca,

Sorry to hear you have the same problem with your Autopilot, but glad its just not me.

My problem is I carn't do without the thing, I would suffer bad withdrawals if I could'nt get my fishing hit, so I carn't send it away, I put up with it or flick it to manual when it gets to bad and keep fishing.

Some of the replies could be on the right track, I have certainly thought about magnetic influence but their seems to be no pattern to the problem.

Chris could have a point with north and south hemispheres as there is a difference in better brand compasses between the 2 hemispheres. For Australia some form of correction is built in to keep the needle or plate to keep it level, something to do with the position of the earths magnetic pole, but for the Minnkota I would think its not a critical factor, it only needs a reference point to fix onto to hold the head where you steered to.

Im still leaning to sensitivity settings and the ajustments in the head, I think I will bite the bullet and have a fiddle, would be good to sort it out.

Thanks

Howard