2017 Skeeter Minn Kota Fortrex

[Lookout]

Minn Kota head pops and cracks. Any advise sounds like metal hitting metal when u change directions???

[Meleagris1]

I had this issue with some of the Fortrex motors and MK had no solution for it. There is a thread on here where I posted a video of the noise it makes - drives you nuts. The noise is coming from the bow guard pivot.

[Lookout]

I noticed a friend of mine had a Fortrex and it has a extra white nylon washer on his that is not on mine. Going to see dealer this am

[GOFISH$]

Minn Kota head pops and cracks. Any advise sounds like metal hitting metal when u change directions???

Prepare for frustration: MK will claim they have never heard it, and most who have the fortrex will do the same. I'm on my second one and they both do it terribly. Most people I know that have fortrex have the "change of direction pop" at any speed over 40. I think the fortrex bracket is junk!

[Lookout]

It is most definitely. MK told me to take to a service center but if there's not a fix I think I'm gonna get a Ultrex. I can't stand that racket.

[Lookout]

Wonder if the Ultrex is the same ?

[Cclutter1]

I put a thin light grease on the ball portion that it pivets on mine is quite as a church mouse now.

[Meleagris1]

I put a thin light grease on the ball portion that it pivets on mine is quite as a church mouse now.

I tried every possible substance know to man on mine and nothing would fix it. I think its worse on longer shaft TM's - mine were 52's.

[Meleagris1]

Wonder if the Ultrex is the same ?

No - I have the ultrex now and its quiet - that's because they ditched the breakaway mount.

[GOFISH$]

I tried every possible substance know to man on mine and nothing would fix it. I think its worse on longer shaft TM's - mine were 52's.

Cclutter, you do not have the "change of direction pop" we and many others are discussing. There is no substance that will fix this. It is a faulty Minn Kota bracket design plain and simple and can be verified with a quick search on the internet. I sold a 101 to get the new 112 hoping they had a fix. Within a month the same sound is back and is driving me crazy. The only thing more crazy is the denial of the issue by MK, their service centers, and those who have the same but will deny it because it is "what they own". MK owners told me over and over how much better fortrex was over motor guide. This has not been my experience at all. My motor guides had their issues to be sure but fortrex is by far the nosiest TM out there. It is my experience that most will defend their brand no matter what and can seldom be objective. I prefer telling it like it is and the fact is, the minn kota fortrex bracket is BAD! We pay way too much for trolling motors for them to continue to be the weak link on our bass rigs.

[Lookout]

How do you like the Ultrex?

[reelman]

Anyone want to hear my 2016 112 sobs? I thought not...
foot panel out/replaced under warranty and 2 ropes popped in under a year...
so get G-Force cord and that G-Nut deal that quiet the motor...

Since then.all seems fine...rig new late Feb 2016...MK must be farming out too much
w/o tight QC to China...

[Randy T]

I had developed a popping noise. I sprayed the bow guard with silicone. I also placed the soft side of Velcro on my front ramp. Look at TH Marine they make a similar padding for this. Noises were gone. I wasn't quite at a development like what Meleagris1 said and showed in a video. I have also noticed that the Gforce silencer works really well below 40%. A bent shear pin or too tight or too loose on the prop nut will cause lots of vibrations too.

[Meleagris1]

How do you like the Ultrex?

I really love the Ultrex - totally silent and just an amazing piece of equipment.