Ultrex Not Latching when Stowed

[st041986]

I recently noticed that my Ultrex doesn't seem to be locking down in place when stowed. If I push the latch bar towards the mount, it will move a bit and then lock. The latch bar is acting like it is in a bind. Is there something I need to lubricate to make this work better? At first I thought that I maybe had to bounce buster cut off too long, but it's doing it even when it's removed.

[Jonestrollingmotor]

The latch bar doesn't come into play when stowing. You're moving the latch that is located up towards the pivots. This is usually an indication that the trolling motor base is mounted in a twist, and when that happens the base isn't square to the arm. Suggest taking trolling motor off mount, pulling arm down and making sure it comes down in the center of the base. If it doesn't loosen/tighten mounting bolts til it does. When it gets square, you may have to shim under trolling motor to get it tight.
John

[Cerus]

Are you by chance babying it when stowing? You don’t need to slam it down but you don’t want to lay it down like a newborn baby either.

[Jonestrollingmotor]

Are you by chance babying it when stowing? You don’t need to slam it down but you don’t want to lay it down like a newborn baby either.

If the install is correct (some self installs just tighten the trolling motor to the boat without worrying about twisting the mount), the weight of the motor with just a little force will latch it.
John

[fishnfireman]

Also be sure the stabilizer arm is adjusted correctly.
Friend did not set his jam nut and the rod vibrated down enough it would not latch with out stepping on it.

[st041986]

Also be sure the stabilizer arm is adjusted correctly.
Friend did not set his jam nut and the rod vibrated down enough it would not latch with out stepping on it.

I'm thinking the mount has have a little twist in because it doesn't latch even when the bounce buster has been removed. When I get a chance, I am going to loosen up the bolts and see if that fixes the issue like John mentioned. The bow of my boat is tread plate and not completely smooth so there is a pretty good chance it's in a slight bind.

[fishnfireman]

Yes sir. Do like John said, got lucky on mine the first bolt I backed off was the one that needed shimmed.. If its not much SS fender washer's or nylon washers may be enough.

[st041986]

Loosening and tightening all of the base bolts seems to have fixed the issue. Stowed it several times afterwards and it locks down fine now. It actually makes an audible click now when it locks.

[fishnfireman]

[Cerus]

If the install is correct (some self installs just tighten the trolling motor to the boat without worrying about twisting the mount), the weight of the motor with just a little force will latch it.
John

Mines not twisted at all but will sometimes not fully lock if I ease it down too slow.

[Travis]

Tried and tried and tried everything. Mine will not lock unless I push head of trolling motor away from center of boat. Un mounted and re installed with new bolts. Shimmed it, loosened it... Tightened barely and lots... Nothing works. Any suggestions?

[2dwoods]

Mine used to do that and the twist was in the pivot point there's 2 small screws in each side and if one snapped it would not lock ,pull the big plastic side covers and put a screw driver on them and see

[Travis]

The black torx screws?

[fishnfireman]

The black torx screws?

yes - they are bad to back out.

[Travis]

They are tight as a tick and not broke. Still binds even after losing and tightening back

[Bradrodfish]

Until you get it to a shop and get them to look at it I doubt you will be able to spot the problem on your own. You have done everything I would have done, but I am sure that there is something that is bent or loose internal of the upper arm to amle it latch correctly.

[Travis]

Yeah it's brand new boat. It's going back to dealer n for a service real soon so I told em about it we'll see.

[Bradrodfish]

Yeah it's brand new boat. It's going back to dealer n for a service real soon so I told em about it we'll see.

Make sure they are an authorized service center or else they can't repair and make a claim.
I added the diagram below. Look at part # 528. It is inside the upper arm. If it is missing that is why the mount is not working correctly in the stored position.

https://motors.johnsonoutdoors.com/P...0_-_2020_Mount

[Travis]

It is not missing. Even with the mount loose from the boat it doesnt want to latch. Take the motor off the arm and mount and works fine. I emailed minnkota as my dealer that installed it is two hours away and I want to know my options. The arm or mount obviously has a bend in it or isnt square in some manner and it shows when weight is applied. I have over 10 hours in it I bet fiddling with the mount, arm and everything in between. Had enough.

[fishnfireman]

It is not missing. Even with the mount loose from the boat it doesnt want to latch. Take the motor off the arm and mount and works fine. I emailed minnkota as my dealer that installed it is two hours away and I want to know my options. The arm or mount obviously has a bend in it or isnt square in some manner and it shows when weight is applied. I have over 10 hours in it I beat fiddling with the mount, arm and everything in between. Had enough.

If you would keep us posted.