Minn Kota Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Problems: 5 Common Issues

Minn Kota trolling motor foot pedal problems mean you’re likely to check out some of the obvious issues. And, the primary and most common thing to check out is dust corrosion. If the foot pedal gets dusted, it will certainly stop working. When the circuit board or sliding parts get dirty, the foot pedal won’t work anyway.  Furthermore, cable drive malfunctions, connection errors, and co-pilot inaccuracy are other significant issues to look upon. 

In this guide, we’ll assist you to seek out your possible issues why not the foot pedal working, and also will lead you to the solution.  

Minn Kota Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Problems With Solutions

Once you can detect where to knock, it will be easier for you to fix it within a while. So, let’s check out the given probable issues and identify which one is yours-

Problem-1:  Sliders Won’t Slide

It’s normal not to clean the different parts of the trolling motor for a long time. In that case, the sliding parts or circuit boards are in the first phase. If the sliding parts are dirty, the slider won’t slide smoothly in the required direction which will make the Minn Kota foot pedal stuck.

Solution

Take the sliding parts off and clean them with a substance that won’t attract dust or damage the parts. You can try the WD-40 through a towel, it really works fine. Again, vaseline and q-tip can be another solution to cleaning these critical parts. 

However, keep the sliding parts clean but it’s crucial to clean them with the right substance. Or else, any of the parts can be damaged. We recommend you avoid using grease.

Problem 2: Cable Drive Malfunctions

The cable-steering trolling motors are operated through the cable drive. And, it delivers a direct link between the foot pedal and the motor. If the cables get rotten, the foot pedal cannot work.

Solution

Use zip ties or PET sleeving to cover the cables in a good way. The zip ties will protect them and allow them not to be rotten. It is the easiest way to take care of the cables of your trolling motor.

Problem 3: Trolling Motor does not Turn Right

Another common problem with Minn Lota trolling motor is the foot pedal sometimes gets stuck and doesn’t turn right. Well, this issue happens when the circuit board gets dirty. Debris or dirt gets under the contact tab and creates friction holes in the circuit board which cause the foot pedal to go out. At that point, the trolling motor won’t turn right or get too slow to turn, unlike the left-side-turning condition.     

Solution

Disconnect the pedal and take off the circuit board and contact tab. Clean it. Spray down the  WD-40 back and forth to wipe the crud. Keep wiping until it is clean. Remember, if the circuit board remains dusted for a long time, cleaning it won’t work. In that case, it will be better to replace than clean.

Problem-4: I-Pilot Compatibility

Not all the Minn Kota trolling motor models are i-pilot compatible. With this regard, the Minn Kota foot pedal will entirely stop functioning if you include an i-pilot in your trolling motor.

Solution

Check out the manufacturer’s instructions on whether your Minn Kota trolling motor is i-pilot compatible. If not, remove it. 

Problem-5: Connection Disorder

If the issues aren’t yours we mentioned above, it must be a connection error between the battery and your trolling motor. But, no worries, it’s simple to remove the connection problems.

Solution

Make sure the connection is tight and clean. Corrosion in any connection point can make a connection error so easily. Check out each of the connection points, unplug and disconnect them. Clean and then plug again. Hopefully, your minn kota trolling motor foot pedal will work fine.  

Minn Kota Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Wiring Diagram

Let’s check out the diagram below-

How Do You Adjust A Minn Kota Foot Pedal?

It becomes urgent to adjust the Minn Kota foot pedal in its right place while it gets away from its alignment. In that case, you have to check out the Minn Kota foot pedal instructions.

 Following the given simple steps, you can adjust your Minn Kota foot pedal with ease-

  • Lid off the trolling motor and lift out the gear
  • Prevent the keeper screw
  • Move the place the foot pedal straight into its position
  • Make sure it matches the prop
  • Slide the trolling motor gear into its place.
  • You are done with the Minn Kota trolling motor foot pedal adjustment.

How do I adjust the tension on a Minn Kota trolling motor?

you’ll get the cable tension on the bottom part of the foot pedal of your Minn Kota trolling motor. So, turn the cable tension screw clockwise and it will increase the tension. Again, turn counter-clockwise and it will decrease the tension.  This way, you can adjust the tension on the Minn Kota trolling motor trouble-free.

FAQs

Can you change the foot pedal on a trolling motor?

You can replace it if the foot pedal doesn’t work. Before that, you should read the manual carefully. However, the Minn Kota’s foot pedal isn’t interchangeable. Therefore, you cannot change them between two different Minn Kota models.

Can you use a foot pedal with an i-Pilot?

Well, the i-pilot is designed with the functionalities of an auto-pilot. So, yes, if the model of your trolling motor is i-pilot compatible, you surely can use it with the foot pedal.

Can you add a foot pedal to a Minn Kota Power Drive?

You can add the foot pedal with certain Minn Kota trolling motors that are manufactured with PowerDriveV2, Riptide SP, PowerDrive, etc. 

Final Thoughts

To get overall control of your boat, the foot pedal keeps the key role of a trolling motor. If you are stuck with Minn Kota trolling motor foot pedal problems, our guide will come in handy, we believe. There are certain issues that you always should focus on. Do as we suggested, and your problems will no longer bother you.  

Anthony Jones
Anthony Jones

Anthony is an expert in fishing and trolling motor equipment, based in Austin. In his free time, he can often be found out on the water, perfecting his fishing techniques and testing out the latest gear.

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