If you own a power steering bow mount trolling motor, its foot pedal is guaranteed to break at some point during the lifetime of your motor. But in contrast, foot pedals can be reliable to work providing that they are given proper care.
I’ve negatively written about how unreliable the foot pedals are for the Minn Kota Powerdrive V2 line of trolling motors. From my 2009 through 2011 fishing seasons, I inconveniently went through a total of four foot pedals (an average of 1.5 per year). Each time a problem was encountered, usually during the middle of a major fishing trip, I had to purchase a secondary foot pedal, and return the broken one to my dealer for warranty replacement.
Over the winter months, I received a brand new foot pedal courtesy of Reeds Sports from Walker, MN, and ordered a secondary pedal for back-up purposes. For technological conveniences, I even went as far to acquire the wireless co-pilot adapter in making my unit work from remote control so that foot pedals would become a thing of the past.
This past spring, as I prepared my boat for the 2012 fishing season, I took the time to disassemble my new foot pedals for examinary purposes, and see for myself why my old foot pedals continued to break, the reasoning behind it, and what I could do differently this year so these new pedals wouldn’t encounter the same fate.
The answer to this was simple, and quite obvious:
Design Flaws
The inside make-up of these foot pedals is simplistic with a major design flaw. It contains a circuit board, and a set of control levers for directional turning, speed adjusting, and acceleration engage. Beneath each of these controls lies a small plastic button, about a tenth of an inch in diameter, made from weak material, almost in the profile and color of a tiny piece of aluminum foil. As these hard plastic control levers make contact with the soft metallic colored button beneath, the trolling motor is engaged to turn in whichever direction, speed, and acceleration when pressed down on.
On my previously broken foot pedals, I always noticed that when I returned my broken pedals for warranty replacement, these small metallic colored buttons beneath each control lever were always worn out and ripped due to the hard plastic surface of the levers making contact with the soft button. Due to the button’s weak material, it struck me that depending on usage and force, it is prone to wear out. Over time these control levers will fail to make contact with the button when the surface of the foot pedal is stepped on or pressed down on.
Also, I had a secondary observation. When these pedals are received brand new from the factory, Minn Kota applies the bare minimum amount of grease and lubrication onto each white plastic control lever. This bare minimum amount is not good as it invites water, sand, and dirt to affect the performance of the pedal. As you dissect your foot pedal, these white levers are located on the right and left side of the pedal. These hard plastic levers are used as directional controls. By the time my pedals were broken and deemed unusable, the white plastic levers were bone dry with zero lubrication. In addition, my directional controls would frequently lock up, and jam the trolling motor itself.
Preventative Measures
For preventing these break-downs which have plagued me these last few seasons, I have devised a few solutions which have drastically improved the performance and longevity of my foot pedal. I have also applied a few of my own preventative measures which Minn Kota originally fails to address. By doing the same, I guarantee that your foot pedal will have a far greater chance of properly working the entire fishing season.
Step 1 :: Sandpaper protects the surface.
There’s some irony in the fact that sand destroys foot pedals but sand paper can save them.
Inside of each Powerdrive V2 foot pedal are three of those soft small metallic buttons that I’ve mentioned above. These buttons are located beneath the three control levers (right and left direction, and accelerate). Due to these buttons propensity for wearing out at the expense of the weight and force applied onto each control as the pedal is stepped on, I have applied a thin layer of protection beneath each control lever, over the surface of each button. I have found that the strongest grade of sand paper works the best of any material I’ve tried because as it’s compressed between the lever and button, it is resistant to rain and heat. It’s strong enough to withstand the force of the hard plastic control levers, and weak enough to absorb their contact so each control can engage. As it absorbs the force of each lever, the surface of each button remains protected and undamaged by the lever. I’m sure than anything made from a moderately hard yet soft material like this will work, but I’ve chosen the sand paper route. Check on your sand paper a few times each year. When you notice it’s wearing out, replace with a new sheet. It’s ironic, yet seriously effective. Best of all, it keeps sand and dirt away from accumulating onto the surfaces of each button!
Step 2 :: Apply marine grease.
Every boat and trailer owner should have a supply of marine grease as it lubricates everything from trailer bearings and winch systems to the components inside of each outboard motor. Now there’s another need for that marine grease; to lubricate the directional control levers of each Powerdrive V2 foot pedal.
As previously mentioned, Minn Kota fails to adequately grease the surface of the white plastic directional control. When dealers receive these pedals from the factory, a minimum amount of grease is applied only to minor portions of the control rather than to the entire thing. With their factory grease (which isn’t very marine grade to begin with), it doesn’t take long for it to wear out. By that point, dirt and sand will accumulate around its surface, and the control will also be prone to lock up.
Apply a healthy dosage of waterproof marine grease to the entire surface and underside of the directional control lever. Make sure everything on the right side of the lever is greased as shown above, as this portion and its bottom buttons serves as the directional control. I wouldn’t worry much about the left side of the control as it doesn’t serve much. Also, be sure to apply some grease around the black support frame the lever slides under, including the thin space in between it and the white lever. Not only will grease prevent the control lever from getting jammed due to friction, but it will also keep out sand and dirt.
Likewise, check on grease monthly. Reapply as needed.
Step 3 :: Bag it for transport.
I received this bit of advice from fishing with a friend last August. Apparently when some folks trailer from lake to lake and are on the road, they will wrap a plastic bag around their foot pedals. Since then, I have done the exact same.
As you saw from the photos above, no foot pedal is resistant to sand and dirt. Although also waterproof, most foot pedals aren’t entire resistant to water either. It’s impossible. However, by using this minor preventative measure, you could end up with far less sand and dirt, or even water, inside of your pedal in comparison to the guy who doesn’t do the same.
Already two full months into my season, I have not experienced a single issue with my foot pedal as it works better than new. I am still using my first foot pedal of the year and have not been even close to opening the container of my spare foot pedal which has also undergone these same doctored procedures. At this point last year and the year before, my first foot pedals of the season were already warn out and broken, and sent in to dealer for warranty replacement. Thanks to these methods, I am on pace to have one foot pedal last an entire season of fishing.
If you happen to own the same model trolling motor as I do, try these tips and let me know how they work for you. Be sure to check on your sandpaper and marine grease applications monthly. When both are noticeably wearing out, replace and reapply as necessary. You will be a happier and less disgruntled fisherman if you did.
NOTE – Similar preventative measures may work with other power steering bowmount trolling motors with a foot pedal that has design flaws like the Powerdrive V2. Check foot pedals and apply monthly maintenance where necessary, regardless of brand and model.
