3 Most Common Problems With Garmin Force Trolling Motor
Garmin force trolling motor model is one of the most efficient and powerful trolling motors because it is fast, well-balanced, silent, and has precision GPS routes setup.
However, I have found a three most common troubleshooting issues that users have experienced so far and today’s article, I will reveal the possible reasons behind those issues and how to fix them.
| Problems | Reasons |
| Trolling Motor Causes Unexpected Boat Movement | Tightly compressed coil cable Misalignment of the trolling motor shaft |
| May Cause Potential Electrical Fire | Loose connection of connecting nuts, bolts, screws and terminalsInaccurate circuit breaker installation |
| Trolling Motor May Deploy | A safety strap secure connection failure |
3 Common Garmin Force Trolling Motor Problems:
1. Motor Causes Unexpected Boat Movement:
Some of the Garmin force trolling motor users have complained that sometimes the motor forces the boat to unexpectedly jerk or move quickly than usual.
They also claimed that this particularly happens after the anchor lock feature is engaged.
Therefore, let’s try to find out the possible reasons behind this troubleshooting problem.
Possible Fix
This type of problem can arise either because of the coil cable or the misalignment of the trolling motor shaft. But to figure out the exact reason, you need to investigate both problem areas.
It may occur when the coil cable is tightly compressed between the shaft cap and the steering housing.
If that is the case, you need to be precisely careful while setting the trolling motor’s depth. When setting the max depth, make sure the coil cable is not too tightly compressed in between and free enough to move when the motor steer.
Remember, the distance from the shaft cap bottom to the bushing top of the steering housing should be not less than 4 inches or 10 cm.
If the gap is less than 10cm or 4inches as I have already mentioned, it means the coil cable compression is causing the problem. So, verify the max depth setting and if it is too tight, make it as suggested.
The problem may arise when the motor shaft is out of alignment…
To verify whether you have the accurate motor shaft alignment or not, follow these two tests:
Test:1 You can visually check the Top Bushing of the steering housing for any damages or cracks. The bushing may have a loose connection or may get disconnected from the steering housing. So, inspect thoroughly, and if you notice cracks or find a connection issue, that means the shaft is not aligned in the correct position.
In that case, you have to contact your dealer or service provider to fix it. Otherwise, take help from your trolling motor’s service manual because the details servicing steps with diagram are given there.
Test:2 Another way to verify is to investigating the propeller’s stowing direction. For observing the stowing direction, first, go to the remote control’s settings option. Next, select trolling motor and then select the prop stow side. Now note in which direction the propeller is configured to stow.
After that, transition your motor to the stowed position from the deployed. Now, observe your trolling motor’s behavior. If the motor automatically turns to any direction, but not the side you noted before, that means the shaft is misaligned. Better to contact the Garmin service provider.
2. May Cause Potential Electrical Fire:
Another commonly encounter problem with the Garmin force trolling motor is unexpected electric fire on the wire insulation.
Though Garmin has a great technical quality maintenance team to ensure that all the connectors, nuts, terminals are securely connected, in some cases, the connections may lose the grip.
As a result, overflow of heat on the power cable leads to have an electrical fire exposure.
Possible Fix
This problem may arise either because of the loose connection of one and more connecting nuts, bolts, screws and terminals of your trolling motor or inaccurate circuit breaker installation.
There are two ways to fix this problem, so follow whichever suits you better:
Step:1 If you can securely tighten the connection without entirely disassemble it.
First, turn off the power and transition your motor to the deployed position. Then, carefully remove the rubber shield from the steering servo housing’s positive terminal.
Now you have clear access to tighten the nuts so, take a 10 mm socket and securely tighten the power cable connection. After finishing, observe closely, and if you have tightened the nuts properly, there should not be any distance between the ring terminal, nuts, and washer.
Now that you have secured the power cable connection, put back the rubber shield in its position. Next, follow the same steps for the negative terminal too, and after finishing, turn on your motor power. Now check whether it is working properly or not.
Step:2 Sometimes, because of the mounting location, accessing the power cable connection on the steering housing with a 10 mm socket becomes difficult. That’s when you need to follow this partial disassembling option to tighten the power cable connection.
Start the task by turning off the power and transitioning your motor to the deployed position. Now, you need to disconnect the power cable from the display panel so, turn the connector collar of the mount’s upper link counter-clockwise. Next, you need to remove the screw and washer from one side of the upper pin by using wrenches or two 4mm hex bits.
Then, look over to the cable junction box you will see three screws that are holding it. So, use a wrench or 4 mm hex bit to remove them. After that, create slack in the pull cable and move it aside. Now, bend the steering housing forward and remove the cable junction box from the steering housing. Then, remove the rubber shield from the steering servo housing’s positive terminal.
Now, hold the cable junction box in one hand and tighten the nuts by using a 10 mm wrench. When you are done, put back the rubber shield and repeat the same process for the negative terminal. After finishing both terminals, remove the slack and reinstall all the disconnected screws and disassembled parts in their places securely.
3. Trolling Motor May Deploy:
According to the force trolling motor users, sometimes the motor deploys, especially when they turn the boat at high speed in rough water.
Some users have also mentioned that the motor deploys even though the vessel is still moving. And if the motor is deploying while the vessel is still moving, that is an alarming sign because if this issue continues, it can severely damage the motor and vessel both.
Garmin has acknowledged this issue and pointed that it can be a safety strap failure problem, which is fixable.
Possible Fix
If the safety strap is not securely connected with the trolling motor when the motor is turned in the stowed position, this type of problem arises.
The unsecured safety strap will allow or lead the motor to deploy at high speed. This condition can eventually cause major harm to your force trolling motor. So as soon you find out about this problem, you need to act precisely.
The easiest solution is installing a latch kit to increase the rigidity of the latch system in rough conditions. Therefore, when your trolling motor is in stowed position on the rough water, the latch kit will help your motor not deploy and run smoothly.
However, if the issue is caused by the failure connection of the safety strap on your trolling motor, only installing a latch kit will not work. In that case, you have to secure the Safety Strap. To do so, first, keep your trolling motor in the stowed position and lift the safety strap’s long end over the trolling motor’s top.
Now, feed that strap’s end into the buckle on the strap’s other end. Then, keep dragging the strap through the buckle till it securely holds the trolling motor to the mount. After that, remove the strap from the buckle and fasten it to the other side of the safety strap by pushing it down.
What The Majority of Users Feel About the Garmin Force Trolling Motor?
Garmin claims that force trolling motor has successfully passed their independent testing, including eye, feet, and feel test. The result indicates that this motor delivers 30% more thrusts than other leading competitors.
Based on the Amazon customer review panel of amazon, 82% of users have expressed their 100% satisfaction after using the force trolling motor. But a small group of customers has complained about the three most common problems, which I have already explained.
Final Thoughts:
It is always beneficial to do thorough research and get a heads up about all the troubleshooting problems that may arise after making the purchase decision.
Similarly, some common issues may arise with the Garmin trolling motor, but fortunately, those problems are easily correctable.