L Series Long Shaft Trolling Motor

•Connected to battery terminals incorrectly
You can get reverse speeds if you have the red battery cable from the trolling motor connected to the negative battery terminal and the black battery cable connected to the positive battery terminals. You can simply flip their placement. If your cables are connected properly, you can swap their placement for a temporary or permanent fix as well.

•Speed Switch Assembled Incorrectly
If the motor is connected to the battery correctly, it's possible the Speed Switch (Part #8) was installed incorrectly from the factory. This is rare but can still happen. You can either use step 1 to resolve your issue or follow the battery cables back into the motor's head and note their installation location on the Speed Switch. You can then flip their placement to reverse the polarity and get the correct speeds. If this is an issue directly after purchasing your product, please contact our support team or fill out our Warranty Claim Form to request a replacement motor.

•Motor Magnets Assembled Incorrectly
It's possible that during assembly at the factory, the magnets were accidentally installed upside down or flipped. This can cause reverse polarity and having your speeds flipped. You can use either step 1 or step 2 to fix this issue.

Now that you are done with your adventure, you need a place to store your trolling motor. Here are a few examples of great storage locations:

Garage
Shed
Attic
Closet
Basement

Never Store Your Motor In Salt Water!

Our motors are saltwater compatible, but they are not corrosion-proof. Trolling motors need to be washed with fresh water and dried after use in saltwater. Please see all of our Motor Care and Maintenance articles.

•Storing a Motor On A Boat
Storing a motor on a boat is a less than ideal situation. Saltwater can eventually corrode the paint and start to eat away at the metal underneath. Freshwater can cause growth on your motor, which can also damage the paint and parts. Think about houses along the water. Every few years, the owner needs to repaint them due to the saltwater. For this reason, we strongly recommend storing your motor in a sheltered place out of the elements with regular cleaning.

If you have to store your motor on an inflatable dingy while it is on the water, you can do so by leaving the motor on the transom and tilting it into the stowed position. You can also store the motor underneath a seat while not in use. Either option will require something to cover the motor from ocean spray. You can keep the motor in a closet or on deck on a sailboat with something to protect it from the elements.

•Storing While Traveling
Remember, it is essential to remove the motor from the transom or mount it on your vessel to reduce any potential damage to the motor. Your car and trailer have springs to allow them to move up and down with the change in the road, whereas the trolling motor cannot. It would be best to remove the motor from its mounted position and place it in the back seat, trunk, or flat surface where it won’t move.

•Winter Storage
Winter is coming, and it’s time to put the trolling motor away for next season. Please take some time to remove the propeller and clean any debris. Please give it a final wash with fresh water to remove any leftover saltwater or motor growth. Pay extra attention to where the propeller attaches to the motor. Find a place that is dry and protected from the elements to store it.

•Outdoor Storage During the Winter
We do not recommend outdoor storage of your trolling motor in freezing temperatures. If you experience freezing temperatures, it is best to store the motor inside. If you must keep it outside, store it in a weather-protected area like a shed, underneath a porch under a tarp, etc.

•Removing From Storage
After your trolling motor has been sitting in storage for a long time, you can do a few things to ensure it stays happy and is ready for use:

•Check your propeller for debris.
•Check for corrosion on the motor cables, circuit breaker, or battery and remove if necessary.
•Check your propeller for chips or cracks.
•Charge your battery.

1) Install the circuit breaker and propeller on your motor. For more detailed instructions on how to assemble your circuit breaker and propeller, please see our Propeller and Circuit Breaker Assembly article.

2) Your motor is shipped with the mount titled vertically. To install the motor, the mount will need to be positioned horizontally. To do this, push the tilt lever (Part #1) towards the shaft while pushing the mount down. NOTE: Make sure your fingers are clear of the moving parts to avoid pinched skin or fingers.

3) Before getting inside your boat with the trolling motor, tighten the Directional Lock (Part #2) and Height Adjustment Collar (Part #3). This will prevent your motor from spinning freely or falling suddenly. Next, slowly lower the motor mount onto your transom. The handle should be facing you, and you should be holding the weight of the motor, so it does not take a swim! You may need to loosen your transom screws (Part #4) to allow enough room for the mount to sit on your transom.

4)Tighten the transom screws, so your motor is tightly positioned in the center of your transom. Screws should be tight and secure but not over-tightened as this can cause the screws to strip or even damage the transom.

5) With a firm grasp on the motor shaft, loosen the Height Adjustment Collar and position the center of the propeller about 12" under the water's surface. Once the appropriate depth has been reached, slide the Height Adjustment collar down to meet the Directional Lock and fully tighten it to lock the height. NOTE: If the Directional Lock is fully tightened, you may need to loosen this part to adjust the motor height.
Tip: Part #1 is used to change the angle of the shaft in the water. This is often used to take the propeller out of the water in order to remove debris. It also can be used to stow the motor out of the water. See the video below for an example of how the motor can be adjusted.

SALTWATER CARE

•Rinse With Fresh Water After Use
After using your motor in salt water, we recommend rinsing it off with fresh water. Make sure you rinse every part below the control head with fresh water. Since the top head is not waterproof, a wet rag can be used to wipe it down.
If you cannot rinse your motor off or remove it from your vessel for storage, we recommend bringing a bucket of freshwater with you to flush your trolling motor. The best method is to unmount your motor and dunk the lower motor unit into the freshwater so that it can rinse the entire motor. You would then dry it off and store it outside of the water.

•Clean Behind Propeller
It is also important to rinse between the propeller and the lower motor unit as saltwater can get trapped here. For best results, remove the blade entirely to clean and check for built-up debris. This is an area where salt can get trapped and eventually cause corrosion if not cared for.
•Dry And Store

After rinsing the motor, dry it off and store it in a dry area with protection from the elements.If you cannot store your motor off your vessel or remove it from its mounting position, the best you can do is cover your motor and place it away from the water. Simply tilting the motor out of the water and covering the top head will offer some protection. If at all possible, rinse the lower unit with water. Please see our How to Store
Your Trolling Motor article for more information on this topic.

Storing your motor in fresh or saltwater could void your two-year limited warranty.

FRESH WATER CARE

•Rinse With Fresh Water After Use
Freshwater has little to no damage to the metal and plastic on this motor, but other growth can eventually harm it. After each use, you should quickly rinse off any plant matter or growth accumulated on your motor and dry it.
If you cannot rinse your motor off or remove it from your vessel for storage, we recommend bringing a bucket of fresh water with you to flush your trolling motor. The best method is to unmount your motor and dunk the lower motor unit into the freshwater so that it can rinse the entire motor. You would then dry it off and store it outside of the water.

•Clean Behind Propeller
Generously soak the area between the propeller and the lower motor unit. This area is prone to a build-up of debris. For best results, remove the propeller, clean all debris and wash it down.

•Dry and Store
Make sure your motor has been dried before storage. Moisture could cause mold growth. It’s best to store your motor in a building with protection from the elements.
If you cannot store your motor off your vessel or remove it from its mounting position, the best you can do is cover your motor and place it away from the water. Simply tilting the motor out of the water and covering the top head will offer some protection. If at all possible, rinse the lower unit with water. Please see our How to Store Your Trolling Motor article for more information on this topic.

Storing your motor in fresh or saltwater could void your two-year limited warranty.