Shortening a minnkota maxxum shaft?

Just wondering if anybody has any info on shortening a shaft of a minnkota maxxum bow mount (cable drive)? Is it possible, not recommended, or can it be done? Any help would be greatly appreciated! I want to take a maxxum 70 from 52″ down to 42″ Thanks, Randy

Hey Copper,

I’m in the same situation right now… I ordered a shorter shaft from Minn Kota and upon receiving it noticed that it is just that… a shorter shaft with a hole drilled through the top. After seeing that, my plan is to disassemble the shaft, use a pipe cutter to take off the extra length, split and remove the excess, drill two holes, reassemble and presto? Looks good on paper… I’ll see how it goes later this week and post the results.

good luck,

Shooter

Shooter

I’ve read in various forums it can be done to a powerdrive or transom mount but mine is a cable drive. I believe there are bearings within the shaft. Just wondering what model you plan to shorten. If it has a composite shaft I don’t think a pipe cutter will work. I’ve read a hacksaw with easy strokes not to cut through wires. Also do not let any cutting debris fall down into the motor itself! Good luck and let me know how it goes?

You guys are going to want to find a Minnkota service center somewhere around you.. or any place that repairs trolling motors.

The old school transom mounts came apart easy, its not so easy with the newer motors, especially the bow mount motors. The shop will be able to shorten the shaft in a very minimal amount of time, and the work will be guaranteed protecting your investment. I know it doesnt cost much to have a longer shaft installed, and that includes the purchase of a new shaft… Its not going to cost much to have one cut down.. a heck of a lot less than its going to cost to repair your motor after an *oops*. A hack saw isnt a wise choice on a graphite shaft.. a high speed cut off tool is needed… not what you want to use with wires inside.

Just my 2 cents guys.

Thanks Fisher,

I know that would be the best way to go about it and smartest just hoping to get by with less time down and save a little $$$$…. Thanks for your input. It’s probably going to come to that. Thanks again,
Coppertop

Finished up the project today… taking apart the motor was pretty easy, there are 2 spade connectors under the head that disconnect and allow you to remove the shaft. Next I scored the shaft w/ a copper tubing cutter to get a nice straight line, then used a hacksaw to finish the job. Here’s the snag, after I cut off the shaft I found out that on the Maxxum they have bored out the shaft at the top about 1 1/4″ deep for the gear that turns the motor to sit in. I really didn’t want to have to take the shaft out of the motor so I went after it w/ the dremel and bored out the top for the gear to fit in. It took some time, (I checked the fit very often) but when I was done the gear fit snug and level. All that was left was to drill 2 holes for the screws that secure the gear, reassemble, and go fishin’. I tried it tonight and couldn’t be happier w/ the results. I ended up cutting off about 12″ and could really notice how much easier it is to raise and lower the motor. It was also nice not to have the head of the trolling motor sticking up about 2 feet and getting in the way. I guess I could have taken it to a shop but the closest that I know of is in Rochester, MN and it would have cost more in gas than the $6.00 that I paid for the dremel attachment.

good luck,

Hey Shooter,

Glad to hear you had success on your tm modifications. Just a couple of quick ?’s. I am wondering how the motor housing (bullet with skeg on it) sits on the cradle after you shortened it. Is it far from were it used to sit? Not sure if arms on scissor action are different lengths for different shaft lenghts? Also, what size shaft did you start with? and end up with? Does it look normal when up? or does it look a little screwy? Hope you can make sense of my ?’s. Thanks for the info you did give me, it already helps. Good fishin’
Coppertop
One last ? did you have to shorten your wires?

Hey Copper,

The motor housing sits fine, just back a few inches but it still rests on the plastic covered portion of the cradle. Looks fine to me and I’m kinda picky about stuff. I wondered about the scissor arm too but figured it would be fine. The shaft started at 60″ and ended up at 48″… my goal was to be able to fish 90% of the time with the trolling motor set as low as possible. As for the wires, I just carefully coiled them up and stowed them in the head of the motor just in case I ever wanted to go long again, worked out fine. Hope this helps…

-Shooter

Shooter,

Thanks again I’m going to give it a try!
Randy