Minnkota Trolling Motor Control Potentiometer Redesign

Many Minnkota trolling motors have a design where the speed control (as determined by the twist on the control handle) is passed through the control handle knuckle through a universal joint and then to a potentiometer in the head. If you're back trolling and the power head isn't locked in well, the motor can kick up and break the potentiometer shaft if the control handle contacts anything. The FreeCAD files are included if you want to tweak anything. Build instructions: This design moves the potentiometer from the head into the control handle, eliminating the universal joint. This project requires a Bournes 3310Y-101-102L sealed potentiometer. To build, print all the pieces (maybe not the detent spring, unless someone in your house lost yours...) in PET-G or ABS (PLA would probably rot in this environment). Cut the old potentiometer out at it's terminal and attach pigtails long enough to reach into the handle. Solder the pigtails to the potentiometer as shown in the pictures (white on top, black on left and red on the right - as seen from the rear of the potentiometer); make sure to use heat shrink on all soldered connections. Wrap the wires passing through the knuckle in some plastic loom to prevent abrasion. Install the potentiometer into the potentiometer holder as pictured with the white facing upward relative to the control head (again as pictured). I've used hot glue and my hot air rework gun to pot the potentiometer into the holder to keep it in place and further prevent water ingress. Install the retention nut on the front of the potentiometer. Remove the old handle sleeve from the control handle shaft and salvage the screw. Install the new handle sleeve on the control handle shaft and secure it with the salvaged screw. Insert the potentiometer head into the opening on the handle sleeve and place the whole assembly back into the control handle. Reassemble.