Help!!!

My old faithful Johnson went out this morning. (I loved that thing) Cable broke to the foot pedal. Im biting the bullet and going to get either a MK maximum or Fortrex. Which of these two, do you guys like the best??? And what size shaft do I need for a 93 P2???

This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by Preacherboy.

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April 1, 2013 at 2:16 pm #378506

VTBassCat
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Start by taking off the vent cover on the drivers side. That will give you a straight(er) shot at the pipe that runs alongside the back deck and comes out by the engine controls. Get yourself a good electricians fish and someone with a skinny arm. Like everything, the right tool and prep makes all the difference.Bill Spence St. Albans, VT [url=mailto:billspence@yahoo.com]billspence@yahoo.com[/url] http://www.twinstatebassin.com Bass Cat Boats http://www.basscat.com Vexilar Marine Electronics http://www.vexilar.com

April 1, 2013 at 2:21 pm #378508

apdriver
Participant

I put a lss2 on my boat and this is what I did. First I started at the back of the boat and went forward. Start at the transom and route how you want it to go. Work to the right corner. I removed the right side bilge vent to expose a hole where you will have a straight shot forward along the rub rail. Then I took an electricians wire puller/ snake (looks like a long tent pole and flexible) and worked it up that rub rail to the hole underneath the console. Then you can pull your cable through. Dont start in the middle as the transducer is big and wont easily fit through any tight spots you may encounter. I think a small piece of PVC would work as well and would save you some money over purchasing an electricians snake. I mounted my lss box on the side wall underneath the console, however, someone else said they mounted it inside the rod box. Hope this helped and good luck.

April 1, 2013 at 3:32 pm #378513

brewcat
Participant

I have a long flexible skinny wood house floor trim piece that slide into the RH rod locker aft outer opening, all the way back to the RH aft removed vent. Doing it slowly works like a charm.

April 1, 2013 at 4:46 pm #378516

apdriver
Participant

Glad to hear it worked for you Brewcat. I think you will enjoy the LSS…Good Fishing……

April 1, 2013 at 5:46 pm #378519

Ryan2005
Participant

I have used some small diameter pex pipe but also used an old cb whip antenna and it worked great. I put my module in the rod box, well worth it once you get it installed and fired up.

April 1, 2013 at 10:12 pm #378522

kbgfish
Participant

disconnect your old transducer cable and tie or tape a piece of rope or an electricians fish tape to it pull that back to the bilge tape the unit plug to the rope/fish in the bilge pull back up to consoleBest of luck

April 2, 2013 at 2:30 am #378525

bbaltz
Participant

Thanks guys Ill give it another shot when I get off work in the morning.

April 25, 2014 at 5:38 pm #460909

mike dominick
Participant

Id get a 24 volt 80 pound thrust Fortrex with a 45″ shaft, youll be thrilled.

April 25, 2014 at 9:30 pm #460910

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Well my wife comes home tomorrow from being at the beach a week with the youth at church… And I just spent 1300.00 on a new MK Fortrex.I mean good grief… This was a emergency!! Surely shell understand. Dont yall agree??

April 25, 2014 at 9:38 pm #460911

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

What Johnson do you have? 24 or 12/24 model?BCB

April 26, 2014 at 3:31 am #460912

Preacherboy
Participant

12/24. 55 thrust I believe

April 26, 2014 at 11:07 am #460913

cef1965
Participant

If the cable is all that broke and the TM is working without any issues, I would try to find a cable before replacing the TM. The OMC manufactured trolling motors were made very well. My old boat still has the one it came with 12/24 and works great. If you cant find a cable, the MK Fortrex is a superb TM.

April 26, 2014 at 2:43 pm #460914

Ccfish
Participant

Go with the fortrex. Had a maxxum on my last boat. Screws, bolts, and pins always worked themselves loose usually had to tighten them up on the water at least once a trip. Had the fortrex for 2 years now and no issues. The 36v is a beast and the lift assist is nice too. Put one of those steel cable pull ropes on it, just one less thing to worry about while your fishing.

April 27, 2014 at 1:16 am #460915

Preacherboy
Participant

Got the Fortrex on and used it today. No complaints except figuring how to adjust the pedal direction to my liking. But… It sure aint what my Johnson was… Plenty Strong, small and compact on the front of the boat. Unlike the Fortrex that is big and bulky. It seems like this thing is massive overkill sitting on the bow of a P2. I do like the shock on the Fortrex. It seems to help deployment as well as pulling it back up. Still not sure what position the top is supposed to be in (stored and deployed) that would be best for the cable while fishing and traveling.Everything you guys have told me is correct about the Fortrex, including what was said about the loose bolts on a maximum. I say that, because my previous P2 had a maximum on it and I was continually tightening something that had worked loose… But, I just always figured it was because it was old and wore out, being a 74 thrust. So, the Fortrex is good… Itll just take some time getting over the Johnson. (Why they ever stopped making them is beyond me)

April 27, 2014 at 3:57 am #460916

Ccfish
Participant

On mine the cables on the head are to the right and up a little maybe 20 deg. Or so. Prop is also to the right when stored. Puts the pedal flat and not in a bind. Just how like it, but stored anyway that doesnt put the pedal to the max one way or the other is fine. Also with it sitting high like that it keeps the trolling motor of your rods. A couple trips with that fortrex and youll forget all about that Johnson.
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