Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Motorguide problem
I was out fishing today.Getting ready to move to my next spot,reach down grab the handle for the t motor and it wont budge.Its locked up tight and wont move.I messed with it for 30 mins.on the water and finally gave up.took the motor off straped it to the deck and back to the ramp I went.Once on the trailer I was able to get it released by taking off one of the pins on the front of the bracket.What could have caused this,didnt hit anything with the motor,dont just drop it to deploy or stow.The boat is new with only 23 hours of operation.It will release now but is really tight.It has always been very hard to stow having to push down on the head of the motor while pulling the rope.This is my first motorguide,always had MinnKota on my other rigs.Im a little frustrated at this point.Any suggestions anyone?Also the bounce buster arm never gos into position when stowing the motor,I always have to move it by hand.Thanks
Loosen the troller in the gator mount bracket and turn the head and see if that solves your problem.
Thanks Phil,it fixed my problem,you made me very happy!
That wont fix it, though you can remove the top head and realign the pointer. On some you can use the internal ratchet system and go around with the pointer pressing down with the palm of your hand and realign them also. They only swivel one way.
Besides what has already been said, over time the cables will stretch and you may have to re-adjust the pedal. Your owners manual will tell you how to do it.
MG pointers have always been a problem. Mine has been broken since a few months after I got the boat. Its not a biggie to me since I just use my foot to feel which way I am going. If someone gets up there that uses the pointer to control the direction they are all over the darn place. Ive had MG on and off since the 80s and all of them have been this way, you would think they would have this figured out. Oh well the rest of the TM is holding up stout and I can live with a broken pointer.
On My Tour Editions you can tighten the engagement between the drum gear and the pointer gear. Never had any other MG motors except a rack and pinion that came on my Baker Tunnel. I got rid of that thing as soon as I realized it could never be permanently fixed. Bob La Londewww.YumaBassMan.comTournament Directorwww.YumaProAm.com–Bob La Londe Forums, Free Lures, Product Reviewswww.YumaBassMan.com CNC Molds N Stuffwww.CNCMOLDS.com
Bob La Londe…..I know this sounds dumb but how do you tighten the engagement between drum and pointer gear? My pointer gos off frequently from the actual direction MG Tour Edition 82. I can push on the top to get it back but that seems like it would wear over time. Thanks
Inside the head one of the gears is mounted on a plate. Loosen the screws and adjust the plate to move the gear.–Bob La Londe Forums, Free Lures, Product Reviewswww.YumaBassMan.com CNC Molds N Stuffwww.CNCMOLDS.com
but wouldnt a dab of silicone on the bottom of the arrow keep it in line unless it required a separation….even a silicone that was non hardening?
The mount has settled and twisted, take it to your dealership for tweaking. One corner or opposing corners must be loosened.
Sounds just like mine
Yep! Sounds like it needs to have the shims adjusted a little . Minnkotas will do that tas well .
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats

