I have a minnkota on my boat with the composite shaft i hit a stump head trolling motor bent all the way under boat shaft flexed back into place but has a little bend you can bearly see, foot pedal is hard to turn one direction but easy the other sounds like fingers on a chalkboard! Would it be a bent bushing or that shaft?? Its 150 bucks for new shaft installed!!

Has happened to me. First try to move shaft up and down if it wont move easy the top shaft is bent.Then look at the mount real close. Last time I had to replace upper shaft and mount at a cost of around 500.00, hope yours is not as bad. Good luck.

I can move it up about 3 inches then thats all shell move

Indestructible Composite Shaft - Guaranteed For Life!
Pound for pound, our composite shaft is stronger than steel. It flexes on impact and won't break, kink or corrode. That's why we're confident enough to make it the only trolling motor shaft that's guaranteed for life.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/Authorized-Service-Providers/

Getting the receipt and heading to longview it looks like!!! Dang sure dnt wanna spend 500 i spent 600 to repair my last trolling motor worked for about 10 mins and died so paid to get a new 1 then i hammer a stump

this is the 2nd or third post about the shafts in the last few days. How fast were you going to damage it? I've hit stumps with mine and it flexes a bit but not very much.

Getting blow with the currentnot very fast but 2500lbs is s bit to stop! I believe its the metal tube above the shaft thats bent

The composite shaft on my riptide is cracked in several places right where the mount holds it. I was cruising down a creek, with the current, and TM on high when it caught on a submerged laydown. Right before I hit the 49degree water I saw the prop of the TM almost touching the keel of my boat (it flexed that much). I then proceeded to use the motor housing as a step to get back in the boat, and headed back to camp for some warm dry clothes. Less than 2hrs later I was back fishing, and the TM has functioned fine since then. I have been meaning to get the shaft replaced, just haven't done so yet.

They are tough for sure, but obviously not indestructible.

That makes sense. My boat isn't that heavy so that explains it

The composite shaft will NOT retain a bend. It will flex when you hit something. If force is held with it in a flexed position, it will break. If it's hard to steer, the upper shaft is bent and the composite is probably OK. Apx $125.00 fix in my shop. The composite is guaranteed for life to the original purchaser -- receipt required. After the initial warranty period, the labor to install is on the customer, but the shaft is replaced under lifetime warranty. If your shaft is cracked, as mentioned above, good chance water is getting into the trolling motor.
John

Replaced it myself had some parts in my shop from an old burnt up trolling motor about 30mins i had it changed out back to working smooth again!

I don't know about in breakable. I shattered the shaft into on my saltwater rig when I first got it. Warranty covered it.

I've bent a few outer tubes over the years. When I bend one, I usually order two. They are only $18.00. Check the bearings, better yet, replace them while in there.

i replace them for 100 bucks. minn kota will cover the cost of the shaft, just not the labor. your shaft isnt broken though, it's your outer tube. i can replace that also, for 110 out the door.