How hard is
the do it yourself install on this trolling motor?

I thought about installing mine, ended up paying. I had a Fortrex 112, went to the Ultrex 112. I'm glad I paid someone but for others it may be very easy. I bought the link model and did install the Hummingbird 5 port adapter to connect everything but that was it. For what most of the shops charge I think it's worth it to let them do it, it wasn't that much more expensive.

What TM are you replacing?

It was a simple install. I went from a Maxxum and had to drill for 2 of the 6 bolts, the other 4 lined up fine. The worst part was on my Phoenix I could only get 1 arm about 1/2 way to the elbow in the access hole and for 2 of the bolts I had to use an open end wrench rather than a socket.

I also went to the hardware store and bought stainless fender washers and shorter bolts that what came with the TM.

It's an easy install. Make sure you use anti-seize on the bolts. For whatever reason they send you stainless bolts and stainless nuts which are extremely prone to galling. If you could find brass nuts that would be better. In anycase, if you don't use the anti-seize there is a high probability you'll be cutting those bolts off if you ever have to remove the trolling motor.

If you are replacing a Fortrex its a piece of cake.
I can replace one in about 10 minutes on a Legend.
You will need a 7/16" wrench and a cordless drill/driver with a phillips bit.

Where did ya'll mount the heading sensor? I've heard different opinions or maybe it't not that big of a deal. Some put it right by the trolling motor, others at the rear of the boat. They installed mine on the rear of the boat, seems to work great. I thought it was supposed be a minimum of a couple of feet away from the trolling motor.

i installed mine in about 4 hours, link and all. I replaced a Maxxum and was only able to use one of the original holes, had to drill the other 5. Hardest part was finding a place for the heading sensor and getting that connected to a power source that would turn off.

I installed mine with a buddy last friday afternoon - it was easier than i expected. Re-rigging my wiring took longer than anything - my old boat was wired with the old 12/24 rigging. All in all it took us almost 4 hours - If I would not have had to mess with the wiring it would have taken much less. We used this video as a guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-NaBseGk8o

Okay someone tell me how much fun it is to replace a Motorguide Tour 109 with an Ultrex? I have an Ultrex sitting in my shop ready to go on, was thinking about tackling it this weekend............

It's not difficult. If you can drill holes, run wires, and turn a wrench you can install an Ultrex in an hour or two. Probably wise to put silicon in the old holes if you have to drill new ones.

I'm mechanically inclined for the most part! Good call on the silicon in the old holes.

Thanks.

I put mine on the back deck starboard side. No issues with it connecting to the motor.

Thanks, that's where the shop put mine.

E5Zero, you keeping the Ultrex?

Two other points of clarification here.

1. The instructions tell you to go through a fairly complicated process of "indexing the motor." I completely skipped this step, and my unit functions perfectly. I *think for most configurations this step is not necessary. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

2.Remember you need to calibrate the compass after the install. This was not clearly in the instructions I got with the unit. If you download the instructions off the web it tells you how to do this. Basically you use the remote to navigate to the calibration menu start the calibration process and then run the boat in 2 consecutive circles using the trolling motor. done.

I ran the boat in two complete circles and that was it. I have not done the heading offset, seems to work fine as it is. Unless it's way off I can't tell a few degrees anyways.

Indexing the motor was absolutely needed on mine, my rotate was off by about 3 inches. I still haven't calibrated the compass though and have been on the lake 7 or 8 times since the install, I just havent seen any issues yet that I felt like i needed to stop fishing in order to fix.

The mounting holes on my MotorGuide Tour 109 matched perfect with my new ULTREX.

If the holes don't all match, drill some holes in the Ultrex instead of the boat. I did that when going from MG to Ultrex.

That explains a lot.

Well I will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the info.

Not sure if I need to jog puck installed, don't think I will use it the way we fish

It's so easy to install, I don't know why you wouldn't. It's three tiny holes to predrill and power and ground. It doesn't need to "turn off" as it turns off when it's Bluetooth connection is lost by powering down the Ultrex. It should take less than 5 minutes for the average person to install.

Plus....you can aim the BOAT in a direction you want to travel and the Compass puck will work with the TM to keep the boat going in that direction....reguardless of crosswinds or current. It will steer the TM to keep the boat on course using the heading sensor.

It isn't just to jog fwd, and side to side...

I agree, it is still easy to install and you should definitely use it, but you do want to have it connected to your on/off power source. If you use your boat every weekend or keep it plugged in at all times then it may not matter, but if your boat sits for any period of time then the heading sensor will create a slow drain on your battery as the power does continue to run even if the bluetooth is not currently connected.

You can simply spice into your ctsy lights wiring if you want to and it will have the effect of being controlled by your power on/off switch.

Everybody was backed up so I installed mine myself. I had an Terrova Ipilot, none of the holes matched up and the two holes near the front of the bow were a b@#$ to drill/tighten...but could have just been the long nose on my boat. Parts of it you really need two guys. I am mechanically inclined but a speed reader on instructions (which you dont want to do on this). There were no installation videos out there at the time, if you can find one on Youtube but were some on the Fortrex that helped some. I would check on that, might raise your confidence and cut an hour off

The heading sensor/jog feature is one of the things I really like about the unit, allows you to click it a couple of times to jump you forward down the bank. Definitely worth installing imo.

I installed it. Thank you guys for the input.

I have an Ultrex still in the box 45" shaft. I want to use one of the quick release mounts. Which would be the best one to use? Is it necessary to use the one that slides back 6"?

I got mine installed this weekend. I was able to use two of the holes from my Motorguide, so that helped a bit. Not a bad install, did it solo.

I had to order an ethernet switch and cable to connect my Humminbirds, once it gets in I will have everything working together.

Now to get it wet!