Watersnake: mind of its own!!! Help!

[hatch]

Once again my unreliable watersnake is playing up. After three trips back to S.A to get repaired under warranty my watersnake 54lb thrust has started playing funny buggers. At times it simply has a mind of its own, turns on randomly, turn's off and changes speed at random times. Goes from mid speed to full speed without me ever touching the foot pedal! Unbelievably frustrating as I'm trying to fish flats and spot fish. I'm not in a financial position to replace it and because it's been over 12 months it's no longer under warranty. Does anyone have any idea what is going on with this piece of junk? And what can I potentially do to fix it....

Cheers clay

[Nugget]

Can you get your hands on another foot pedal for testing?

[hatch]

Should of mentioned! Tested it with another foot pedal, and that's not the problem. Also checked the head unit, everything seemed all sweet up there!

[MODIFIED]

I have had a bunch of problems with my pedal.

From what I can figure out it was caused from water

Now I spray the inside and plugs with marine 66 and this has made it a lot better but will still take of at full speed sometime which I think is another problem all together.

[seafin]

Had the same issue with mine, it was caused by water
replaced the mother board in the head unit.
and all was good as gold.

[Danmaso]

Try soaking the motherboard with electrical contact cleaner (non residue) about $25 a can, that will blast off any salt or anything stuck to it causing it to malfunction, if this doesnt work, kick it in the head, storm out and buy a kota, the first option worked ok for me for a while but the second option has cured the problem completely...

[hatch]

Originally Posted by CARRAGANT

Try soaking the motherboard with electrical contact cleaner (non residue) about $25 a can, that will blast off any salt or anything stuck to it causing it to malfunction, if this doesnt work, kick it in the head, storm out and buy a kota, the first option worked ok for me for a while but the second option has cured the problem completely...

Might give that a try. Ohhh believe me if i was in a financial position to buy a kota or motorguide i would do it in an instance ! the amount of times I've been ready to Sparta kick the watersnake off the front defies belief!

[MODIFIED]

I have 2 44lb at the back and a 54lb at the front.

Some days I have 142lb spinning me in circles all the way up the river

Weeeeeeeeee

[Kyle101]

Originally Posted by MODIFIED

I have 2 44lb at the back and a 54lb at the front.

Some days I have 142lb spinning me in circles all the way up the river

Weeeeeeeeee

^ haha ^ Best image just went through my mind

[bream bloke]

i brought mine new four years ago from DohDohDohDohDoh all sports at 50% off, it cost me about $300 and i have never had a problem it's still going strong...

[forsterfisho]

I've had a few watersnakes.....

Some go really, really well, few bumps and scrapes and others are sh!thouse straight out the box and never get any better.

I had one that went a bit sillly (steered where it wanted to, random speeds) which turned out to be a dodgy footpedal

Another did the same and the motherboard was corroded, so go figure

I now have a top range kota' and it is starting to steer randomly....

[youngfisherman]

Yeah Dion has a kota and it oversteers?

I think i'll go cable steer next time!

Todd

[Danmaso]

Originally Posted by forsterfisho

I've had a few watersnakes.....

Some go really, really well, few bumps and scrapes and others are sh!thouse straight out the box and never get any better.

I had one that went a bit sillly (steered where it wanted to, random speeds) which turned out to be a dodgy footpedal

Another did the same and the motherboard was corroded, so go figure

I now have a top range kota' and it is starting to steer randomly....

simple, your battereys haunted...

[Green Hornet]

I wonder if guys who exclusively fish freshwater have the same problems?
ie: is it saltwater or just water causing the trouble. I've only owned motorguides and 'kotas and never had a problem. Unless really salty I only clean the top half of my motor with a wet cloth and a bit of innox.
If water is getting in surely there must be some way of keeping it out, maybe a little gasket goo or silicone around the seals might help.

[yellaterra]

I also picked up my Watersnake for $300 on special, couldn't say no at the price. I had heard of their dramas so prior to using it for the first time I took the whole thing apart and sprayed a few layers of this on:

Never ever had a problem since...