Need help with an old trolling motor...

[Steve Stinson]

I picked up an old Johnson / OMC trolling motor. The previous owner said it could be wired and used as a 12 volt or 24 volt. I need to find out if this is true, and if so, how to wire it for 12 volts. It has three wires coming from the motor - Red, White, and Black.

It is bow mount, hand steered, Model #JBHL4Y, Serial Number H 7863612

If I hook the red to pos. and black to neg. on a 12 volt battery, it runs backwards at about half speed, even on the highest setting.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Steve Stinson
President
NFGFC

[Jumptrout51]

What little info I can find indicates 24v only.

[Reel Cowboy]

I picked up an old Johnson / OMC trolling motor. The previous owner said it could be wired and used as a 12 volt or 24 volt. I need to find out if this is true, and if so, how to wire it for 12 volts. It has three wires coming from the motor - Red, White, and Black.

It is bow mount, hand steered, Model #JBHL4Y, Serial Number H 7863612

If I hook the red to pos. and black to neg. on a 12 volt battery, it runs backwards at about half speed, even on the highest setting.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Steve Stinson
President
NFGFC

That is telling you it's only draw half as much power as it needs. This kinda stuff ain't hard.

[Steve Stinson]

Yup - and its also telling me that red to pos / black to neg is not the correct way to hook it up. So, my questions remain -
Can it by wired to run on 12 volts?
How do you wire it correctly?

- Steve

[Jumptrout51]

Try Black and White,see what it does.
Then try Red tied to White then Black on ground.

[Reel Cowboy]

Based on the Google images and results, 3 wires is a 24 wiring harness 2 wires is a 12V wiring harness. Hook it up to 24V and it should run full bore.
Since it's running backwards, the first thing that comes to mind is either it's in reverse (it appears as though it had reverse) or it's wired backwards.

[Mister Mullet]

Reverse the motor mount so the propeller is straight up. Then rig a Genoa or Jib with a piece of canvas. You can troll all day...with the wind.

[tin can]

I picked up an old Johnson / OMC trolling motor.

Does it have a bent shaft that goes into the front of the motor housing, or a straight shaft that goes into the center of the motor housing? If it has the bent shaft to the front of the motor housing it's a true OMC motor. If it has a straight shaft that goes to the center of the motor housing it's a Minn Kota. If it has 3 wires I'm guessing it's an OMC motor. I don't THINK Minn Kota made a 12/24. If it's an OMC there should be a switch on the head to switch it between 12 and 24 volts. If I recall correctly, it is a 6 speed motor, 3 in 12V mode, 3 in 24V mode. I'm working from memory here, but try using the white as negative. I'm thinking the red and black were power in.

[Steve Stinson]

John

The shaft is bent, and yes, there is a switch under the head of the motor. I can't read the labels on the switch, so I assumed it was on/off. I bet you are correct in that it is 12v/24 v. Are you coming to the NFGFC meeting this evening? If so, I can run back by the house and put it in the bed of my truck for you to take a look at it.

Thanks - Steve