Reinforcing a Mega 360 Shaft?

[J.W.]

are you sure you are not tightening the clamp down too hard?  you said it broke at the clamp.  Just wondering

No, I'm not sure. I tried to be careful not to overtighten, and the transducer spun around on me, so I tightened it down some more before it broke. Was it too much, I don't know. I definitely tightened it down more gingerly this time, just in case.

"transducer spun around on me", that is probably the defect that a thread locker was not put on the shaft threads when assembled. It doesn't take much tension on the mount to hold the shaft in place.

Wayne, if you're talking about the transducer coming unscrewed from the shaft, I think I've heard of that happening before, but I think in my case the screws in the clamp just backed out from vibration and it let the whole shaft spin around. I probably should put some VibraTite on the clamp's screws.

[caddyjoe77]

are you sure you are not tightening the clamp down too hard?  you said it broke at the clamp.  Just wondering

No, I'm not sure. I tried to be careful not to overtighten, and the transducer spun around on me, so I tightened it down some more before it broke. Was it too much, I don't know. I definitely tightened it down more gingerly this time, just in case.

"transducer spun around on me", that is probably the defect that a thread locker was not put on the shaft threads when assembled. It doesn't take much tension on the mount to hold the shaft in place.

Wayne, if you're talking about the transducer coming unscrewed from the shaft, I think I've heard of that happening before, but I think in my case the screws in the clamp just backed out from vibration and it let the whole shaft spin around. I probably should put some VibraTite on the clamp's screws.

i kinda have to wonder, if your trolling motor is mounted as well as it should be. 

im asking because, being on gunt there are days when it gets really bad and I don't recall ever seeing my 360 bouncing around.  Now, granted i didn't stare at it, but i never noticed it loosening. 

my theory is this -- if your TM is not mounted securely enough, and it cant absorb the shock then it will pass the energy to the mega 360 most likely.  If nothing else, take a good look at your TM and the way it is mounted. 

[Wayne P.]

are you sure you are not tightening the clamp down too hard?  you said it broke at the clamp.  Just wondering

No, I'm not sure. I tried to be careful not to overtighten, and the transducer spun around on me, so I tightened it down some more before it broke. Was it too much, I don't know. I definitely tightened it down more gingerly this time, just in case.

"transducer spun around on me", that is probably the defect that a thread locker was not put on the shaft threads when assembled. It doesn't take much tension on the mount to hold the shaft in place.

Wayne, if you're talking about the transducer coming unscrewed from the shaft, I think I've heard of that happening before, but I think in my case the screws in the clamp just backed out from vibration and it let the whole shaft spin around. I probably should put some VibraTite on the clamp's screws.

The shaft is threaded and attaches to the pointer that goes inside the pod pointer and held in place by two screws. Some MEGA 360's were shipped without a thread locker so the pod will unscrew.

[J.W.]

are you sure you are not tightening the clamp down too hard?  you said it broke at the clamp.  Just wondering

No, I'm not sure. I tried to be careful not to overtighten, and the transducer spun around on me, so I tightened it down some more before it broke. Was it too much, I don't know. I definitely tightened it down more gingerly this time, just in case.

"transducer spun around on me", that is probably the defect that a thread locker was not put on the shaft threads when assembled. It doesn't take much tension on the mount to hold the shaft in place.

Wayne, if you're talking about the transducer coming unscrewed from the shaft, I think I've heard of that happening before, but I think in my case the screws in the clamp just backed out from vibration and it let the whole shaft spin around. I probably should put some VibraTite on the clamp's screws.

i kinda have to wonder, if your trolling motor is mounted as well as it should be. 

im asking because, being on gunt there are days when it gets really bad and I don't recall ever seeing my 360 bouncing around.  Now, granted i didn't stare at it, but i never noticed it loosening. 

my theory is this -- if your TM is not mounted securely enough, and it cant absorb the shock then it will pass the energy to the mega 360 most likely.  If nothing else, take a good look at your TM and the way it is mounted.

Well, there actually is a little flex in my trolling motor, and I'd love to get rid of it, but I do not know how to get rid of it easily. The screws are all tight. I could probably make it more solid by putting some C-channel or treated wood under my trolling motor bracket. I attached a picture to show you why it flexes some. The TM is mounted on top of an aluminum bracket. The bracket is what has the flex, because it's just bent sheet aluminum, and hollow underneath. 
I think another part of the problem might be that my boat needs a long trolling motor shaft, so that also means a lot of 360 shaft hanging out below the clamp. Lever arms and all that.

[caddyjoe77]

it does seem like since there is no support under that could contribute to the problem, that is quite a bit of weight on the front side of that bracket.

did you try putting anything under to support, as you mentioned?

[J.W.]

it does seem like since there is no support under that could contribute to the problem, that is quite a bit of weight on the front side of that bracket.

did you try putting anything under to support, as you mentioned?

Not yet. We're almost done with tournaments for this season, so I will see what I can come up with then.