BFE Custom Gem BFE Tech Talk: Minn Kota Ultrex Quest Routine Maintenance & Quieting Guide

If your Minn Kota Ultrex Quest is getting a little noisy, we’ve got you covered.

Today, we're going over some quick, routine maintenance tips to quiet down your Ultrex Quest and keep it running smoothly. Doing this a couple of times a year will save you a lot of headaches on the water. Let’s get into it.

Step 1: Remove the Prop & Check for Line

We always start down at the lower unit. You want to make sure you don't have any braided line or weeds wrapped up behind your prop.

1. Take off your BFE quick nut and slide the prop off.

2. BFE PRO TIP: Do not do this on the water! There is a small sheer pin behind the prop that can easily fall out and disappear into the lake.

3. Inspect the shaft. Remove any fishing line, grass, or cotton caught behind the prop.

4. Once it's clean, slide the prop back on, reinstall the nut, and make sure it's good and tight.

Step 2: Check the Side Plate Screws

Next, we want to check the hardware on the side plates. It's common for these to back out over time.

1. Grab a #3 Phillips head screwdriver and check the four screws on the side plate.

2. BFE PRO TIP: If you notice they are loose, back the screw all the way out and apply a single drop of Blue Loctite (243). Never use red Loctite or anything permanent! 3. Reinstall the screws so they are nice and secure.

3. Move to the other side of the trolling motor and repeat the process for the other four screws.

Step 3: Check the Nose Plate / Motor Ramp Screws

Right at the front of the mount is your motor ramp, and the screws holding it in place love to rattle loose.

1. Take your #3 Phillips screwdriver and check the two screws on the nose plate.

2. Just like the side plates, if these are loose, pop them out, add a drop of Blue Loctite, and lock them back down so they don't fall out down the road.

Step 4: Tighten the Bracket Mounting Bolts

If you fish a lot of rough water, the bolts securing the actual scissor bracket to the deck of your boat are going to take a beating and loosen up.

1. Get up underneath your bow plate.

2. Locate the mounting bolts (usually six of them). Depending on your rig, these might be hex bolts or Phillips head screws.

3. Take a wrench or screwdriver and make sure all six bolts are completely locked down and secure.

Step 5: Lubricate the Pivot Points

Finally, we need to lube up the mount to keep it deploying and stowing quietly.

• What to use: A quick-drying silicone spray (like WD-40 Specialist Silicone) or a dry garage door lube.

• What NOT to use: Stay away from white lithium grease! It will cake up with dirt and make a giant mess on your boat.

1. Take your dry lube and lightly spray down every pivot point on the trolling motor mount.

2. Hit the lower pivot points, spray a little into the slide mechanism, and make sure to hit the upper pivot points as well.

3. Once lubricated, manually slide the mechanism back and forth to work the lube in. Make sure everything is moving freely and not getting hung up.

Keep It Quiet, Keep Fishing

If you stay on top of this and run through these five steps a couple of times a year, your Ultrex Quest will stay quiet, latch properly, and operate silky smooth.

If you'd still like to see this tutorial step-by-step this video has all the info:

Hopefully, this helps you guys out! Get out there, find more, catch more, and remember to always rig with BFE!