So, yesterday morning my father-in-law and I are heading down the canal to make a fishing trip. After running for about 10 minutes I begin to hear a high pitched "buzz" sound coming from the motor, almost like a leaf would've been caught in the flywheel guard. When I look back to see what it could be, all of a sudden I hear a loud crash, see a few sparks, that sounded like gears were all of a sudded grinding together. I instantly kill the motor to see what the hell just happened.

Apparently the flywheel cover bolts came loose and caused it to rub the plastic around the guard (which caused strings of plastic to shear, hence the "buzz" sound). And after a matter of just seconds from first hearing the buzz, the flywheel cover jammed against the guard that sits atop the motor, shattering the blades on the flywheel itself. The only way of knowing these screws would've been loose is by taking the guard off the top the motor and checking the flywheel itself. These are the results.......

I have heard of it happen to quite a few people actually.

I took my mesh off. Dont need it. Just the outside gaurd is fine. Sorry to hear about that!

Rob, on a positive note, I finally used the trolling motor for the first time on this outing and was able to land a couple limits of reds. That motor sure pulls strong and it ran great, thanks again.

Had that happen on my first stage 3

Second mod on a MM should be this:

Just take that chit off the motor. Unless your cutting grass with it Im pretty sure you dont need a grass screen.

This happened to me and Cody when we first built his MB, we were coming out of a mud hole hit a little grass bed kicked the motor up and Them studs give out when the motor hit 6500rpms, they make a horrible sound like the motor just blew up or something, you should have seen his reaction when it happened . I took my studs off cut them a 1/4 high from the threads and reinstalled them to hold the ring on. You cutt them just enough to where you can get a socket on them, you don't have to worry about them anymore. After that happened to me and cody we took mine off and cutt them.

Sorry it happened to you but thanks for posting it, I will be removing my "grass screen" now.

Long time ago Gary made a post about this. I believe he removed the screen and ziptied it to the shroud. Seems like the screen would help on a pd to keep debris from falling in it especially when running in the woods and brush.