The last few times out I had noticed an unusual noise that would come on around 3000 rpm or so. I figured it was probably some wire or cable that was vibrating and I would take care of it when I got the chance. Me never really being in a hurry I just keep it under the noise threshold rpm and went about my fishing.

Yesterday afternoon while loading stuff in the boat and unstrapping while waiting for the sloths at the boat ramp I happened to notice a crack in the lower unit. No clue how it got there. Haven't hit a thing. I don't even really need a mud motor for what I do. I baby the shit out of this thing.

We eventually launched and went poking around the lake (at a max of 2700 rpm) that was just recently reopened from being closed down from flooding. I did go over that rpm a couple of times just to rule out any of the cables/wire that I thought could have caused the noise. Caught a few fish before heading back in and waiting again for the sloths at the boat ramp. All while being pissed off about my motor.

I can post up some pics and I think I even have a video of the noise that I can post up later.

Has anyone ever had this problem? How did you go about getting it fixed?

Call Gatortail


Sent from denda this

And noone has ever had a problem with a gtr...........

Mie cracked when my prop splitin two.

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You went out on the lake after noticing a crack in you L/U? Sup wit that?

Video --> https://youtu.be/y-0DjYc9CHc

Pics:

That's an EARLY model Cast lower unit. The fins cracked on a few models so the changed castings to make that whole area solid. If you call GT they will send you 2 plates and bolts so you can sandwich that together and brace the reverse plate. They will more than likely give it to you Free of charge.

Got in touch with Gator-Tail on the 20th. Was asked on the 21st to send some pictures. I sent pictures the same day and have not heard a word since.

Well, I sent them an email yesterday afternoon and got a reply back this afternoon.

What do yall think the odds of them replacing the lower unit is instead of some band-aid fix?
The boat has been sitting in the garage the majority of it's life as the lakes have been closed due to flooding most of that time.
Hell, the motor just barely turned over 40 hours.

My guess is they'll give you some sort of clamp deal to put on the break. Definitely a half-assed band aid.

So all the shit talk about GT doing extensive R&D so their customers would not be subject to unwarranted BS was just a bunch of shit talking BS after all...

Did you ever expect any different? The general concept of going to cast was mentioned as a negative, then the kool-aid kicked in and the beatings commenced. Yet, there have been breakages that never occurred when it wasn't cast. Not just talking about that brace, either. Lots of things they could've avoided by simply thinking about what they were changing, why they were changing it, and deciding if the reliability loss was acceptable. But yeah, it's all about the customers, eh?

the cast lower unit only cracks from two reasons throwing a blade or a bent shaft witch will crack aluminum also from all the vibration. the plates that gt will send you has been a great fix and i haven't seen one fail yet after their installed. you can call gt about replacing the lower unit for you but their no need to go threw all that trouble IMO.

So far no response back from my reply to them asking about replacing the apparent eggshell of lower unit and a question about my corroding brake reservoir (I'll post another thread about that). Maybe they are just busy but sometimes it feels like they are just ignoring you.

When I first got my boat/motor I emailed them a question about the motor. Got a response about 40 minutes later to my question and said to give them a shout if I had any other questions. Being new to all of this I definitely had some questions. I responded back with some more questions about 30 minutes later and never heard back from them - ever.

Hydroturf (the company) on the other hand has been awesome.

Tell them that's not a satisfactory fix. And instead of dealing with further issues later down the road you'd just rather take your chances with a new updated lower.

-the design was changed for this very reason. They should swap it for you no questions asked and at no cost to you.

More than likely they will send the plates because that has been the fix.

To be honest all three fins could crack and fall off and it wouldn't make a difference on how it runs.

Adding the plates will not effect anything either.

They send you a drill bit and everything you need except hand tools. You do have to drill into the straight part that's connected closest to the shaft and the section attached to the reverse plate


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That's about three steps below piss poor. $8K+ for a mud motor and the manufacturer is sending out patches when the corrected part is available.

I've got the same lower and two something years later, all my fins are intact.

That cast lower with the patches on their dime is much cheaper. Why would they recall?

Let me go ahead and post an update to this thread...


Still no response since my last post on Aug 2nd.

Aug 8th - I ended up sending another email that never got a response and then calling them.

Talked to the parts guy (Duval) who answered the phone and told him I needed to talk to the boss man (Kyle). He said sure, he's in the shop, let me go get him. After a few minutes he came back on the line and said that he could not find him in the shop. I asked if he could get him to call me and we got off the phone. A few minutes go by and my phone rings. I'm thinking it was going to be Kyle but it was the parts guy I just talked to. He said if they could get my address they would get the parts sent out. This has me thinking Kyle didn't want to talk to me for some reason. I asked a few questions about this brace and my asking about a replacement lower once again went ignored. I asked about the paint of the bracket and was asked what color my boat was. I told him it was a Gator Trax and that their paint probably wouldn't match but if they could paint it black that would be cool. He said he would see what they could do.

Aug 9th - I emailed a few more questions to the parts guy about installation and my address and that I may be coming that way and if so would they be willing to put the brace on.

Aug 10th - Got a return email from Duval about the install and to let him know if I am going to be over that way and that they can put the brace on no problem. Just to let him know before noon so the parts don't get shipped out. Also got another email from him about my master cylinder that he forgot to answer.

I replied a few hours later to hold off on shipping the parts and to let me see if I can make a plan on getting over that way.

Aug 16th - I emailed Duval saying to go ahead and send the parts as it doesn't look like I will be able to come that way for awhile due to the flooding, etc.

Aug 19th - Received a package from Gator Tail. In the box was the brace with bolts and some bubble wrap. No drill bit like mentioned in a post above. The parts were black but it looked as if a newborn did the painting.

I got the brace put on a few days later and all seems good. Have only had the boat out three times since but the vibration noise is gone.

Now let's fast forward a bit to Dec 12th. My girlfriend walks in with the mail and said I got something from Gator Tail. I was like huh, what the hell is it? She hands me an envelope that is addressed to me with a "Bill to:" above the address. I open it up and it's an invoice for a "lower unit skeg plate" (zeroed out) and shipping charges dated 9/6. What. The. Hell.

1. Not once in any conversation or correspondence was there ever a mention of any kind of charge for anything.
2. It's damn near 4 months later.
3. It's dated before the bastards would hardly even talk to me.

Is this an oversight on their part or is Gator Tail this hard up for money?

This is probably the worst customer service I've ever dealt with.

Why not just call and ask them? Can't nobody answer that question for you except GT directly.

I understand your frustration, But call and speak to someone about the charge. It could quite possibly be an oversight. No one else can answer your questions except them. They have a few people behind the scenes doing invoicing, so who knows. All of these manufacturers do their best to keep most people happy, because we ALL know you cannot please everyone.

Ask to speak to Hoyt when you call. I've deal with him a few times w/ work stuff, good guy who has the authority to help you out. And when you call don't be an asshole to the person on the phone. I understand your upset with how this whole ordeal went down, but having an attitude will not help you at all.

Take a sawzall and cut that atrocity off. Then get yourself some of these.

http://www.wavewackers.com/

Another thing, since when does a company from out of state charge sales tax?