MINN KOTA DECK HAND PARTS & ACCESSORIES

If your Minn Kota Deck Hand anchor winch will not raise or lower the anchor, the problem may be in the power supply, lift motor, drive components, or UP/DOWN switch. The testing procedure differs between the Deck Hand 40 and other Deck Hand models, so follow the appropriate steps below.

Before testing, secure the anchor and keep hands clear of the rope, spool, and gears. Disconnect battery power before disassembling the unit or changing any wiring. Direct motor testing should be performed by a qualified technician using the correct procedure for your model.

For Deck Hand models other than the Deck Hand 40:

• Check the power supply. Verify the proper supply voltage and check whether the circuit breaker has tripped. Inspect the battery connections and connections along the battery lead wires for corrosion, looseness, or damage.
• Test the lift motor independently. A qualified technician can isolate the lift motor and apply 12 volts directly to its leads, bypassing the existing wiring and switches. If the motor does not run with a verified power supply and correct test connections, the lift motor may need replacement. See the Minn Kota Deck Hand 15/35 Motor Assembly 2887803. Confirm compatibility with your specific model before ordering.
• If the motor runs but the rope spool does not turn, inspect the drive gear. With battery power disconnected and the anchor secured, remove the gear motor from the side of the base and remove the housing cover gasket to inspect the drive gear. Check for cracks, broken sections, or stripped teeth. If damaged, see the Minn Kota Deck Hand Gear Repair Kit 350-154. Confirm fitment and follow the applicable lubrication and installation instructions.
• If the drive gear is intact, inspect the armature/worm shaft. A broken worm shaft may require replacement of the gear-motor assembly. Reassemble the unit and test for proper operation after repairs.
• Check the circuit breaker. With battery power disconnected and the breaker isolated as required, test continuity through the breaker in the positive lead between the battery and the UP/DOWN switch. Determine whether an open reading is caused by a tripped or defective breaker before replacing it.
• Inspect and test the UP/DOWN switch. With battery power disconnected, open the switch housing and inspect the terminal connections for looseness, corrosion, or damage. If the motor, drive components, breaker, and wiring check out, test the switch using the appropriate wiring diagram before replacing it.

For the Deck Hand 40:

• Check the power supply. Verify the proper 12-volt supply. Inspect the battery connections and any butt-splice connections in the battery lead wires for corrosion, looseness, or damage.
• Reset the circuit breaker. Push the small black reset button on the side of the unit next to the control switch, then retest operation. If the breaker trips again, investigate the cause rather than repeatedly resetting it.
• Test the lift motor independently. A qualified technician can isolate the lift motor and apply 12 volts directly to its leads, bypassing the existing wiring, switches, and control board. If the motor does not run with a verified power supply and correct test connections, the lift motor may need replacement. See the Minn Kota Deck Hand 40 Motor Assembly 2997816.
• If the motor runs but the rope spool does not turn, inspect the drive pin. Disconnect battery power and secure the anchor first. Check that the drive pin is in place on the opposite side of the spool from the lift motor.
• Inspect and test the UP/DOWN switch. With battery power disconnected, open the switch housing and inspect the terminal connections for looseness, corrosion, or damage. Label and disconnect the switch wires, then test continuity in the UP and DOWN positions using the terminal pairs specified in the Deck Hand 40 wiring diagram.
• Evaluate the control board. If the lift motor operates correctly and the drive pin, power supply, breaker, wiring, and switch tests reveal no fault, the control board may be defective. Confirm the diagnosis before replacing it, then retest the unit for proper operation.

If you need help with these checks or identifying replacement parts, text your Deck Hand model and serial number to 815 246 2535 or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com. Let us know whether the motor is silent, runs without turning the spool, operates in only one direction, or trips the circuit breaker.

If your Minn Kota Deck Hand raises the anchor but will not lower it, check the spool-bearing movement, momentary switch, and UP/DOWN switch circuit. The following procedure applies to Deck Hand 15-35 models, not the Deck Hand 40.

Secure the anchor and disconnect battery power before removing the cover, adjusting components, or disconnecting wires. Keep hands clear of the spool and rope. Continuity testing must be performed with power disconnected and the switch isolated from the circuit.

• Inspect the spool bearing and momentary-switch movement. The spool bearing must move far enough to allow the momentary-switch button to extend when tension from the anchor pulls on the rope. If it cannot move far enough, check for a physical obstruction or incorrectly assembled components.
• Check the spool-bearing orientation. The spool bearing, part number 2370001, should be installed with its shoulders at the top and bottom, making it taller than it is wide. Incorrect installation can prevent the momentary switch from operating.
• Test the momentary switch. With battery power disconnected and the switch wires removed, check continuity between its two terminals. Continuity should be present when rope tension moves the spool bearing and allows the switch button to extend. There should be no continuity when the spool is pushed back into its resting position. A missing click may indicate a problem, but use the continuity test rather than sound alone to evaluate the switch.
• Inspect and test the UP/DOWN switch. Check its wiring and terminal connections for looseness, corrosion, or damage. If the spool bearing moves correctly and the momentary switch passes its test, test the UP/DOWN switch using the wiring diagram for your model. Confirm a switch fault before replacing it.
• Reassemble and retest. Reconnect the wiring and reinstall the cover before restoring battery power. Test the unit with hands clear of moving components and confirm that it both raises and lowers the anchor.

If you need help with these checks or identifying the correct replacement part, text your Deck Hand model and serial number to 815 246 2535 or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com.

If your Minn Kota Deck Hand runs but struggles to retrieve the anchor, check the voltage reaching the motor under load and inspect the drive components. Low voltage, a damaged drive gear, or a drive-pin or spool problem can prevent proper lifting. Follow the steps for your model below.

Secure the anchor and disconnect battery power before disassembly or changing wiring. Keep hands clear of the rope, spool, and drive components. Voltage testing under load and observation of powered components should be performed by a qualified technician.

For Deck Hand 15-35 models:

• Check the power connections. Inspect the battery terminals and any butt-splice connections in the battery lead wires for corrosion, looseness, or damage.
• Check voltage at the motor under load. A battery may show adequate voltage at rest while insufficient voltage reaches the motor during lifting. Undersized boat wiring or lead-wire extensions, corroded plugs, and poor receptacle connections can cause voltage loss and poor performance. Use the wire gauge specified for your installation.
• Inspect the drive gear. With battery power disconnected and the anchor secured, remove the gear motor from the side of the base and remove the housing cover gasket to inspect the drive gear. If it is cracked, broken, or stripped, see the Minn Kota Deck Hand Gear Repair Kit 350-154. Follow the applicable service instructions for lubrication, reassembly, and fitment. Have a service technician evaluate a replacement gear that fits too tightly rather than forcing it into place.
• Reassemble and test. Reinstall the components and covers before restoring power, then check that the unit retrieves the anchor correctly.

For the Deck Hand 40:

• Check voltage at the motor under load. Undersized wiring or lead-wire extensions and corroded plug or receptacle connections can reduce the voltage reaching the motor. Inspect the connections and confirm that the wiring is correctly sized for the installation.
• Inspect the drive pin. With battery power disconnected and the anchor secured, check the pin on the side of the spool farthest from the motor. It passes through the spool’s metal insert and the motor drive shaft. Replace a broken pin. Check inside the cover for the spare drive pin supplied with the unit.
• Check whether the motor drives the shaft. A qualified technician can observe the drive shaft and spool during a controlled lifting test. If the motor runs but its drive shaft does not turn, the motor assembly may need replacement. See the Minn Kota Deck Hand 40 Motor Assembly 2997816.
• Check whether the spool turns with its metal sleeve. If the inner metal sleeve turns but the plastic spool does not, the spool assembly may need replacement. See the Minn Kota Deck Hand 40 Spool Assembly 2377901. Disconnect power before inspecting or replacing either component.

For help identifying the cause or correct replacement part, text your Deck Hand model, serial number, and symptoms to 815 246 2535 or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com.

If your Minn Kota Deck Hand appears to reverse direction unexpectedly, check for tangled or incorrectly wound rope. On the Deck Hand 40, also check the corded remote switch, if one is installed. The anchor can change direction because the rope catches on the spool, even when the spool itself continues turning in the same direction.

Secure the anchor before inspecting the unit. Disconnect battery power before removing the cover, adjusting the rope, or connecting or disconnecting the remote accessory. Keep hands clear of the spool and rope during operation.

For Deck Hand 15-35 models:

• Inspect the rope on the spool. Look for knots or sections of rope trapped beneath other layers. A knot or buried section can cause the rope to begin winding back onto the spool instead of continuing to feed out.
• Check how the rope feeds off the spool. Following the model-specific procedure, carefully feed out the rope and watch for the point where it catches or changes direction. Any powered inspection with the cover removed should be performed by a qualified technician, with hands clear of moving components.
• Correct the rope winding. Disconnect battery power before freeing trapped rope or repositioning it on the spool. Rewind it evenly according to the operating instructions, reinstall the cover, and retest.

For the Deck Hand 40:

• Check both switch positions if a corded remote is connected. Make sure neither the remote switch nor the switch on the unit has been left in the DOWN position. An UP command from the other switch can temporarily override that DOWN command. When the UP command ends, the unit can immediately begin lowering again.
• Test without the corded remote. Disconnect power, unplug the remote accessory, then restore power and test using only the switch on the unit. If the problem disappears after checking the switch positions and disconnecting the remote, the remote switch assembly or its wiring may be faulty. Inspect and confirm the fault before replacing the assembly.
• Inspect the rope on the spool. If no remote is installed, or the problem continues without it, check for knots or rope buried beneath other layers. Carefully feed out the rope using the appropriate service procedure and watch for catching or a change in rope travel. Powered inspection with the cover removed should be performed by a qualified technician.
• Correct the rope winding and retest. Disconnect battery power and secure the anchor before freeing or repositioning the rope. Rewind it correctly, reinstall the cover, and confirm normal raising and lowering.

If you need help identifying the cause, text your Deck Hand model, serial number, and a description of what happens to 815 246 2535 or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com. For a Deck Hand 40, let us know whether a corded remote is connected and whether the problem continues with it disconnected.

A faulty momentary switch can cause this problem. Test the switch to confirm the fault, then replace it if needed and retest the Deck Hand for proper operation.

Start with your Deck Hand model and serial number. Text that information to Lakeside Marine & Service at 815 246 2535 or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com, and we can help identify the correct replacement parts.

You can also use our Minn Kota parts diagrams to look up your Deck Hand by model and find the part numbers shown in its schematic.

If you are unsure which part you need, contact us before ordering so we can help confirm compatibility.