Todd in NY

Thanks Dan and Pap, I was wondering if the coated cable would work better, it seems like it would hold up a lot longer than the lanyard.

Thanks for the tip with the handle, Pap! Does your boat have a swim platform? Mine does, and it seems to not allow the lanyard a straight enough pull from the transom to the plate. Just wondering if my swim platform might be getting in the way.

I haven't used the trolling plate yet because the lanyard needs to be replaced, it is frayed about 75% through at the release lever. It is also real "sticky" when pulling on the release lever by hand. I ordered a parts kit for it from the Happy Troller web site so I can replace the lanyard and the springs, and $10 for the kit is reasonable IMO. The plate is supposed to be stored in the down position when not it use, and I the PO didn't know this because he's not a fisherman, and he admitted that he didn't know anything about the trolling plate. I also downloaded the owners manual for the plate and I found out that the plate is also supposed to be lubed before each fishing trip. I'm guess WD40 will work, or would a spray type lithium grease work better (like PB blaster brand)? I also ended up buying a pair of 28" Amish buggy bags because my 2 buckets weren't getting my speed down below 2.5 mph, and that was at bare minimum RPM's. With these 28" bags I am able to get my GPS speed down to 1 mph. I didn't know if I would need the 22" bags or the 28" bags, but with everything that I researched, my trolling speed at idle (800 to 1,000 RPM) was over 3.5 to 4 mph according to both FF GPS units. Maybe the 22" bags would have been ok, but I was also comparing it with my friend's boat. He has a 26ft Penn Yan with a 5.7L, his boat weighs 6500 pounds and he uses 22" buggy bags to get his speed down to 1.2 or 1.4 mph. Comparatively, my boat weighs 3500 pounds and has a 5.0L, so I figured I couldn't get my speed down far enough with 22" bags, especially if I were going with the current. Best of luck to all who are fishing this weekend. I'm doing yard work and replacing the power steering and alternator belts on my boat. I'll hit the lake next week when it's less crowded at the boat launches.

I wish mine had zerks on them, it would be an easy decision.

Another possibility... If I lose another bearing buddy I might go back to those tin caps, they're a lot cheaper

Thanks Pap, never heard of it, but sounds like some good stuff.

The bearing buddies that I am currently using are the 1.98" size. I tried using my dial calipers that I use for reloading but they are too long to fit with the wheel on the hub. I was going to measure for an out-of-round surface somewhere inside the hub, but I didn't want to have to remove the wheel. The bearing buddy has to be seated with a dead blow hammer, and doesn't seem to seat any easier than the other 3 bearing buddies, so it has to be off by thousandths of an inch. I might end up replacing all 4 hubs this year just to be on the safe side, and all new brake shoes too. The trailer sat for the last 2 years because the PO kept it in a boat slip.

Thanks!

Can you post a picture of your 12 pound torpedo?