Making home made ice eater???

I have a couple of unused trolling motors that I am going to use to make ice eaters. Question is after I cut down the shaft to fit the trolling motor inside the PVC pipe or bucket, how do I make the hole where the wires go into the motor waterproof?
 
Mike, I haven't seen the design, but my first thought would be can you cut off the top instead of the bottom? That way you wouldn't have to touch the factory seal?
 
Geoff Pike said:
Mike, I haven't seen the design, but my first thought would be can you cut off the top instead of the bottom? That way you wouldn't have to touch the factory seal?

The ice eater design, orientates the motor housing vertically, thus the shaft will be horizontal and completely under water, regardless of shaft length.
 
I am in the process of this as well. Take it for what it's worth as I have not completed mine or tested it, but I packed the cut shaft with 100% silicon outdoor waterproof caulk. I also added a PVC end cap over the cut shaft with hole drilled as close to the size of the remaining wires to minimize flex on the wires to help prevent any leaking.
 
Braden Maddox said:
I am in the process of this as well. Take it for what it's worth as I have not completed mine or tested it, but I packed the cut shaft with 100% silicon outdoor waterproof caulk. I also added a PVC end cap over the cut shaft with hole drilled as close to the size of the remaining wires to minimize flex on the wires to help prevent any leaking.

How about a pic when you get it done? What are you doing for blades? I'm thinking of just keeping the trolling motor intact and focusing the output thru a big piece of PVC or culvert pipe.
 
What you are looking for is called a potting compound. That is what was on the trolling motor to begin with. All different formats, 1 part, 2 part, acrylic, epoxy, light cured and hot melt versions. Pour it in, let it cure and you are all sealed and good to go.

Personally, I would stay away from silicones. They are easy to find and use but a true potting compound is what all electronic folks use. In underground cable splices they use potting compounds and the lifetime expectancy on these splices is in the decades.

Mark
 
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