On 22 May 2005 22:24:34 -0400, (DoN. Nichols)
wrote:

Now you will discover whether the torque-limiting grip on the
original knob was because the part in which it worked could not take any
more force than you could put through the wimpy knob. I hope that is
not the reason for the original knob being as it is.

What a sorry excuse for a functional design that would be.
Fortunately, I don't think that's the case here.

There's about 3/4" of 3/8-16 threadlength in the aluminum or
magnesium casting, so I don't think I'll jack the threads out
barehanded. If that happened, then I'd drill it out and fit a
knurled stainless threaded bushing. I want the damned clamp tight.

It won't happen. Some good and thoughtful engineering clearly went
into the design of this motor and mount, other than the silly knob.
Bow-mount trolling motors see hard use, this one can take it -- has
done for 7 years now. Running into submerged stumps and rocks and
chewing thru thick weeds are just part of a day's work for such a
motor. Chasing bass rquires it. It gets the job done with a shrug.