Manual in a Golf Cart?

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 02/26/2016 at 13:00 • Filed to: Golf cart

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[pic from summer] I’m at work and some coworkers and I were talking about motorcycles, then go carts, then a motorcycle engine and tranny in a go cart. A light went off in my head, and my personal morbid curiosity of a manual in a golf cart could possibly be feasible.

So my golf cart has a automatic tranny right now ( or something close to it). Actually, all golf carts do. The faster the engine spins, the drive clutch moves inward to tighten the belt to the driven clutch on the rear axle, making the rear transaxle spin faster. At least, that’s how I understood it, :p. The gear ratio is suppose to be 12.5:1, which I just learned means that the engine spins 12.5 times for every tire rotation, at least from a standstill (i may be wrong in how I understood that though).

Anyways, the guys were talking about a go cart with bike components. It’s pretty tight in the engine compartment for the golf cart, but if you rearranged some stuff inside it might be possible to fit a new engine and a transmission in there. Of course, it will be a bike tranny, with the awkward 1-0-2-3-4 gear change, but it would technically be a manual! And with an awesome ride like that, I could totally pick up chicks whose name start with Mrs and ends in zeontestpilot. Though the muffler and the generator would definitely have to be relocated....

Eh, don’t mind me. Ramblings of a mad man. :p

vondon302 > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:14

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Well its been done before so.......

Great mad minds think alike.

but this is too much.

iSureWilll > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:14

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Something like this?

This should be totally doable. You should also be able to hook up a lever for the sequential gearbox. Realistically you don’t need that much power in a golf cart. Something compact that makes 60-85 hp should be plenty. Think an engine from a Kawasaki ER6N or something similar like a parallel twin.

Look for engines labeled “car kit” or “kart kit”. Those will come with the ECU, harness, Throttle bodies, Etc. Everything you SHOULD need to put it in something else and have it run. Similar to this Ebay link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-07-SUZU…

Snuze: Needs another Swede > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:16

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Golf cart motorcycle swaps have been done, I think but they are tough because you either need to mount a radiator or figure out how to get cooling air over the motor if it’s air cooled.

Birddog > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:18

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A guy in my 3 wheeler club put the engine/gearbox from a Honda Big Red into one. It’s doable.

zeontestpilot > iSureWilll 02/26/2016 at 13:23

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Ha, something like that! Except not so fast, :). I’d be content with its current top speed, which is 27 mph with no governor.

I wonder, do they just sell the trannys?

Tripper > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:27

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I used to work on a golf course, and we had a utility cart made by Cushman (I think it was called a truckster). It was a little bigger than a golf cart, and it had a dump bed, but it was the same layout.

It was a manual! Clutch from the floor and shifter on the left side of the driver. I want to say it was a 3 speed, 35-40mph it was so fun to drive.

Brian, The Life of > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:27

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Your driveway heralds the dwelling of an Interesting Fellow ;)

zeontestpilot > vondon302 02/26/2016 at 13:29

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I want to see the first videos setup, grr...

iSureWilll > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:29

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Most motorcycle transmissions are built inside the engine cases so you can’t seperate them. You would need a trans made for a Harley which is a separate component. Like the one in the link below.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/620-24…

zeontestpilot > Snuze: Needs another Swede 02/26/2016 at 13:32

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Definitely air cooled, the vents on the passenger side, by the feet.

And it’s a ‘90 Ezgo marathon. I'm honestly surprised it's lasted this long. But it's nice to know that in the future I can improve it, :).

zeontestpilot > Brian, The Life of 02/26/2016 at 13:34

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Ha, which thing? This is what happens when you don't have a garage and you need pavement to park things, :).

zeontestpilot > Tripper 02/26/2016 at 13:36

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Color me interested. Was it a 3 or 4?wheeled one? Google shows me both.

zeontestpilot > Birddog 02/26/2016 at 13:45

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I wonder how hard it is.

Tripper > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:52

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4, they are silly expensive too. Brand new they are close to 25k. The one we bought at the golf course was used, and still well over 10k

zeontestpilot > Tripper 02/26/2016 at 13:58

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I'm only legally allowed to have a golf cart, but I remember nothing about redoing the innards. Maybe I need to see if there are any junked....

Brian, The Life of > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 13:59

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It’s not so much any one thing as it is the collective things together. And I’m including the PT Cruiser in that mix (in a non-ironic, positive way)

Tripper > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 14:06

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They have been around since the 80's so finding components that might work in an actual golf cart shouldn’t be too hard.

zeontestpilot > Brian, The Life of 02/26/2016 at 14:14

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Yeah, not having a garage means you get very creative, lol. Behind the house I have 2 push mowers (both broken) and a small shed with 4 or 5 weed whackers in it.

Actually...most of the stuff was either given to me, left behind by the previous owner, or is borrowed with no time limit set. I have really awesome neighbors, who let me borrow a lot of stuff. Except chainsaws, one neighbor refused to let me use his. So he just gave me his old one instead, lol.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 14:16

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I have seen a few golf cart bodies dropped on 4x4 atv chassis.

zeontestpilot > Tripper 02/26/2016 at 14:19

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I really like the sound of that.

zeontestpilot > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 02/26/2016 at 14:30

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That's a cool idea. I've never riden a atv, but I think it's rwd with maybe a 4wd? Or is it AWD?

bingham123 > zeontestpilot 02/26/2016 at 15:13

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110cc pit bike engine? honda c90 cub engine? a big pitbike engine? (110cc to 180cc) all of them are avalible in semi auto, would save having to add a clutch pedal

zeontestpilot > bingham123 02/26/2016 at 15:19

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Semi auto? Like a sequential gear box?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > zeontestpilot 02/27/2016 at 00:16

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yea it was a 4wd semi auto trans. looked kinda cool

zeontestpilot > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 02/27/2016 at 07:27

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I now wonder if there are any build forums online of someone making this.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > zeontestpilot 02/27/2016 at 12:00

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yea i have no idea. too much work for me haha.i like my atv how it is right now lol

Birddog > zeontestpilot 02/27/2016 at 18:40

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I’m looking for the build thread. It was involved but not above average wrenching skills.