"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
07/30/2015 at 08:30 • Filed to: Ezgo, golf cart
3
15|
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
07/30/2015 at 08:30 • Filed to: Ezgo, golf cart | 3
| 15 |
Haven’t posted in a while, so I’ll post a golf cart update. It’s my new used 1990 EZGO Marathon 2-cyl gas golf cart. I got it two Fridays ago, and it broke down after just 3 days. That doesn’t surprise me though, since I’m technically 3 years older than it.
A ground wire was bad; my gpa tugged on it and it completely fell out. We also replaced some connections to the solenoid as well. If I saw something i didn’t know, I played 20 questions with my gpa. I seriously don’t know this stuff, and the setup is quite different from a car I believe (the clutch itself and how it works, I think, is fascinating...but no one here shares my excitement). But it’s still interesting on how it’s all put together and how it operates in harmony.
Right now, the cart is working but the new battery isn’t charging when it’s running. So last night my gpa and I took to looking at old wiring diagrams (did I mention he’s an electrician?), looking for anything missing.
Whoever played under the hood before, took some interesting liberties. They connected the + from the regulator to the ground of the coil, which I thought was strange. And when I say connected I mean loosely jam it into the connection, it easily popped out. Then they connected it to the wrong post on the solenoid. We disconnected the + wire and added new wire to the correct post, and we’re now playing the waiting game to see if it charges the battery.
Besides that, there’s the issue of when you get to the top speed, you lose all power to the wheels, and you will just drift til it ‘catches’ again. But I do have a hunch on that, that it’s the clutch itself. The clutch looks like a big metal drum, and there happens to be a slit-like hole on it with a part slightly sticking put, shown below.
See, the clutch is suppose to work like this, when the accelerator is pressed down the clutch moves toward the body of the engine, tigthening the belt between the two plates. What I think is happening, is that when I get to top speed, something happens and the clutch is re-opened, creating slack on the belt (the one to the rear wheels), thus making me loose my speed.
I’m thinking that, perhaps when it spins after X amount of time, the clutch wobbles and opens up again. That slit might make it uneven, thus throwing it out of balance. But this is just a theory. The slit like that, I think, shouldn’t cause any issues, but who knows? I have to put it on cement blocks and experiment.
Regardless, I’m learning a lot here on this project. And there isn’t too much under the hood to over complicate things. And I get a fun, mid-engine, rwd, 4-seater vehicle to use, which is very convenient and fun. I even love how obnoxiously loud it is, despite the muffler. I’m the only one who enjoys the sound though, :).
CalzoneGolem
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 08:51 |
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My gramps had a Harley golf cart when I was just a lad. We hooned it offroad relentlessly! 10/10
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zeontestpilot
> CalzoneGolem
07/30/2015 at 08:57 |
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They are immensely fun. Between my house and my grandparents trailer, is a massive, bumpy hill that’s the only route you can take. I love it, my wife hates it, :).
Gonna wait a while, but I’d like to add some more headlights and better tail lights in the future. Also, if I can convince the wife, to take off the roof. It sways so much (especially on the aforementioned hill) because it’s not securely attached, and it gives me a reason to reduce the overall weight, :).
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CalzoneGolem
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 09:03 |
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Two words. Turbo. Kit.
Birddog
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 09:05 |
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Right on!
Here’s my “work truck”.
That isn’t a really a clutch it’s a rudimentary CVT. I have the same setup. Mine has a 14 horse Kawasaki that’s governed to 15mph.
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zeontestpilot
> Birddog
07/30/2015 at 09:12 |
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Ha,I thought maybe the cvt is a type of clutch, my bad.
I’ve been curious how many horses mine has, but mine doesn’t have a governor, :). The previous owner didn’t even have it on, so I’m not buying a product to only limit my top speed. With the hiccup in the top speed, I got up to 18 mph. It isn’t much, but the slowest I can go is 12 mph, and that's just feathering the gas.
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zeontestpilot
> CalzoneGolem
07/30/2015 at 09:15 |
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I won't lie, I've considered it.
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Birddog
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 09:21 |
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You’re not really wrong. The CVT has a centrifugal clutch.
12 is quick for going slow! I can feather this one down to a crawl. Usually the pedal is flat to the floor though.
It’s like a go cart for grownups.
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zeontestpilot
> Birddog
07/30/2015 at 09:39 |
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Is it? I read that 12 mph is the norm for top speed. My gpa changed the linkage between the carb and gas pedal, to open the throttle more, lol. He thought i’d like that, he was right.
I prefer gas over electric, because kids can hear it coming, especially my cart. Plus, I enjoy not having instant torque, :).
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 09:45 |
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My mother-in-law had a golf car that burned down about two years ago. I miss it. Now we can only use the Gator, which is slower and much stinkier.
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Birddog
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 10:12 |
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Oh, I misread that. I thought 12 was the slowest for some reason.
I prefer gas too, electrics aren’t bad but batteries cost a ton.
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zeontestpilot
> Birddog
07/30/2015 at 10:27 |
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Well, the article I read made it sound like 12 mph was the average for the accelerator pressed all the way down. Of course, there are some brands that like to give you more.
The batteries are a pain to replace, I hear upwards of $100. But, sorting out problems, I’d imagine, would be a cinch, cuz you can just test the current. With gas....well...you might as well give yourself a few hours, lol. At least with mine. Gramps and I spent a good half hour trying to figure out what went where, and what didn’t line up with the diagram. “Where does this green wire ago?” “Well, it goes to the generator, and to the coil and somewhere else I can’t see” *removes panel* “found it!....wait, there’s a yellow wire here, where in the world does that go?” :)
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zeontestpilot
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/30/2015 at 10:28 |
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Huh, what was the reason it burned down? Was it gas or electric?
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Birddog
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 10:33 |
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Troubleshooting can suck on gas. Especially after many hands have been laid on them.
I had three electrics that needed batteries at an old employer. They were $140 per battery and each cart had eight of them.
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Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> zeontestpilot
07/30/2015 at 10:52 |
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It was parked next to a house that had electrical problems. The cart was just fine before it caught fire. Hers was an EZ-Go gas.
On another note,
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zeontestpilot
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/30/2015 at 11:58 |
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I started laughing when I saw the engine, :).