Broken Front Motor Mount (VC)

allenc3

Just when I thought I had all the bugs worked out of this thing, I mean, ****, it was running good. I have the muffler system down near perfect, and really becoming a dependable fun ride.

BTW, I have an EZGO with all of the Vegas Cart kit stuff and a 460 Vegas clone.

What happened is that I went out to start the cart and blue smoke came up through seat. Lifted seat and saw front of motor hanging on the shift cables which shorted out on the generator and melted and caught on fire. WTF!

I look down and the the tongue that bolts to the front motor mount (that thing with all the holes) was broken off clean. I have some pictures. will post later. Apparently, this part of the motor mount must have had a crack in it, and the crack was hidden by the powder coating. This is the very reason they don't allow powder coating of motor mounts in the aviation industry.

Anyway, trying to engineer a fix without removing the engine and mount. Guess I will try to weld it back in place, but looking at it, it is definitely the weakest point of the VC Motor mount system. I am going to try to weld in a doubler to increase the strength in this area.

Anyone else have this issue with the VC mount? If you are planning on buying one, do not get the powder coated version;

Claude Allen
Green Cove Springs, Fl

BGW

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AaronW

Allen,

All of our brackets are under warranty for 1 year. Further more, they are all inspected for cracks but also tested for fitment issues in our custom jigs before they go to powder coat.

If something was/is broken, we would be more than happy to take a look at it and most likely ship out a new one free of charge.

Please, we encourage constructive criticism but come to the source for replacement first.

sho305

Vegas is very good about standing behind their stuff. Or you could have it welded up with some gussets if the cart gets rough use it might be better off. I've never seen their mount but I know people have vastly different uses for their carts and near anything can break because most golf cart things are not made for excessive of off road use. I welded bars in two carts for mounts and both doing fine, but it was 3/8 or 5/16 stock. I did crack the stock gen mount and had to beef that up. I did all of it in the cart, some with the clone engine in there.

allenc3

I have been out of town, so have not had time to reply. Was not planning on asking for a replacement mount, unless I have to remove this one (and everything THAT entails). Gonna try to weld it in place with a doubler of some sort. Diffidently a crack that let go. I am attempting to send a JPEG.

Attached Images

Broken VC Mount Tab.JPG (61.9 KB, 0 views)

allenc3

The crack was right at the weld line.

geoffw

Claude,

This was a fairly early cradle, the reason that broke was because that specific model had a 3/16" bracket welded directly to .090" wall tubing which was not strong enough to support the load. If you look closely, it probably wasn't the weld that broke, more likely the wall of the tubing completely failed and pulled out.

The latest cradles have .25" thick heim brackets welded directly to .25" plate instead of to .090" wall tubing.

If you'd like a new style cradle, I'd be glad to send you one at no charge.

allenc3

In that case, it may be an exercise in futility to try and weld this back just to have it fail again down the road. I guess all I have to do is disconnect the throttle and gas lines, exhaust system, remove the starter and the four bolts that hold the motor bracket to the frame and lift the motor out. Unbolt the old frame, bolt in the new one. A Sunday afternoon should do it I guess.

I will call you tomorrow for details.

I sure had this thing running sweet for a while!

Claude

allenc3

Received the new motor mount cradle VC sent me to replace the one that broke, The new one is considerably lighter than the old one, and has a removable antiwrap tab that is considerably easier to install than the fixed one on the old mount.

I did this without removing the engine, by supporting the engine from a 2X4 with straps and removing and replacing the mount from the bottom. Did not have to disconnect any fuel lines, throttle cables etc.

Finally got a starter v-belt of the correct size. I tried a Browning cogged AX29 (too short) and a AX31 (too long). the AX30 is perfect.

I must have at least 5 different length starter belts and 4 different drive belts that I have tried for this application before I got the right lengths and widths. Anyone need a belt, I might just have what you need and its yours for the shipping costs.

Anyway, cart is running great now.

Thanks to Vegus Carts for their help.

Claude Allen
Green Cove Springs, Florida

slonomo

Vegas Carts comes through again!

sho305

Good deal. Vegas was one of the first or only place to make kits for clones, they did all the r&d, they improve all the time, he brought the 460 to everyone. I'm grateful Geoff dove in to do all that stuff when nobody else was around. Too bad you had a problem but they stand behind their stuff, hopefully this mount is improved and should be better than the old one.