EZGO clone swap questions

bjorn773

I'm new to the forum, been reading posts all day. I just aquired an old ezgo cart without the engine. Obviously, I'm starting from scratch. The 420cc Predator seems to be the most popular, but i can pick up a used 301 for $125 and the 420 will cost me about $350. I realize the 301 is about equal to stock, but I'm not after crazy performance. My intent is to cruise around our property... pretty much flat trails thru the woods. The one thing I'm not seeing talked about frequently is specific clutches. I don't have one to reuse, so I'm looking for recommendations for a reasonable close to stock quality clutch. Also, I'd like to retain the starter function, but my starter is missing. I can purchase aftermarket starter/generator for about $100. Are these fairly reliable, or do I need to find an oem? Sorry to post mundane questions that you've likely seen a bunch, I just haven't found them talked about in my search.
Thanks in advance for your advise.

BGW

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raydhd

If the 301 has an one inch straight output shaft which I am pretty sure it does the comet 780 would work well as your clutch. Also add the S/G pulley such as Vegascarts sells. I see NRracing sells some racing parts for these engines. BUT I don't know if things like S/G bracket and engine mounts or exhaust headers are the same as the more popular 420 clone. Just be aware that unless you are great at fabrication some of these items can be an issue. Maybe a member here has actually done a 301 and can better advise you. Again the cost of the engine itself is only part of the cost of an engine swap.

bjorn773

The 301 is not 1 inch, I'd need a sleeve. I'm good with fabbing anything necessary, got a mig and tig in my shop. I'm second guessing the 301. For a couple hundred more I gain power, ease of finding aftermarket parts and an engine warranty(though maybe the mods necessary to make it work in a cart void that).

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chrisr32

The Predator 8hp has a 1in PTO like the 13hp (420), but like you said the 8hp has no electric start or charging system like the 13hp. The 13hp is a good engine if you just want to buy it and install it vs. the VC 460 assembly is required, no electric start and/or charging system is included.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-HP-3...EPA-62554.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/13-hp-...arb-69736.html

bjorn773

They have all the Predators 10% off that price right now too. My understanding is the charging system on the 420 is pretty weak... like 3 amps? Will the oem starter/generator start the 420 or are guys using the starters that come with the engine?

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BuggieMaverick

Starter/gen does a better job starting a 420cc than a traditional engine starter. It spins the engine faster and quieter, and it offers abundant charging. I feel a starter/gen is preferable. You can get a 420cc Lifan with recoil start for under $300 online or at the Home Depot, which saves money by not getting an electric starter that you won’t use anyway. Lifan also offers a version with 18amp charging if you want to skip a starter/gen.

Either way, 8hp in a golf cart is weak. You’ll lose speed on hills and be wishing you would’ve spent the extra money on a 420cc.

army

The type of use really matters with engine choices. An electric start 8 HP Honda worked very well in my 90 Marathon for 4 or 5 years. We use it for property maint, as a dog bus, and I bomb down the rural hardtop road we live on to my brother's about a 1/4 mile away. I drive the cart all over our 300 acre home farm. The land is pretty flat and I didn't test the cart on any big hills. It would pull a 4'x7' box trailer with 18" sides loaded with a yard of mulch around our 3 acres though. Not a light trailer either. It was built for a mason to haul mortar sand and cement to jobs and is built very sturdy.

The only reason I swapped to a 13 HP recently is I had a new one on the shelf and I tore my cart apart for paint and improvements and I thought a new engine would look better. I probably should have kept the 13 HP for something else because I really can't see much difference between it and the 8 HP, not for the type of use my EZGO sees. Oh well.. I still I have the Honda for the next project.

bjorn773

I have a 98 Cushman truckster for my heavy lifting. The cart will be for my young kids primarily to run around our property. I can see times where there are a pile of little kids in it. I literally traded 2 cases of cheap beer for this cart, so not looking to break the bank getting it going. This may get me interested in building another one, bigger, faster, stronger... but one thing at a time. Sounds like I need to find a starter/gen either way... and fab a bracket cut that's missing too.

chrisr32

The 420 is like 3 amps, but depending on the LED lights seems to work ok. It has the charging system on one side so you could double up by adding to the right side as well.

bjorn773

If I opt to use a starter generator, what diameter is the pulley on the engine. I see the Comet 780 does not have the pulley. It seems like I could find a pulley and don't think I need a billet from VC.

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