how do i make my old cart go fast

curtis williams

Hello all I am a newb to the cart world.. I recently got my first golf cart, its a 75 to 80 model caraoche.

It has old batteries I am sure they need replacen. Before i buy different ones, I figured I should ask about changing them from 6 volts to mixing them with higher voltage.. For instence what I was thinking about doing was putting a 12 volt battery in the middle of the serries.. But as i said I am a ttal newb and dont have a clue what I might burn up or if it will even make a difference.

Right now the old batteries wil only charge to 6 volts I was told they should charge up to 7 volts.. when i test each battery indivdualy they all test the same, 6 volts and when I do the load test they drop 1 volt and read weak.

BGW

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93yellowclubcar

Batteries for sure need replaced with that kind of voltage drop. They should be stable at 6.3 or 6.4 volts. Mixing battery voltages isn't a good idea, a 12 volt battery has a different charge profile than a 6 volt, and they won't charge well. It's pricey, but a new battery pack is in order for any hope of any type of performance at all.

If speed is what you are looking for, be prepared because making one of those go fast is pretty expensive. You'll have to basically gut the entire drive system, put in a newer solid state one with a higher amperage controller (scottyb at cartsunlimited.net has an awesome conversion kit, 100% the man to talk to if you decide to do it) and going 48 volts instead of 36, since your batteries are shot anyhow. The controller itself won't gain you speed, only torque and efficiency, increasing voltage is the only thing that will gain you speed. The motor in your cart will run approximately 16-18 mph on stock size tires on 48 volts.

EDIT: You are also going to want to make sure you get GOLF CART BATTERIES. Standard deep cycle batteries, and especially starting batteries, just don't have what it takes (LEAD) to withstand the deep and numerous discharge cycles that a golf cart puts on a battery pack.

Olman

Not much of a club car guy but---your cart was designed to run with a battery pack equalling 36 volts. Not that I advise it but you COULD mix 6 volt and 12 volt batteries as long as the total pack equals 36 volts. Examples: you could have a pack with 2 6v batteries and 2 12v batteries----you could use 4 6v and 1 12v. You get the picture. Understand I am in no way recommending this practice. On your cart it would be best to have 6 good 6v batteries. Batteries first then the CC folks will help you make it faster. Get your wallet out.


Edit: Ya beat me to it 93!

curtis williams

thanks.. yeah the only reason i was thinking of adding the 12 volt was to help the weak batteries until i get the cash to get new ones. also want to find out if changing the cart to a higher volt. say a 48 volt. would help it go faster and have better climbing abilitys. real sandy around here.

can you give me an estimated cost of higher ampage controller

scottyb

Your cart has resistor coil speed control. You cannot add voltage to the current system. It will have a meltdown. You would need to do a solid state conversion. Basically replace everything between the key switch and the motor... You can read about this upgrade (conversion) on my website by clicking on the link below and selecting scottyb's conversion kit

93yellowclubcar

You'll need note than just a controller, it takes some stuff that scottyb has packaged into a kit, they can be found here, with their prices: http://cartsunlimited.net/Scottyb_s_Conversion_Kit.php

Just throwing 48 volts in there technically WILL work, and it will give a 33% increase in speed and torque, but will burn up your solenoids rather quickly, and if it makes one weld open you'll be going for a wild ride. They make those solenoids in 48 volt, but then you still have the issue of the coils burning up if you spend much time at part throttle.

EDIT: beat to it by Scotty! I type slow

sunoco

Since you need batts do the conversion now

curtis williams

thank you all , I understand what your saying, so now I have to start saving. I guess my plan is to buy a couple used batteries So we can ride while we save up.

Scotty the cart i have is a pre 81.I dont see ay that say they will work on carts older then 81,. from what i have researched it is between 1975 to 1980 the cart in this thread looks just like mine http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...yard-find.html.

what i plan to do to the cart is do a small lift just enough to be able to put a more aggressive tire. I dont plan on trying to jack it up real high with huge tires, just enough to handle the sandy terrane, with small hills I want it to be a 48 volt system, Once you direct me to the right system for the cart then I will know how much to start saving..

93yellowclubcar

Caroche - very nice! Been after one for a while now but they're usually overpriced or too far away or too far gone to work with (even for me! )

That cart has basically the same drive system as the 5 solenoid DS carts did, so his kit for those should work for your cart, maybe with some small modifications.

beau

Try to locate a battery wholesaler in your area and ask them for blemished or b stock batteries. I buy them here for 40 bucks.