CC DS Resistor coil 36v.... worth upgrading or wasting my $$??

Dawgfan77

I have a 96 CC DS resistor coil cart with the 2.97hp motor that is weak as hell, old beater cart, all stock, 2 seater, no roof. This thing was just used for my kids to beat through the woods and over the hills, and it shows.... Ugly and weak!! It never would climb my driveway, which led me to purchase a 2006-7(I forget) EZ-Go PDS regen with 2,25hp Advanced DC motor-lift, 22" tires, back seat etc... Even with new batteries, it will very rarely climb my driveway without stalling, maybe 1 out of 5 times I've tried. Last week my controller and solenoid on the EZ-Go burned up while kids were riding it. So now I'm down 2 carts- EZgo needs controller/soleniod, CC needs batteries and maybe a motor.
Trying to figure out which to build and which one to sell... Thinking I can fix the EZ-go and sell it, then put that ~$2500 into the DS and build the way I want.

With my duaghters riding it the majority of the time, I'm not worried about speed, I just want more torque for chores and the ability to actually climb my driveway (15 degree grade).

As far as the ClubCar goes, the idea is complete rebuild. 1 battery terminal on the motor is loose and wobbly/corroded so I figure its due to be replaced/rebuilt. I have been reading great things about the PlumQuick motor rebuilds. But not sure the 36V resistor cart is going to be capable of what I want even with upgrades. I'm also kicking around the idea of doing a 48v conversion.

So I guess my options are as follows:
-rebuild/upgrade the currant drivetrain and stay 36v on the DS
-convert to 48v and all new drivetrain on the DS
-toss the DS and upgrade the EZ-go

Im going to have to spend $$ either way I go, so I want to do it right. But is the old DS even worth the time and $$ is my biggest concern. Would you guys throw $$ into it, or just put $$ into the EZ-go? thanks and sorry for the long post, just wanted to be a s detailed as possible

BGW

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270Handiman

I'd build the newer cart, then see if you want to keep it or sell it. The DS is gonna be an expensive project, and still be 22 years old when your done.

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Dawgfan77

If I went that route, I could throw my batteries into the DS, sell it, and put that $$ towards the EZ-go. Now I have an EZ-go that needs a controller, solenoid, and new batteries. Good candidate for a 48V conversion and upgraded controller/motor package??
What do you guys think a 96' DS with 10 month old batteries would be worth?

UncleJerm76

No matter what - ditch the VGlide. Had one, they don't hold up well to abuse like hills and kids :P Sure if everything is stock and only ride on small hills like a golf course - fine. But nothing more!

The DS has an aluminum frame which means if the battery trays are in good shape you won't have any rust to worry about. So no worries about "its age". They clean up great and are a lot of fun to restore due to how friendly they are to work on.

If this is gonna stay your kids cart then you CAN upgrade to a controller on a budget. There are lots of old '94 - '96 Club Car 36v Curtis series controllers that come up for sale (first controller that Club Car used) I see them several times a year. They are dead simple to hook up also. I believe they are only a 225A controller, great for "kids" but you aren't going to be flying up steep hills. My dad has the exact same controller on his 4-seater cart and while it slows down a little, it always makes it up every hill. And it's extremely efficient with the battery run time! You would also need a 0-5k box from ScottyB to replace the VGlide and another used 36v motor (since your is almost toast) which are everywhere for very resonable price.

I see no reason why you could not convert the kids club car to a dependable controller cart for $400 or less on the used parts market.


...Tools ...Toys (same thing) :)

spidey

Definitely following this thread....have an old(? don't know the yr.) Ds given to me and would like to make a huntin' buggy out of it, but will be traversing up and down hills.

scottyb

I prefer the older DS when converted to solid state, it is probably the best off road cart. Pluses and minuses.
Aluminum frame as much as 250-300 pounds lighter than similar steel frame carts. This increases power to weight ratio significantly. Won't rust. 48v operation and D&D Beast motor is winning combination.
Easy to get parts and mods for. DS parts mostly interchangeable 1981-2003
The ride is stiff at best. But long travel suspension is available. Converting to solid state speed control is not inexpensive.

beolink

Hi,
I also have a 1994 CC DS 36v resistor cart. One of the batteries sadly died. (yeah, none of them have been replaced since the cart was new back in 1994, which is nothing short of a miracle).

I´ve got 4 good trojan 12v batteries (from a precedent 12v to 8v battery conversion)+ a spare 48v charger and was wondering if anyone knew / would mind giving me input on why not to just toss the 48v batterypack + new solenoids in to the old cart instead of spending more money and convert to a solid state controller as well?

(Why I don´t want to upgrade to a controller? Because 48v controllers are difficult to buy for a reasonable price in europe)

Thanks in advance!

UncleJerm76

Sounds like you have the cart that has a separate solenoid for each speed? Replacing all those isn't exactly inexpensive. It will work fine though as long as your gentle on your 22-yr old 36v motor! The guy I bought my 48v charger from did exactly that with his. Hey if it's all you can afford then it is what it is. Just don't dump a bunch of money into a 2-decade old system and wish you had spend "a little more" on a SS conversion.

All things being equal, you will loose some runtime going to 12v batteries. They simply just aren't that great. Will they even for your trays?

BTW Congrats on the battery life - what brand were they? If you don't mind, post a pic of the manufacturing date - that has got to be some kind of life-record! DO NOT expect that from the 12v you've got.

gnv

my 2 cents worth would be to upgrade the cart to solid state. I just completed the solid state conversion on my 2003 DS. Still using my 36 volt batteriy pack I have seen a significant increase in torque and a little improvement in speed. we were burning up v-glides like nothing prior to the upgrade. Not sure if your motor stud could be repaired as that may limit your success. I look forward to going 48 volts when the 2012 bateries ply out.

beolink

Thanks UncleJerm for your reply.

I´ll be looking in to the solenoid situation as soon as I go to the summer house again. I´ll take a few pics of the batteries if they are still there by then. The batteries were Trojans. They consumed battery water like sponges but still managed to do 18 + holes a year ago.

A SolidState controller would run me about 400$ and I´m not really prepared to put that kind of money in to the cart. I replaced that old trusty CC 1994 a few years ago(but can´t seem to get myself to the point of selling it) and I now have three Precedents (2004, 2007 and 2014) and they are now all 8v systems with the added benefit of that (2014 was always an 8v system). The 6v batteries would probably have continued living longer unless one of the batteries had had a low charge and froze during winter.

12v durability: Yeah, so true. I´ve never had a pair of 12v batteries that lasted more than 3-4 years with decent performance :( My oldest 8v setup has now done 6 years and is still going strong.