36 volt sluggish to nothing in reverse only

garlanda31

I have just purchased a used 1991 DS. It will back from my garage just fine, but in the grass, it barely moves and will not go sometimes. Battery specific gravity checks OK. I'm not sure the best course to trouble shoot this.

BGW

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scottyb

Is this a controller or a resistor coil drive system?

garlanda31

I'm not sure. I have seen what looks like a coil back near the motor, so I'm leaning that direction. How do you tell which type?

scottyb

91 the resistor coils were in a bank behind the batteries with a heat shield on top, so may see only one, but there were 4 coils.

shadowman

you have battery issues, cart only needs 18 volts in reverse thats why its fine going backwards......start by testing, load testing and checking all cells in batteries with hydrometer......also go over all the cables.......as scotty said behind the batteries there is a aluminum shield that will cover resistor coils if it has them..................................

garlanda31

I just checked and there are 4 coils. Apparently this does not have a solid state controller. What next?

garlanda31

Here's an update. I found poor continuity through the F/R switch and cleaned it up and improved all the contacts on the coil bus bar. Now, the cart goes in reverse consistently, but will not back up the smallest grade. Form the street to the sidewalk is about 5 degrees and will not back up to the sidewalk. It zooms up in forward. Any ideas??? thanks, G

garlanda31

Can I move the reverse lead from the #3 battery to the 4th to get 24 volts and possibly improve reverse power???

scottyb

yes, can in fact move the cable from the battery #3+ to the F&R stud next to it's origin. This will provide 36+ for reverse.


But I too think you may have battery power issues.

Can you attach a meter and tell us what the battery pack drops to when you climb this small incline?

garlanda31

I attached the vom to the reverse switch terminal and the neutral terminal on the switch and got a 12.51 volt reading while backing but stalled on the slope between the street curb and the sidewalk. The specific gravity checked good on all cells in all batteries after charging.