Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS

Lumpy · 07-12-2012, 10:33 PM

I recently purchased a G1 and had to take it in to Plowmans because it wasn't charging. Don got it charging good but the news was mostly bad.

Looks like at some point the crank seals started leaking and the prior owner stuck an electric fuel pump on the cart. They had the pump wired into the voltage regulator which was robbing voltage required to charge the battery. Don was able to adjust the regulator and now it is charging the battery at 14.5 volts. Unfortunately, there really is no option for the cart to idle at this point (due to the wonky fuel pump), when it starts, it is wanting to go.

The linkage that operates the door in the exhaust pipe, just off the jug, is all disconnected with parts missing. No idea what position the door is in while running. This could lead to it running hot.

Don says I need crank seals and should probably do a top end rebuild as well. He said that for somewhere between 900 and 1500 bucks he could delete the oil injection, weld the exhaust door open, and put everything back in order and have this thing in tip top mechanical shape again and get rid of a lot of the cobbled up mess. It would be a turn key, good to go cart that should hold up for a bunch of years.

None of this addresses the cobbled up home brew 6 inch lift. sheesh......

Right now the cart rolls over a bit before it will start (due to the fuel pump, crank seals situation) but starts good when warm. I had it up to 24 mph today on the road.

This cart will not see much use at all. Camping 2 or 3 weekends a year and the occasional special event use. What really blows is that I am already embarrassingly deep into this cart cost wise. I am on a shoe string budget so throwing this much money into it just isn't feasible for me right now.

I have one more weekend this summer that I want the cart for. Thinking I may try to educate myself on fixing it myself and work on it this winter. I am no mechanic but am willing to give it a go after trying to learn.

This is what happens when a guy buys something he doesnt know a darn thing about. If anybody can offer up some advice, words of wisdom, encouragement, or even insults, I am all ears.

Color me disgusted.

spriddle · 07-13-2012, 12:28 AM

Hate to hear it Lumpy. I've been there myself when I first started with carts. Still have my original, well mostly what's left of it. LOL!! First one I ever bought ended up with a cracked frame and all sorts of problems. Great learning experience for me.

For that money, you could almost big block that cart. Couple of options: sell it now while you can and cut your loses and get another one, find someone to trade with, or even try to trade at a dealer for another cart.

But, what ever you do, don't let this get you out of the cart addiction. Most of us have been in the same situation at one time or another buddy.

JcXtreme72 · 07-13-2012, 01:18 AM

Drop in a Yamaha Bravo sled motor. 25hp and can be wired to run backwards so you still get reverse with out having to buy a new rear end. I say dig in and learn. If you learn and get to use it then it's not a total loss and then you can claim you did it yourself.

Mrrogers24 · 07-13-2012, 07:53 AM

You can do the crank seals and just take that door of the exhaust (you don't need that door or the linkage, it will run better without it imo) in less than 3 hours for under 100 dollars... Its not hard to do. G1s don't idle, they move when you press on the gas.

nwarren9 · 07-13-2012, 11:53 AM

I would like to know about this bravo idea? And it will run bidirectional and 25 hp!

JcXtreme72 · 07-13-2012, 01:03 PM

Yup a Yamaha Bravo snowmobile the same year as your cart. It's single cylinder and can be wired using the stock ignition from your cart to run bi-direction. Motor mounts are even the same. Slap your cart's clutch on the bravo motor and you have to make one or two changes to the wiring and exhaust work then tada. 25 ish hp in your cart. Some bravo's were up to 37 but those are hard to find. After that invest in a decent lift and you will never want to get rid of your cart. A guy on here has a decent walk through in the big block section. The thread is called Big Block G1. I've been looking for a G1 just to do that engine swap in it.

smallblock450sl · 07-13-2012, 07:08 PM

Just my 2 cents worth, but 900 to 1500 is way to much (no effence to Plowmans). If you want to tackle the job, I and others would be more then happy to help. As for the exhaust linkage, it's there to be partially closed at low end rpm ( for better torque) 2 cycles create there power at higher rpms. I'd suggest taking a compression reading at wide open throttle (with a strong battery cranking it over) and post the reading. In my world there as cars not worth fixing, just cost prohivitive, but lets not call it that yet.

CART-ZILLA · 07-13-2012, 08:21 PM

E-Bay has crank seals 24.99 .....and the top end set is 200 bucks... jug , piston set gaskets and all .....

slonomo · 07-15-2012, 09:49 AM

Ok, first we have to find out what your mechanical abilities are. If you know your way around a toolbox and have changed spark plugs and points, then you should be able to do this work yourself, although it will take some time.

My recommendation is to buy a G1 service manual, read it, then get on this forum and find all the threads about crank seals, rebuilds, and fuel issues and read those too.

I had never owned a G1 before, never rebuilt a golf cart before, and never installed a lift kit before. With research and the help of all the fine folks on this forum I was able to do a ground up rebuild/rework, rebuild the engine and clutches, and install a custom atv front end on my G1.

It can be done. You just might not get it done before your next camping trip.

Lumpy · 07-15-2012, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

This cart starts a little hard (better when its warm) and Don at Plowmans says thats because of the electric fuel pump. He says changing the crank seals and going back to the stock pump will make a difference.

Once this cart starts, it runs good. It does not smoke and runs strong. With the current setup it will easily hit 22 mph. I dont need it any faster than that as I think it would start to feel really squirreley due to the lift and small tires. Because this thing runs as good as it does, I am not going to worry about a top end re-build right now.

It is charging now so I will be able to use it next month at the rally I am attending. After that I dont have any further plans for using it this summer and can start looking at trying to change out the crank seals myself. One of the other members who is local to me has offered to help try and talk me through it.

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

07-12-2012, 10:33 PM	#1
Lumpy Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 63	Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS I recently purchased a G1 and had to take it in to Plowmans because it wasn't charging. Don got it charging good but the news was mostly bad. Looks like at some point the crank seals started leaking and the prior owner stuck an electric fuel pump on the cart. They had the pump wired into the voltage regulator which was robbing voltage required to charge the battery. Don was able to adjust the regulator and now it is charging the battery at 14.5 volts. Unfortunately, there really is no option for the cart to idle at this point (due to the wonky fuel pump), when it starts, it is wanting to go. The linkage that operates the door in the exhaust pipe, just off the jug, is all disconnected with parts missing. No idea what position the door is in while running. This could lead to it running hot. Don says I need crank seals and should probably do a top end rebuild as well. He said that for somewhere between 900 and 1500 bucks he could delete the oil injection, weld the exhaust door open, and put everything back in order and have this thing in tip top mechanical shape again and get rid of a lot of the cobbled up mess. It would be a turn key, good to go cart that should hold up for a bunch of years. None of this addresses the cobbled up home brew 6 inch lift. sheesh...... Right now the cart rolls over a bit before it will start (due to the fuel pump, crank seals situation) but starts good when warm. I had it up to 24 mph today on the road. This cart will not see much use at all. Camping 2 or 3 weekends a year and the occasional special event use. What really blows is that I am already embarrassingly deep into this cart cost wise. I am on a shoe string budget so throwing this much money into it just isn't feasible for me right now. I have one more weekend this summer that I want the cart for. Thinking I may try to educate myself on fixing it myself and work on it this winter. I am no mechanic but am willing to give it a go after trying to learn. This is what happens when a guy buys something he doesnt know a darn thing about. If anybody can offer up some advice, words of wisdom, encouragement, or even insults, I am all ears. Color me disgusted.

07-13-2012, 12:28 AM	#2
spriddle Admin Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: TN Posts: 101,868	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Hate to hear it Lumpy. I've been there myself when I first started with carts. Still have my original, well mostly what's left of it. LOL!! First one I ever bought ended up with a cracked frame and all sorts of problems. Great learning experience for me. For that money, you could almost big block that cart. Couple of options: sell it now while you can and cut your loses and get another one, find someone to trade with, or even try to trade at a dealer for another cart. But, what ever you do, don't let this get you out of the cart addiction. Most of us have been in the same situation at one time or another buddy.

07-13-2012, 01:18 AM	#3
JcXtreme72 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,942	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Drop in a Yamaha Bravo sled motor. 25hp and can be wired to run backwards so you still get reverse with out having to buy a new rear end. I say dig in and learn. If you learn and get to use it then it's not a total loss and then you can claim you did it yourself.

07-13-2012, 07:53 AM	#4
Mrrogers24 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Peachtree city, ga Posts: 42	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS You can do the crank seals and just take that door of the exhaust (you don't need that door or the linkage, it will run better without it imo) in less than 3 hours for under 100 dollars... Its not hard to do. G1s don't idle, they move when you press on the gas. Last edited by Mrrogers24; 07-13-2012 at 07:55 AM.. Reason: More

07-13-2012, 11:53 AM	#5
nwarren9 Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Flint Mi. Posts: 248	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS I would like to know about this bravo idea? And it will run bidirectional and 25 hp! Last edited by nwarren9; 07-13-2012 at 12:01 PM.. Reason: sp

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07-13-2012, 01:03 PM	#6
JcXtreme72 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,942	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Yup a Yamaha Bravo snowmobile the same year as your cart. It's single cylinder and can be wired using the stock ignition from your cart to run bi-direction. Motor mounts are even the same. Slap your cart's clutch on the bravo motor and you have to make one or two changes to the wiring and exhaust work then tada. 25 ish hp in your cart. Some bravo's were up to 37 but those are hard to find. After that invest in a decent lift and you will never want to get rid of your cart. A guy on here has a decent walk through in the big block section. The thread is called Big Block G1. I've been looking for a G1 just to do that engine swap in it.

07-13-2012, 07:08 PM	#7
smallblock450sl Sometime's............ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tacoma Washington Posts: 11,875	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Just my 2 cents worth, but 900 to 1500 is way to much (no effence to Plowmans). If you want to tackle the job, I and others would be more then happy to help. As for the exhaust linkage, it's there to be partially closed at low end rpm ( for better torque) 2 cycles create there power at higher rpms. I'd suggest taking a compression reading at wide open throttle (with a strong battery cranking it over) and post the reading. In my world there as cars not worth fixing, just cost prohivitive, but lets not call it that yet.

07-13-2012, 08:21 PM	#8
CART-ZILLA Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pickens/Dacusville s.c. Posts: 1,386	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS E-Bay has crank seals 24.99 .....and the top end set is 200 bucks... jug , piston set gaskets and all .....

07-15-2012, 09:49 AM	#9
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Ok, first we have to find out what your mechanical abilities are. If you know your way around a toolbox and have changed spark plugs and points, then you should be able to do this work yourself, although it will take some time. My recommendation is to buy a G1 service manual, read it, then get on this forum and find all the threads about crank seals, rebuilds, and fuel issues and read those too. I had never owned a G1 before, never rebuilt a golf cart before, and never installed a lift kit before. With research and the help of all the fine folks on this forum I was able to do a ground up rebuild/rework, rebuild the engine and clutches, and install a custom atv front end on my G1. It can be done. You just might not get it done before your next camping trip.

07-15-2012, 10:29 AM	#10
Lumpy Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 63	Re: Apparently my G1 is a cobbled up POS Thanks for the thoughts guys. This cart starts a little hard (better when its warm) and Don at Plowmans says thats because of the electric fuel pump. He says changing the crank seals and going back to the stock pump will make a difference. Once this cart starts, it runs good. It does not smoke and runs strong. With the current setup it will easily hit 22 mph. I dont need it any faster than that as I think it would start to feel really squirreley due to the lift and small tires. Because this thing runs as good as it does, I am not going to worry about a top end re-build right now. It is charging now so I will be able to use it next month at the rally I am attending. After that I dont have any further plans for using it this summer and can start looking at trying to change out the crank seals myself. One of the other members who is local to me has offered to help try and talk me through it. Thanks for your thoughts guys.