Resistor or solid state?

[red848]

I have a question for the guru's. My 89 marathon I will assume is a risistor drive. I have read on here about the resistor drive being "öld school" and that needs to be upgraded to solid state. What is your opinion? Of coarse I have not made it home yet to start working on my project but have been lurking through alot of posts on here about carts in general, and I do see different threads that mention upgrading to Solid state. If the stock speed is 10 mph, ( just using that speed for statement purpose) if I upgrade to solid state, would the speed increase any? ( tell me it'll go 25 and smoke the right rear Please ) But seriously, I would think that just like any other thing out there the newer technoldgy is why they scrapped the resistor stuff. I am just wondering if I go order the upgrade and be done with it, or keep it as is. Now if it helps you any, my plan is to drink cold.. er.. beverages and ride around my neighborhood, (flat ground pavement) as I said in my other posts, once I get all the cables changed, batteries changed, and check what I can and i'm still the slowest cart on the block, I will want to upgrade to more speed. Okay guys, have a good weekend and enjoy an adult beverage for us working folk that still have to work.

[scottyb]

Your 89 is a series drive cart. The top speed will not change with a solid state (ESC) conversion.

What it won't do- it won't make you any taller.

What it will do - it does bring your cart into the 21st century which allows you to make upgrades which can increase the speed of your cart. Like voltage increases (33% more speed & torque on 48v), or gear changes of 50% increase in speed, tire increased size small gains in speed..... etc


But if you are bad at horseshoes a solid state conversion won't help that!

[red848]

Well **** I wanted to be taller. Wonder if my bean bag game will be better.. Has to help that surely..
Guessing the 100.00 question is really if I want to put money into this old cart or buy a newer cart that has the industry standards in it already. Money.. how much am I willing to put out.. Thinking dirt track racing and street rods is a better addiction. LOL

[scottyb]

That is the question. Some guys have found proper used components and done it for a lot less than new but I'm sure the results were less than they could be with top of the line components too.

You just need to decide ...............



........ how tall you want to be

[red848]

My wife says a few inches taller makes a lot of difference.

Now would changing gears be an option with the resistor crap? Or would the extra power needed ultimately destory the resistor stuff?

[Gonkulor]

You guys are a hoot.

Taller gears are pretty easy if you have the time and patience. TerryH has an excellent thread anyone can visit and use as a how too. I have some pictures and comments in one of my threads to when went 8:1. If I did it again I would have gone 6:1.

A plum quick motor can be done as well. I would think either of those choices could be done with a resister cart but really, going solid state would have to be the greatest thing you could do. Just for the battery run time improvements.

Just my humble opinion.