Engine life span with high speed gears, speed spring, and wide open throttle?

[Jeffreynmandy]

I currently have a very fast electric, but am thinking about a gas model for long range. Where I plan on driving, I have the opportunity for 25-30mph driving for a couple miles at a time.

Would that prematurely wear out the engine? I don't really want to do a big block cart so is a yamaha with gears bigger tires, spring, and governor adj. A good option?

[Dave in VA]

I think the engine will be fine. Just use synthetic oil, and mind your RPM's. Gotta listen to the engine if you don't have a tach...

[sho305]

I would say get HS gears for sure, larger tires will also help if say you can fit 24 instead of 22. They will cut your power/torque but you can change the clutches to help it. You need the gearing so you are not at top rpm all the time. It will slow on hills you only have ~10hp. With a yamaha you can usually toss the governor (if you need to) and run it WOT on flat ground, and whatever speed you get do not go over that on a hill. If you slow down a few mph you can run that for quite a while, say half throttle. I would not keep it on the floor for a long period (w/ no governor). WOT makes more heat you should put a clone in it then, you will have quite a bit more power so you don't have to floor it all the time. Clones are cheap, you can start with 15hp 420 you are already 50% more power. The VC460 is more but quite a deal and works great in carts, 25hp. It revs more for a better top speed. I've seen 38mph gps with my 420 that has some mods, the stock 420 does 31 but even with $50 of mods it would go faster. But I tend to run them 30 or less on distance trips. They have stock gears so figure about +10mph for HS gears.

[Left Coast Kiteboarding]

FWIW...I have been running my '97DS w/ FE290, all stock except with no limiter/governor for almost 5 years. I'm still stock gearing, on 24" tires. All road miles. It gets used daily for several miles at a time. We run the crap out of it all over town. Contrary to what everyone says, it has been fine. No blown motor, no thrown rods. I keep good oil in it with a little bit of Slick50 and just watch the oil light. If the light comes on I know oil is backing up in the upper end of the motor so I back off the throttle. Generally run WOT at about 23-24mph.

Obviously YMMV, but I've been running this way for a long time.

[Sleezy81]

I run my G2 all stock, with governor eliminated. It will go about 22 on flat roads wide open. I run this way most of the time, but I do back off of it and watch what I am doing going down hills. Always listen to what the engine is telling you. You will know when it is time to back off a little. I keep the valves adjusted and change the oil every couple of months. I only use Castrol Edge 10w30 in it. I have a G2 and my buddy has a G1 and they are the two fastest carts in town. The new carts that alot of people we know have won't even touch either one of them, not even close.

[raydhd]

2 notes here 1) The FE 290 has an oil pump 2 ) The G 2 has an iron rod with shell bearings. Either a much better system than a cast aluminium rod with no bearings and no oil pump.

[sho305]

I took the governor off my G9 in '99 when I got it. I didn't use it every day mostly weekends, but when I did I took a WOT run every time. About 4yr ago it started smoking oil and I put a clone in. I put 22 tires on it when I got it also. It would gps at 28 on a dirt road/trail, 30 on a real road, best of 31 on a good day on the road with a longer run. I ran trails up to 6 hours in one day, likely we averaged 20mph or so. I don't think I ever ran it WOT more than say 300 yards on flat ground. At half throttle it didn't slow down that much maybe 4mph or something. The tires actually measure 23 tall however, maybe 22 with 6psi in them but I run 12-15 in the rears and 8 in front. So in the end the rings gave out, it still run fine but I wanted some kick. And it was worth it. Still has stock gears in it.