club car starting issues

[wicked872]

at our golf course we have 2 club car carryalls that we use for work and as beverage carts, the problem we are having is when you hit the pedal to start nothing happens so you hold down the pedal and after 10 to 30 seconds it turns over and starts, it is almost like if it is on the wrong stroke and has compression it wont turn and when a little bleeds off it cranks and goes, both have Kawasaki engines, starter belts are new and tight, maybe carbon buildup , maybe valve adjustment, do these engines have a compression release maybe sticking, one of the starters was just replaced and when they start turning they turn good, looking for a place to start. Thanks.

[lockman1]

Most "pedal start" carts don't have a ACR (Automatic Compression Release) up to about 2010... Just "key start" carts did!
(to my understanding, most all 2011 and up do have an ACR)

There are two things that I've experienced with my cart...

1) You CAN have the S/G belt TOO tight!
I've found that there is a "sweet spot" in the tension where the belt won't slip,
and the engine will turn beyond the compression stroke at start up!

2) A good... but, weak battery will also cause a "delayed" engine turn over!

Just some suggestions to look for!

[wicked872]

checked the belts today and they are not too tight, hooked the battery charger to it and still the same with the charger on boost, took a compression test, it jumped to 90 pounds immediately that is where it wont turn over anymore, then it bleeds down a little and then it turns over and compression jumps to150 pounds, this seems a little high to me, don't know where to start, I still think it could be carbon build up or valves but need more ideas.

[nobuckbuild]

i would still swap the battery out and check the ground connections but it sure sounds like something mechanical getting hung up, even with a charger on boost with a bad battery you could get the same results , batteries do strange things,

[lockman1]

165 psi is nominal compression for a Kawasaki FE engine!

[ezgo on fire]

You need to check battery voltage while cranking.

How old is the battery and your not using a lawn mower battery right.

Also Its easy to take apart them starters and clean or replace the brushes.

[Golf cart guy]

You don't mention what year. But if they have the advanced starter in it, we have seen those get weak over time and not have the ability to turn the motor while on the compression stroke.

Battery check is your first step

[wicked872]

installed new 700 cold cranking amp battery,cleaned all connections, still does the same thing, added cable from ground to starter, anyone know of an aftermarket compression release, this is getting way too stupid, got to be something I am missing.

[lockman1]

I think you need to stop wrapping your head around an ACR, and get back to concentrating on the root of the problem!

O.k... this is what you've said, 2 carryalls, same problem, new starter belts,
on 1 you replaced the S/G... was the S/G new? or, is it off of another cart?
and is it the same cart you put the new battery in?

You said that you "checked" the belts, and they're not too tight...
BUT... did you even try to readjust them so they are not to tight, OR not too loose?
(sometimes it takes 3 or 4 times to adjust them to get it right!)

If you put the cart in Maintenance mode, you should be able to see if the S/G is turning, and the belt isn't! (too loose)
If the S/G just sits and hums, (S/G pulley doesn't turn... too tight)

I'll wait a bit before going any further!
and yes, Golf cart guy is right... it would be nice to know the year(s) of the cart(s)!