Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart?

emilton · 10-28-2010, 07:15 AM

I was wondering if you can put a 27 hp Kohler lawn mower motor in a 1998 ez-go golf cart? We installed one and are not getting enough power. Any suggestions?

scottyb · 10-28-2010, 07:50 AM

27 hp is plenty of power. It seems the problem is either low rpms (carburetor or governor related?) or clutch and belt related?

How well did the engine run in the lawn mower?

roady89 · 10-28-2010, 08:13 AM

not a vertical shaft

emilton · 10-28-2010, 08:24 AM

It is a horizontal shaft. We have a 1 1/8" shaft Team clutch from carts parts plus, stock pulley on rear end, 45" X 1 3/16" belt. It is sluggish on take off and slow to get up to speed. It will not get to top end unless going downhill.

56servi · 10-28-2010, 08:38 AM

I put a 16hp Vanguard in my garden tractor. Started right up & ran fine but no power. Bottom line was one cyl not firing. New coil & I had all the power I needed. Seems these will idle & start fine on 1 cyl. make sure the plugs are firing in both cyl's

kameljoe21 · 10-28-2010, 05:45 PM

please post some pic of your set up
i have an old 3 wheel cushman that i want to do the same
i have a vertical 18hp than im working on trying to find a way to install it

but what you need to install is a centrifugal clutch this will allow your engine to rev up to a higher rpm and then engage your wheels

roady89 · 10-28-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilton

It is a horizontal shaft. We have a 1 1/8" shaft Team clutch from carts parts plus, stock pulley on rear end, 45" X 1 3/16" belt. It is sluggish on take off and slow to get up to speed. It will not get to top end unless going downhill.

My first thought was clutch issues. The kohler should have more power than you need. Check the secondary, then on to engine issues. Secondary could be opening too soon, that'll cause it to have slow take offs....but the 27 should pull it to top speed once it gets going.

roady89 · 10-28-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kameljoe21

please post some pic of your set up
i have an old 3 wheel cushman that i want to do the same
i have a vertical 18hp than im working on trying to find a way to install it

but what you need to install is a centrifugal clutch this will allow your engine to rev up to a higher rpm and then engage your wheels

He said he had a horizontal shaft. I can't think of anyone who has successfully swapped a vertical...sure, they might say it but never seen pictures.

kameljoe21 · 10-28-2010, 06:23 PM

i will have to take some pic of this cub cadet lawn mower
it has a vertical shaft that drives a horizontal shaft
it does some werid thing with 2 pulleys that allow the belt to go from hort to vert

im thinking of using this idea to put in my other cart

10-28-2010, 07:15 AM	#1
emilton Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2	Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? I was wondering if you can put a 27 hp Kohler lawn mower motor in a 1998 ez-go golf cart? We installed one and are not getting enough power. Any suggestions?
emilton Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2

10-28-2010, 07:50 AM	#2
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,419	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? 27 hp is plenty of power. It seems the problem is either low rpms (carburetor or governor related?) or clutch and belt related? How well did the engine run in the lawn mower?

10-28-2010, 08:13 AM	#3
roady89 nimda Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 13,022	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? not a vertical shaft
roady89 nimda Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 13,022

10-28-2010, 08:24 AM	#4
emilton Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? It is a horizontal shaft. We have a 1 1/8" shaft Team clutch from carts parts plus, stock pulley on rear end, 45" X 1 3/16" belt. It is sluggish on take off and slow to get up to speed. It will not get to top end unless going downhill.
emilton Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2

10-28-2010, 08:38 AM	#5
56servi Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Walled Lake MI Posts: 332	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? I put a 16hp Vanguard in my garden tractor. Started right up & ran fine but no power. Bottom line was one cyl not firing. New coil & I had all the power I needed. Seems these will idle & start fine on 1 cyl. make sure the plugs are firing in both cyl's

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10-28-2010, 05:45 PM	#6
kameljoe21 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Joes, Colorado Posts: 24	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? please post some pic of your set up i have an old 3 wheel cushman that i want to do the same i have a vertical 18hp than im working on trying to find a way to install it but what you need to install is a centrifugal clutch this will allow your engine to rev up to a higher rpm and then engage your wheels

10-28-2010, 06:23 PM	#9
kameljoe21 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Joes, Colorado Posts: 24	Re: Can you put a lawn mower motor in a golf cart? i will have to take some pic of this cub cadet lawn mower it has a vertical shaft that drives a horizontal shaft it does some werid thing with 2 pulleys that allow the belt to go from hort to vert im thinking of using this idea to put in my other cart

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