94 EZgo Marathon speed question

plantguy90 · 10-23-2011, 10:41 PM

Hey all, I'm new to this forum and its been great with all the info. For me, I need our carts here to be workhorses, to reliably perform problem free and withstand the abuses of our staff

We use carts here at my wholesale nursery to get around, we're not a big shop and I have to work on a limited budget. Just picked up a Marathon and its kind of slow when working even on a slight grade (4%). cart belonged to a racer so its been cared for better than others I have seen, least the batteries were ok.
Soon as the cart hits grade it slows down considerably. Is this normal for Marathons? Had one a while back we got rid of because of speed issues, maybe we need to change our expectations. All of our carts have boxes in the back, and we haul plants, tools, etc all the time. Changing the weight of the people+tools+payload weight doesnt seem to affect the speed. If its not the batteries then next is changing the controller?

scottyb · 10-24-2011, 12:28 AM

A racer may have used the cart to tow his race car a lot? Is the cart's drive system original? You can not increase speed in a Marathon Series cart cheaply. You will need more power to turn a higher reving aftermarket motor or bigger tires or both.
My suggestion would be a voltage increase 36 to 48v for 30% more torque and speed.
Again you can not do this properly without spending some cash.

plantguy90 · 10-24-2011, 09:27 AM

Where do you put the 2 new batteries? Is there a link to this upgrade? Is it possiblt to gp to 42v? Too fast is also a problem with staff...

plantguy90 · 10-24-2011, 09:41 AM

Cart is pretty much stock, wasnt used to tow the car, just wheels, tools, and people. It already had a steel box in back which was a plus for us.

Coltf1991 · 10-24-2011, 10:29 AM

Do you cannot get to 42v. All of your batteries in the pack have to match. If you want to go the 8x6v battery route Scottyb sells a kit for putting the batteries in the bagwell. Unless you can put them on the passenger and driver side under the seat. I am not real famiar with how marathons under hood is setup.

Good Luck!

Colton

kernal · 10-24-2011, 10:37 AM

It is the nature of golf carts to slow down going up hills. As a reference, my 1991 Marathon (resistor drive) would run 14mph on the flat and slow to 8mph (GPS) on my test hill which I call moderately steep. My research indicates this is average to slightly better than average for this model cart in stock configuration.
Hope this helps.

Coltf1991 · 10-24-2011, 10:40 AM

Kernal,

Not to get off topic but do you have a link to pictures of your TXT? That blue looks gorgeous I want to get some ideas! Thanks

Back on topic now.......

Colton

kernal · 10-24-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coltf1991

Kernal,

Not to get off topic but do you have a link to pictures of your TXT? That blue looks gorgeous I want to get some ideas! Thanks

Back on topic now.......

Colton

At the moment no. I'm in the middle of some cosmetic upgrades----dash, wheels etc. It is a factory color, viper blue (28432G15) I believe. Owned since new.

plantguy90 · 10-24-2011, 11:14 AM

Well if its just adding 2 batteries to the series then I can just get the proper length cables and strap those babies in?

kernal · 10-24-2011, 11:34 AM

Upping the voltage requires a different controller, heavy duty F/R switch, heavier gage wiring and a way to charge the batteries at the very least. More, if you are starting with a resistor cart (common in Marathons).

Refer to the post by Scottyb. This is what he does.

10-23-2011, 10:41 PM	#1
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75	94 EZgo Marathon speed question Hey all, I'm new to this forum and its been great with all the info. For me, I need our carts here to be workhorses, to reliably perform problem free and withstand the abuses of our staff We use carts here at my wholesale nursery to get around, we're not a big shop and I have to work on a limited budget. Just picked up a Marathon and its kind of slow when working even on a slight grade (4%). cart belonged to a racer so its been cared for better than others I have seen, least the batteries were ok. Soon as the cart hits grade it slows down considerably. Is this normal for Marathons? Had one a while back we got rid of because of speed issues, maybe we need to change our expectations. All of our carts have boxes in the back, and we haul plants, tools, etc all the time. Changing the weight of the people+tools+payload weight doesnt seem to affect the speed. If its not the batteries then next is changing the controller? Last edited by plantguy90; 10-23-2011 at 10:49 PM.. Reason: adding info
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75

10-24-2011, 12:28 AM	#2
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question A racer may have used the cart to tow his race car a lot? Is the cart's drive system original? You can not increase speed in a Marathon Series cart cheaply. You will need more power to turn a higher reving aftermarket motor or bigger tires or both. My suggestion would be a voltage increase 36 to 48v for 30% more torque and speed. Again you can not do this properly without spending some cash.

10-24-2011, 09:27 AM	#3
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Where do you put the 2 new batteries? Is there a link to this upgrade? Is it possiblt to gp to 42v? Too fast is also a problem with staff...
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75

10-24-2011, 09:41 AM	#4
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Cart is pretty much stock, wasnt used to tow the car, just wheels, tools, and people. It already had a steel box in back which was a plus for us.
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75

10-24-2011, 10:29 AM	#5
Coltf1991 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,901	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Do you cannot get to 42v. All of your batteries in the pack have to match. If you want to go the 8x6v battery route Scottyb sells a kit for putting the batteries in the bagwell. Unless you can put them on the passenger and driver side under the seat. I am not real famiar with how marathons under hood is setup. Good Luck! Colton

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10-24-2011, 10:37 AM	#6
kernal Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Peachtree City, Ga. Posts: 2,759	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question It is the nature of golf carts to slow down going up hills. As a reference, my 1991 Marathon (resistor drive) would run 14mph on the flat and slow to 8mph (GPS) on my test hill which I call moderately steep. My research indicates this is average to slightly better than average for this model cart in stock configuration. Hope this helps.

10-24-2011, 10:40 AM	#7
Coltf1991 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,901	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Kernal, Not to get off topic but do you have a link to pictures of your TXT? That blue looks gorgeous I want to get some ideas! Thanks Back on topic now....... Colton

10-24-2011, 11:14 AM	#9
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Well if its just adding 2 batteries to the series then I can just get the proper length cables and strap those babies in?
plantguy90 Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 75

10-24-2011, 11:34 AM	#10
kernal Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Peachtree City, Ga. Posts: 2,759	Re: 94 EZgo Marathon speed question Upping the voltage requires a different controller, heavy duty F/R switch, heavier gage wiring and a way to charge the batteries at the very least. More, if you are starting with a resistor cart (common in Marathons). Refer to the post by Scottyb. This is what he does.

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