'90 Marathon

fishb8 · 02-16-2011, 06:31 PM

I Bought this 1990 Marthon for my dad to use around his lake house. The batteries are dead. So I swapped them out with the ones from my 2002 buggy.
The Marathon goes 10Mph (mine goes 20mph. different motor. different tires). But the Marathon goes 10Mph with the peddle about halfway down. I get nothing when pushing all the way down. My 2002 has speed through the whole peddle movement.
Is this normal, or is there something I can check? The buggie seems like something is holding it back (if that makes any since).

Thanks.

Marathon Man · 02-16-2011, 07:56 PM

bad potentiometer not reading a full 0 to 5k

fishb8 · 02-16-2011, 08:02 PM

Thanks Marathon Man. i'm sad to say but i'm familiar with that. What does it do and where is it?
Is there a way to test it?

Thanks

rabbitreborn · 02-17-2011, 07:12 AM

It is the silver box bolted to the side of the controller support (on the drivers side of the support). To test the output, pull the #2 and #3 wire from the controller (small spade connectors) attach a digital volt meter set to OHMs to the 2 wires and slowly press the pedal down until it hits the floor while watching the readings on the meter. You should see smooth flow from 0 to 5000 OHMs.

fishb8 · 02-17-2011, 12:16 PM

OK, I trying to find a wiring diagram so I can tell what the
#2 and #3 wires are.

fishb8 · 02-17-2011, 12:24 PM

The problem I have is that I'm using the nice Fluke meter with lots of options. I need dumbed down meters.
I finally got it right and found the #2,3 wires. There are 2 spots in trottle movement that the fluke read "OL". Completely depressed it reads 6.5. I'm not sure I have the Fluke setup right.

fishb8 · 02-18-2011, 06:21 PM

Any other help on why this buggie only goes 10mph?
Does the info above on the potentiometer help?

pggroves · 02-20-2011, 10:26 AM

10mph isn't that far off of what that era cart is supposed to do. Don't like the blips in the pot throttle response and 6.5k ohms is a tad high but not so high as to shut down the controller. Brakes free? Motor been cleaned lately? Batteries fully charged and no weak cells? Cables all clean and tight? Just scatter shootin here....

For reference, that cart did maybe 12mph tops from the factory....

02-16-2011, 06:31 PM	#1
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	'90 Marathon I Bought this 1990 Marthon for my dad to use around his lake house. The batteries are dead. So I swapped them out with the ones from my 2002 buggy. The Marathon goes 10Mph (mine goes 20mph. different motor. different tires). But the Marathon goes 10Mph with the peddle about halfway down. I get nothing when pushing all the way down. My 2002 has speed through the whole peddle movement. Is this normal, or is there something I can check? The buggie seems like something is holding it back (if that makes any since). Thanks.

02-17-2011, 07:12 AM	#4
rabbitreborn Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,757	Re: '90 Marathon It is the silver box bolted to the side of the controller support (on the drivers side of the support). To test the output, pull the #2 and #3 wire from the controller (small spade connectors) attach a digital volt meter set to OHMs to the 2 wires and slowly press the pedal down until it hits the floor while watching the readings on the meter. You should see smooth flow from 0 to 5000 OHMs.

02-17-2011, 12:16 PM	#5
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: '90 Marathon OK, I trying to find a wiring diagram so I can tell what the #2 and #3 wires are.

02-17-2011, 12:24 PM	#6
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: '90 Marathon The problem I have is that I'm using the nice Fluke meter with lots of options. I need dumbed down meters. I finally got it right and found the #2,3 wires. There are 2 spots in trottle movement that the fluke read "OL". Completely depressed it reads 6.5. I'm not sure I have the Fluke setup right.

02-18-2011, 06:21 PM	#7
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: '90 Marathon Any other help on why this buggie only goes 10mph? Does the info above on the potentiometer help?

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02-16-2011, 07:56 PM	#2
Marathon Man Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: brooksville fl Posts: 412	Re: '90 Marathon bad potentiometer not reading a full 0 to 5k

02-16-2011, 08:02 PM	#3
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: '90 Marathon Thanks Marathon Man. i'm sad to say but i'm familiar with that. What does it do and where is it? Is there a way to test it? Thanks

02-20-2011, 10:26 AM	#8
pggroves steeplejack x Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 3,382	Re: '90 Marathon 10mph isn't that far off of what that era cart is supposed to do. Don't like the blips in the pot throttle response and 6.5k ohms is a tad high but not so high as to shut down the controller. Brakes free? Motor been cleaned lately? Batteries fully charged and no weak cells? Cables all clean and tight? Just scatter shootin here.... For reference, that cart did maybe 12mph tops from the factory....