Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions

bsouth · 11-15-2010, 07:31 PM

First of all hello to everyone. I just purchased an 88 marathon electric. It has a toggle switch down by the key that you use to switch from low speed to high speed. Is this a factory switch? The cart to me seems pretty slow even with the switch in high. Any info is appreciated!
Brian

mauistardog · 11-16-2010, 03:01 PM

No, not standard on ezgo. I have heard of a re-branded ezgo carts (can't think of the name right now) that had a booster switch that had a shunt motor on it. Do you have pics ? that might help figure out what you have. An 88 marathon is normally a resistor cart with the coils down the middle with batteries in a 3x3 configuration. key and fnr down by your knee.
aloha
joe

bsouth · 11-16-2010, 05:55 PM

Pictures on the way!

bsouth · 11-16-2010, 06:13 PM

bsouth · 11-16-2010, 06:14 PM

Looks like cart has had a little fire or something because a lot of the wire coatings are a little melted.

bsouth · 11-16-2010, 08:05 PM

It also looks like 2 of the 4 resistors are missing. What problems would that cause?

mauistardog · 11-16-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsouth

It also looks like 2 of the 4 resistors are missing. What problems would that cause?

you found your problem :-) Resistor carts run as the name implies, uses the coils to slow the cart down. Once you press the pedal full current goes to the motor. The only way to control speed is to pass it through the coils to burn off the excess energy. The energy is released as HEAT. If you drive the cart slow, the coils get really hot. So it is best to floor it and then coast. It sounds like someone may have tried to wire up the cart with something to boost power, but ended up just burning up the coils. Pull the wiring diagram from the stickies up at the top of the page and wire the cart up as originally intended using 4gage wire. You can get a new coil pre mounted on a board for under 100.00. Then clean up you contacts on the speed board.
good luck.
joe

rabbitreborn · 11-17-2010, 07:10 AM

lmao.... someone burnt up the wiring and rather than repairing it properly, they wired in 2 solenoids to act as 2 speeds.basically the gas pedal is bypassed (other than possibly activating one of the solenoids).

flip the switch 1 way and the low speed (power through 1 resistor coil only) is activated, flip the switch the other way and you engage the high speed (power straight to the motor), with high speed being no more than the normal cart at full pedal depression.

mauistardog · 11-18-2010, 02:46 PM

No that I see that pics, WOW. rabbitreborn is on the money. If you want to restore in back to the original you can. you are probably looking at 300. new coil and board, new speed board, and 4ga wires, plus a few bloody knuckles. Not sure on the cost to convert to a controller cart. To fix on the cheap, I would test the solenoids and change ALL the wires to 4ga. The one's on the fnr look pretty bad.
joe

bsouth · 11-18-2010, 07:05 PM

Isn't there only suppose to be one solenoid? What about the last picture what is that thing called?

11-15-2010, 07:31 PM	#1
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions First of all hello to everyone. I just purchased an 88 marathon electric. It has a toggle switch down by the key that you use to switch from low speed to high speed. Is this a factory switch? The cart to me seems pretty slow even with the switch in high. Any info is appreciated! Brian
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

11-16-2010, 03:01 PM	#2
mauistardog Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Waihee, Maui, Hawaii Posts: 262	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions No, not standard on ezgo. I have heard of a re-branded ezgo carts (can't think of the name right now) that had a booster switch that had a shunt motor on it. Do you have pics ? that might help figure out what you have. An 88 marathon is normally a resistor cart with the coils down the middle with batteries in a 3x3 configuration. key and fnr down by your knee. aloha joe

11-16-2010, 05:55 PM	#3
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions Pictures on the way!
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

11-16-2010, 06:13 PM	#4
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

11-16-2010, 06:14 PM	#5
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions Looks like cart has had a little fire or something because a lot of the wire coatings are a little melted.
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

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11-16-2010, 08:05 PM	#6
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions It also looks like 2 of the 4 resistors are missing. What problems would that cause?
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

11-17-2010, 07:10 AM	#8
rabbitreborn Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,757	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions lmao.... someone burnt up the wiring and rather than repairing it properly, they wired in 2 solenoids to act as 2 speeds.basically the gas pedal is bypassed (other than possibly activating one of the solenoids). flip the switch 1 way and the low speed (power through 1 resistor coil only) is activated, flip the switch the other way and you engage the high speed (power straight to the motor), with high speed being no more than the normal cart at full pedal depression.

11-18-2010, 02:46 PM	#9
mauistardog Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Waihee, Maui, Hawaii Posts: 262	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions No that I see that pics, WOW. rabbitreborn is on the money. If you want to restore in back to the original you can. you are probably looking at 300. new coil and board, new speed board, and 4ga wires, plus a few bloody knuckles. Not sure on the cost to convert to a controller cart. To fix on the cheap, I would test the solenoids and change ALL the wires to 4ga. The one's on the fnr look pretty bad. joe

11-18-2010, 07:05 PM	#10
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Newbie w/ 88 elecrtric marathon questions Isn't there only suppose to be one solenoid? What about the last picture what is that thing called?
bsouth Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12

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