Brake spring getting red hot when running

Russbelland · 03-16-2010, 11:09 AM

This is the weirdest thing, The spring on my old electric Cushman cart gets red hot after about 15 seconds of driving. It is not rubbing on anything and the connection to the frame and the brake rod do not get hot. I am wondering if I have some electrical problem that is causing electricity to jump to the spring. Any ideas what could be causing this? The cart is a cushman cart fro mthe 70's so finding info on it is very difficult.

gornoman · 03-16-2010, 11:14 AM

Welcome to BGW!

If it's getting hot from stray current you would be able to read voltage from it.

Todd Dolfi · 03-16-2010, 12:26 PM

I would check to see if you lost a ground wire somewhere.

scottyb · 03-16-2010, 01:44 PM

Electrical motor short?

Russbelland · 03-16-2010, 01:54 PM

Thanks for all your help. I will check it with a voltage meter this evening to see if it is carrying electrical current. I will then check the rod it is attaced to. The tricky part will be trying to find if I have a ground not attached.

scottyb · 03-16-2010, 02:03 PM

Electric carts do not use a frame ground. If you have voltage between the battery pack positive or negative and the frame then you have a short or other problem, NO ground current should be present.

pggroves · 03-16-2010, 03:49 PM

We've seen this before. Didn't buckmanmike have this issue. IIRC his issue was a motor leaking current to the frame through the brake cable.

If you break open the motor case I'd bet its a brush dust nightmare inside causing the current leak. Just a guess tho'.

Russbelland · 03-16-2010, 04:05 PM

So if it is an issue with the motor leaking current what do I do? Open it up and clean the connections?

Russbelland · 03-16-2010, 04:06 PM

One more thing you guys are great thanks so much for all the help!

pggroves · 03-16-2010, 04:19 PM

I'm just guessing but it sure appears that current is leaking from somewhere. And in enough quantity to turn spring steel cherry red. Kinda points to the motor if you ask me. Plus the motor is already connected to the frame via the rear. Current has to go somewhere via the path of least resistance. Your brake spring in this case.

Again, all of this is speculation. But it wouldn't hurt to break it open and have a look see. I had something like this happen on an old 84 CC DS. Total carbon fest inside motor case from very worn brushes. Cleaned it all up and voila, problem went away.

and don't breathe the brush dust. BAD STUFF!!!!

03-16-2010, 11:09 AM	#1
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Brake spring getting red hot when running This is the weirdest thing, The spring on my old electric Cushman cart gets red hot after about 15 seconds of driving. It is not rubbing on anything and the connection to the frame and the brake rod do not get hot. I am wondering if I have some electrical problem that is causing electricity to jump to the spring. Any ideas what could be causing this? The cart is a cushman cart fro mthe 70's so finding info on it is very difficult.
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4

03-16-2010, 11:14 AM	#2
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,290	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running Welcome to BGW! If it's getting hot from stray current you would be able to read voltage from it.

03-16-2010, 12:26 PM	#3
Todd Dolfi Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,143	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running I would check to see if you lost a ground wire somewhere.

03-16-2010, 01:44 PM	#4
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running Electrical motor short?

03-16-2010, 01:54 PM	#5
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running Thanks for all your help. I will check it with a voltage meter this evening to see if it is carrying electrical current. I will then check the rod it is attaced to. The tricky part will be trying to find if I have a ground not attached.
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4

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03-16-2010, 02:03 PM	#6
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running Electric carts do not use a frame ground. If you have voltage between the battery pack positive or negative and the frame then you have a short or other problem, NO ground current should be present.

03-16-2010, 03:49 PM	#7
pggroves steeplejack x Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 3,382	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running We've seen this before. Didn't buckmanmike have this issue. IIRC his issue was a motor leaking current to the frame through the brake cable. If you break open the motor case I'd bet its a brush dust nightmare inside causing the current leak. Just a guess tho'.

03-16-2010, 04:05 PM	#8
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running So if it is an issue with the motor leaking current what do I do? Open it up and clean the connections?
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4

03-16-2010, 04:06 PM	#9
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running One more thing you guys are great thanks so much for all the help!
Russbelland Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4

03-16-2010, 04:19 PM	#10
pggroves steeplejack x Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 3,382	Re: Brake spring getting red hot when running I'm just guessing but it sure appears that current is leaking from somewhere. And in enough quantity to turn spring steel cherry red. Kinda points to the motor if you ask me. Plus the motor is already connected to the frame via the rear. Current has to go somewhere via the path of least resistance. Your brake spring in this case. Again, all of this is speculation. But it wouldn't hurt to break it open and have a look see. I had something like this happen on an old 84 CC DS. Total carbon fest inside motor case from very worn brushes. Cleaned it all up and voila, problem went away. and don't breathe the brush dust. BAD STUFF!!!!

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