no power in reverse when on incline

snorky · 09-01-2010, 07:40 PM

just bought a gas yamaha g1. runs great in forward and ok in reverse when on level ground, but if on incline it won't climb. have tried reving engine w/ foot on brake, but it just craps out and won't go. if i'm on level ground and get it going in reverse, it will then take the incline. what's going on?

GMB74 · 09-01-2010, 07:53 PM

Sounds like your clutches are sticking. G1's did not have grease fittings like the later buggies, so take them apart and clean/lube, especially the secondary clutch. Check the slider shoes to make sure they are not worn out.

snorky · 09-01-2010, 08:01 PM

i'm new to golf carts and although quite handy, don't know how to go about doing what you suggest. i guess i need a repair manual or can i download a pdf file showing how to do this. do you know of a link? i've also not determined the year of the cart yet, but see posts of how to determine this. will all the clutches be the same on the g1's?

snorky · 09-02-2010, 06:41 AM

if the clutch was sticking, wouldn't the lack of power also be a factor in forward?

Mike Mac · 09-02-2010, 10:22 AM

Snorky
Take a couple nights to read the Yamaha sight (old posts) and you will learn many things about your car. Maintenance is probably most of your problem. Secondary clutches are I believe the same on all Yamaha's. Start with maintenance first.
Drive belt issues, check fluids, etc.

snorky · 09-02-2010, 06:51 PM

mike mac--will do on the yamaha site. i talked w/ yamaha tec support and they confirmed that if the cart runs fine in forward that it is not a clutch issue. they suggested that there may be an air leak between the carb and intake. they felt that since the timing changes between forward and reverse that it may be running lean in reverse. i'll chk for leaks. any other ideas?

Mike Mac · 09-02-2010, 09:44 PM

Buddy, I've been here a year, and I'm still a nube. The only thing I can fix is my G8. But I have read this whole site, and learned alot, but I've never seen a G1 so I don't know a thing about them, but the big guys here will get you going.
I just did general maintenance on mine and fixed most everything on it before it happened. But I learned it by reading the old posts. Thats why I suggest you read before you ask for help! You'll probably read it before someone answers.
Good luck Mike

sho305 · 09-03-2010, 11:10 AM

A typical G1 should about spin the tires (stock tires) on gravel if you floor it from a stop. If the clutches are messed up it will not run at the right rpm, bog the motor, you get no power. Sure it could be an engine issue. The secondary (on trans) in a g1 is different, the spring has no preload (wind up) and it has ramps to run in both directions instead of just one direction. Check the ramps and plastic pucks that run on them, ramps should be smooth. Push the inner sheave in between the ramps it should move in and belt drop into it, that shaft inside the spring it moves on needs to be clean and have a little grease on it and move easily aside from spring tension. If it has an aftermarket spring in it the spring will be large and you can't do much with it by hand. The ramps are the main thing that differ from forward to reverse.

The belt needs to be 1" wide to work and that is max wear they don't even shift quite right at 1", new is 1 3/16 wide. Sheaves can wear and get dished out or holes in them, the aluminum parts wear from sand on the belt check those.

The primary clutch it depends on what one you have the alum square one is best the original G1 clutch it has a spring in it, the later replacement is same as G2/9 with a large gold cover that is rounded. The later one you take cover off and clean/lube the links/pins and center bushing. The early one iirc you take the center bolt out and it comes apart its posted here someplace, but you may not be able to get parts for it anymore.

Check engine mounts if engine moves into trans under torque it will bog.

Someone would have to pull the flywheel and advance the timing to make it have more power in forward and less in reverse. I did it, it ran in reverse just was slow acting and less power....but consistently that way. You can go to tnt golf on their site they show a parts breakdown of the clutches that will give you an idea of what is in there. Its only the primary you should have to take apart to see a problem. Another clue is if you gas it with the brake on and the clutch is not right it will just die down as the belt grabs the wrong way. My beefed up G1 would spin the right tire on pavement with the brake on if I leaned out to the left, it did have a cut head and some other mods. It would powerslide in gravel/sand/wet grass.

snorky · 09-03-2010, 08:59 PM

great reply post sho305. i have a service manual on it's way. from your reply and people i have talked to, it sounds like a secondary clutch problem. the other clue is that it squeels (sp?) in reverse when it is bogging down. thanks again.
ps the cart is an '86 G1A

sho305 · 09-03-2010, 09:24 PM

Use a puller on it, if you don't have one you can get it off with a 3/4" rod and a 3lb if you are careful. Hit it on the hub by the ramps.

09-01-2010, 07:40 PM	#1
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6	no power in reverse when on incline just bought a gas yamaha g1. runs great in forward and ok in reverse when on level ground, but if on incline it won't climb. have tried reving engine w/ foot on brake, but it just craps out and won't go. if i'm on level ground and get it going in reverse, it will then take the incline. what's going on?
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6

09-01-2010, 07:53 PM	#2
GMB74 Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Heluvabump,VT Posts: 623	Re: no power in reverse when on incline Sounds like your clutches are sticking. G1's did not have grease fittings like the later buggies, so take them apart and clean/lube, especially the secondary clutch. Check the slider shoes to make sure they are not worn out.

09-01-2010, 08:01 PM	#3
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6	Re: no power in reverse when on incline i'm new to golf carts and although quite handy, don't know how to go about doing what you suggest. i guess i need a repair manual or can i download a pdf file showing how to do this. do you know of a link? i've also not determined the year of the cart yet, but see posts of how to determine this. will all the clutches be the same on the g1's?
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6

09-02-2010, 06:41 AM	#4
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6	Re: no power in reverse when on incline if the clutch was sticking, wouldn't the lack of power also be a factor in forward?
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6

09-02-2010, 10:22 AM	#5
Mike Mac G8 Specialist Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 7,799	Re: no power in reverse when on incline Snorky Take a couple nights to read the Yamaha sight (old posts) and you will learn many things about your car. Maintenance is probably most of your problem. Secondary clutches are I believe the same on all Yamaha's. Start with maintenance first. Drive belt issues, check fluids, etc.

Today
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09-02-2010, 06:51 PM	#6
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6	Re: no power in reverse when on incline mike mac--will do on the yamaha site. i talked w/ yamaha tec support and they confirmed that if the cart runs fine in forward that it is not a clutch issue. they suggested that there may be an air leak between the carb and intake. they felt that since the timing changes between forward and reverse that it may be running lean in reverse. i'll chk for leaks. any other ideas?
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6

09-02-2010, 09:44 PM	#7
Mike Mac G8 Specialist Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 7,799	Re: no power in reverse when on incline Buddy, I've been here a year, and I'm still a nube. The only thing I can fix is my G8. But I have read this whole site, and learned alot, but I've never seen a G1 so I don't know a thing about them, but the big guys here will get you going. I just did general maintenance on mine and fixed most everything on it before it happened. But I learned it by reading the old posts. Thats why I suggest you read before you ask for help! You'll probably read it before someone answers. Good luck Mike

09-03-2010, 11:10 AM	#8
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: no power in reverse when on incline A typical G1 should about spin the tires (stock tires) on gravel if you floor it from a stop. If the clutches are messed up it will not run at the right rpm, bog the motor, you get no power. Sure it could be an engine issue. The secondary (on trans) in a g1 is different, the spring has no preload (wind up) and it has ramps to run in both directions instead of just one direction. Check the ramps and plastic pucks that run on them, ramps should be smooth. Push the inner sheave in between the ramps it should move in and belt drop into it, that shaft inside the spring it moves on needs to be clean and have a little grease on it and move easily aside from spring tension. If it has an aftermarket spring in it the spring will be large and you can't do much with it by hand. The ramps are the main thing that differ from forward to reverse. The belt needs to be 1" wide to work and that is max wear they don't even shift quite right at 1", new is 1 3/16 wide. Sheaves can wear and get dished out or holes in them, the aluminum parts wear from sand on the belt check those. The primary clutch it depends on what one you have the alum square one is best the original G1 clutch it has a spring in it, the later replacement is same as G2/9 with a large gold cover that is rounded. The later one you take cover off and clean/lube the links/pins and center bushing. The early one iirc you take the center bolt out and it comes apart its posted here someplace, but you may not be able to get parts for it anymore. Check engine mounts if engine moves into trans under torque it will bog. Someone would have to pull the flywheel and advance the timing to make it have more power in forward and less in reverse. I did it, it ran in reverse just was slow acting and less power....but consistently that way. You can go to tnt golf on their site they show a parts breakdown of the clutches that will give you an idea of what is in there. Its only the primary you should have to take apart to see a problem. Another clue is if you gas it with the brake on and the clutch is not right it will just die down as the belt grabs the wrong way. My beefed up G1 would spin the right tire on pavement with the brake on if I leaned out to the left, it did have a cut head and some other mods. It would powerslide in gravel/sand/wet grass.

09-03-2010, 08:59 PM	#9
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6	Re: no power in reverse when on incline great reply post sho305. i have a service manual on it's way. from your reply and people i have talked to, it sounds like a secondary clutch problem. the other clue is that it squeels (sp?) in reverse when it is bogging down. thanks again. ps the cart is an '86 G1A Last edited by snorky; 09-03-2010 at 09:05 PM.. Reason: left out info re: model and year
snorky Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 6

09-03-2010, 09:24 PM	#10
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: no power in reverse when on incline Use a puller on it, if you don't have one you can get it off with a 3/4" rod and a 3lb if you are careful. Hit it on the hub by the ramps.

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