Starter Generator noob question

[Stewbuntu]

I thought my battery was old and that's why I was having trouble with my new to me cart starting. I got a new battery with 800 cca and it still had trouble a half dozen times all through the day. I cleaned and sanded the terminals and added dielectric grease. It started fine just after, but after a couple forward and reverses it didn't start up. It was giving a low whir when attempting to start. One time I rolled the cart 6 inches and then it started up after a half dozen tries. Any info about the starter generator would be great to know. I'm going to do a bunch of research. I'm thinking I need a new one, but I saw brushes popped up a lot when when I googled the starter. So maybe it's a common maintenance issue. I'll do some research on rebuilding them too.

Read the sticky below. Maybe it's the intermittent stop switch, I'll test it tomorrow. I'll also have to check if the battery is being charged or not.

Update: Here is what I'm thinking - the whir or turning over means the stop switch still works bc it's turning. Is there anything that stops the cart from starting up after the starter is engaged and turning? Or do all the safety stuff keep the starter from turning? It's not the choke it has done this when it was hot too. Oh heard the solenoid click w the new battery and sparkplug is cleaned and it runs good once started.

Originally Posted by smallblock450sl

Been seeing alot of posts about carts not turning over/starting. You will need a volt meter! The starting circuit consistes of: battery/battery cables/fuse or fuses/wire harness/key switch/stop switch (at accelerator pedal)/solenoid and starter/generator. On G16's and up there is also a "stop relay". Jack up the cart or put it in neutral. I recommend cleaning the battery posts and cable ends back to clean/brite lead. Put your volt meter on the battery. Try to start the cart, battery voltage should not drop below 10 volts (cart will hesitate to start with low voltage), did you hear the solenoid click? If battery checks ok and you heard a solenoid click bypass the next steps and go to solenoid output test. Take the brake/accelrator acsess panel out, the "stop switch will have 2 wires (brown and red) disconect the brown wire, you should have battery voltage all the time, if not,battery/fuse/wireharness problem. if battery voltage present, reconect and check for battery voltage on the red wire comeing out of the stop switch. You should only have voltage when you "press" the accelrator pedal. Try it several times (you may have a intermitent stop switch). If tests good, the red wire goes to the solenoid (to "energize" it),reconect the red wire, now put your volt meter on the (small) red wire at the solenoid and push the accelerator pedal. You should have battery voltage. Check the voltage at the (small) black wire at the solenoid, you should have battery voltage at all times (if not, bad ground wire). If you have ground (black wire)and 12 volts positive (red wire) when pedal pushed, your solenoid is bad. Test solenoid output (the 2 big posts), you should have battery voltage at the post that the positive battery cable attatches to, put your meter lead on the post that goes to the starter/generator, push the pedal. You should hear the solenoid click and battery voltage should be present. If not bad solenoid, if good the starter/generator should be checked. Remember to check the negative batter cable the the starter for voltage also, there should be battery voltage reading at all times. Hope this helps anyone with a starting problem. Dave

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[1arunem]

Is the starter pulley spinning on the belt? Belt too loose and not turning the engine?

[Dave in VA]

If you need a new s/g, aftermarket ones are often junk, and OEM is expensive. I took one of mine to a rebuild shop. Bearings, brushes and whatever else for $75. It might be worth checking out...

[Lochlin]

Originally Posted by Dave in VA

If you need a new s/g, aftermarket ones are often junk, and OEM is expensive. I took one of mine to a rebuild shop. Bearings, brushes and whatever else for $75. It might be worth checking out...

Pretty much any alternator shop will make that like new.

[Stewbuntu]

Originally Posted by 1arunem

Is the starter pulley spinning on the belt? Belt too loose and not turning the engine?

I'll have to jack it up and check. On the way to lunch today I pressed and held it for about 6 seconds when it wouldn't start. It had the whir sound the whole time and then started up. Very interesting. I ordered brushes last night just encase. When I get a chance I'll jack it up and try some things.

How do I know if the belt is too loose? Is there a place to measure flexion of the belt with a ruler like a car and how much should it flex?

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[Dave in VA]

Originally Posted by Stewbuntu

I'll have to jack it up and check. On the way to lunch today I pressed and held it for about 6 seconds when it wouldn't start. It had the whir sound the whole time and then started up. Very interesting. I ordered brushes last night just encase. When I get a chance I'll jack it up and try some things.

How do I know if the belt is too loose? Is there a place to measure flexion of the belt with a ruler like a car and how much should it flex?

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

If the starter pulley is turning and the belt isn't...

[Stewbuntu]

Update: after lunch I checked it. It flexed about an inch so I tightened it until it was max half inch with a lot of pressure and about 1/4 inch with moderate pressure. Its a G16 and has and adjuster screw, like and idle screw, and then the bolt on the bottom to tighten it. That bolt was missing so I just added a new bolt with lock nut. Maybe the loose belt and torque with the missing bolt was it. After 2 dozen start and stops it's fine but I never say it's fixed until I test it a long time. I'm going for a drive, cross your fingers.

Thanks again for everyone's help

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[1arunem]

I suspect that was all it was. Hope so anyway!

[Stewbuntu]

Yep works great now drove all over the property doing some jobs and stopping at gates and it started every time. Thanks everyone!!!

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[Stewbuntu]

Is the belt too tight now or low battery?

I know the sounds/signs/symptoms with a normal starter, these are different. I have noticed that 1 out of 4 times I try to start it, the starter pauses for a second or two before it starts. Like the battery is barely charged or the belt is too tight or it's struggling to turn over. I looked at it and it's not spinning, no clicking/ grunting sound, or anything that would make me think it's struggling, just the pause. I can tap and tap again same thing. If I hold it down in the same spot until it starts it always starts even w no change in the pedal. Holding it there in the same spot makes me think it's not a switching on and off issue. Soft pedal or heavy pedal it does the same thing. It's charged up to 12.9v and it was 12.8v last week so it is charging. My trips around the property only last a minute or two. I'm pretty sure it should be near 14v. I never charged the battery when I got it last week.

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk