Can you help me verify the year of my EZGO Marathon Gasser?

[SPARCpenguin]

Good evening everyone,

I purchased a cart off of craigslist a few months ago and would like some help verifying the model and year.

The tag in the passenger side glovebox says:
Serial No A10144
Manuf Code: B8319

I did some research and it looks like I should be able to determine the year by the last two numbers of the manufacturer code, but 19 doesn't make much sense, haha. I called a local EZGO repair place who then called Textron and told me it was a 1994 Marathon. However, it has the 2 cycle 2pg engine with a Mikuni carb from the 1988 year model. I would have expected the 295cc 4 cycle or 3pg, but not a 2pg. But they have done some modifications to the cart as you can see...

Does that manufacturer code match up with a 1994 Marathon? If so, is it possible someone swapped in an 1988 2pg and associated rear axle and diff?

pics are attached.

Thanks!
Sean

I've since put in a new piston, rings, cylinder, seals, starter, solenoid, switched to HEI, motor mounts, new belt, painted everything, brake switch, lights all around, tidied up the wiring, and fabricated an exhaust pipe and welded on a OEM replacement 2pg muffler for an 87 (wish I could find a 1988, but alas). It's not quite running right, but that's for another post =).

[SPARCpenguin]

Sorry, I realized I didn't include any close ups of the engine! I thought I took a picture of the engine label when I had it all apart, but I can't find it. Is there a way to tell the year of 2pg without that? I assume it's an 88, as I doubt the prior owners would buy a OE carb for it (and it looked pretty grungy and non-functioning when I got it).

Thanks again!
Sean

[cart around]

I think the tag is different because it is an industrial model with the steel diamond plate body.

After a little research, I'm definitely going with tags are different on industrial models. At first I thought that they missed a digit, but your serial number is not even close to being in the right range.


Locating and Deciphering your serial number and manufacturer's code
Prior to 1976 the numbers are on a metal tag under the driver's seat on the fender skirt. From 1976 until 1993 the number is on a metal tag under the passenger side dash board. On 1994 and newer the manufacturer's code is found on a plate inside the glove box on the passenger side.

The carts manufactured in the 1960s had the year at the end of the manufacture code. Here are a couple of actual examples: Model GX444-4, Serial # 11444GX1381, Mfg. #. 4114-1965G and this one: Model GX440, Serial # 4296X1570, Mfg. # 342-1968E. Carts made in the 1970s up until 1975 used a different dating matrix. The first number was the month of manufacture and the second number was the year. Here is an example of a 1972, Model: X440-2GE, Serial # 324X2047, Mfg # 432-2141G. Note the GE on the end of Model Number. This indicates an electric cart with a General Electric motor. For further help identifying electric carts use our General Electric Serial Number Guide here or located in the Miscellaneous Cart section to help determine the year of your cart. Find the General Electric Motor ID Tag on your motor and look in the lower left for the three letter identification code for the year of manufacture. Here is an example of another cart from the 1970s: Serial # 754X1653, Model #: X440-5GE. Note the GE on the end of the model number on this one as well. The motor on this one had a serial number code of DLN indicating that the motor was manufactured in April of 1975 and by the sereal number the cart was manufactured in July (first number) of 1975 (second number). There is a great deal of additional information below to help you identify your year of manufacture.

From 1976 until 1993 the number is on a metal tag under the passenger side dash board. The year of manufacture for these carts is found in the manufacture's code. The earlier carts used the first two numbers of the Manufacture Code but did not state it was the Manufacture Code on the metal tag. Here are several examples from actual carts, 78O516-155671 which is a 1978 +++ 79A12-161603, which is a 1979 +++ 79J01-188254 which is a 1979 +++ 80H15-209210 which is a 1980 +++ 81C4-222441 which is a 1981 +++ 82C02-251539 which is a 1982. They used this numbering system up until 1983 when they went to the last two number scheme which they still use. Here are examples: FO283-290166 is a 1983 +++ H1284-332917 which is a 1984 +++ 4104-1585E which would be a 1985 cart. Here is another: Manufacture Code B1890 and Serial Number 576966. This is a 1990.
SERIAL NUMBERS from 1976 to 1982
1976: 101050 to 115864
1977: 115865 to 135441
1978: 135442 to 161081
1979: 161082 to 189574
1980: 189575 to 216732
1981: 216733 to 244484
1982: 244485 to 275315
https://www.vintagegolfcartparts.com...l-number-guide

I believe the 88 2pg has a beefed up starter bracket, But I have never seen one, so I couldn't say what to physically look for.
This is the rest of the page where that came from.


This thread is a 95 Jacobson. It has louvres at the passenger leg area. The Marathons started doing that in 88. https://buggiesgonewild.com/showthread.php?t=171233

[SPARCpenguin]

Thanks for the quick reply Cart Around! That makes sense. So that would mean that this was a workhorse or something like that? I can't really tell what was from factory and what the prior owners welded on, but it seems like it had a flatbed or something on it at some point.

[cart around]

Where is your fuel tank? I see the battery is located on the driver's side.

How many microswitches does your FnR switch have?

[SPARCpenguin]

Heh, so I think they took a tank from a tiller or something (red thing on the back left of the cart). I moved it under the bench seat on the side opposite to the battery. So the battery is where the original fuel tank went and I have the fuel tank where the battery is. It just worked out better that way due to the size of the tank and the way the electronics were positioned. The lighting isn't very good in the garage, but I tried to get some decent pics of the layout.

It had 2 microswitches but I removed the reverse buzzer one when I rebuilt it and was rewiring the cart (based on 88 manual).