72' Harley Golf Cart Engine Upgrade Suggestions?

[jeketchum]

We just purchased a 72' Harley Golf Cart with a 2 stroke engine. The standard nature of a 2 stroke engine is not exactly what will work to cruise around our neighborhood and the Country Club. It's just a bit too smokey and loud, however, we LOVE the vintage cart and are wondering if there were suggestions of engine replacement options. Will a 4 stroke engine be any better? What have others done to modify their 2 stroke carts to something better? Thank you so much!!

[jakesnake27]

to BGW

Hey I love my Harley, but you're in the electric Club Car section of the forum. A mod will be along shortly to move this thread to the gas HD section...

[Lochlin]

In a nutshell, no can do. Unless you do an outrageous amount of customizations / modifications you won't be able to match up a non-HD engine with the HD frame / drive system. That would be like dropping a Ford engine into a Chevy. Just isn't going to happen without radical modifications.

Really, if your cart is that loud and smoky there is something wrong with it. One of my HDs has been completely rebuilt with new crank bearings and such. It is so quiet that people can't believe it's a two stroke. I have another one that hasn't been completely rebuilt (yet) and it's loud. I love it though. Call me nuts but I think it adds to the charm.

An option you may want to consider is a general noise reduction solution as described here:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/gas-h...fler-wrap.html

and this:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/gas-h...reduction.html


I was considering doing something like this but, again, I have come to somewhat appreciate the noise. It's what these old carts are.

[tew45]

I have a 1974 and a 1976 HD cart and they don't smoke much. Usually not noticeable. Are you using good oil and not too much of it? I use Walmart's Supertech with good results. 1 1/2 oz. per gallon of regular unleaded gas.

[jeketchum]

Out of curiosity, what exactly is the mixture of gas to water that you use? I am thinking that maybe a solid rebuild of the 2 stroke is the way to go!

[73eldo]

85:1 1.5 oz per gallon.

I'm sure the insulation will help but I don't think these will ever be considered quiet.

Harley did make electric carts. They didn't seem to be as common but you still see them from time to time. Bet it would be fairly easy to update one of those to modern electronic controls to get a little more range out of em.

[jakesnake27]

You are esaclty right 73eldo, they made sparkles, but they seem to be few and far between. I like mine, it's as quiet as a church mouse...