2013 48V yamaha DEAD.

[njcowboy]

This weekend camping, everything was fine with the cart.
Started with an intermittent wouldn't go. If I rolled it manually then stepped on the go fast pedal, it would go fine.

Then it go to the point of feeling like someone was "popping a clutch" The motor was kicking in and out. Of course, I was camping and had no electrical test equipment and only brain cells were being controlled by Tito and Jose.

Get it home and get a wiring schematic. Everything checks out. Safety stop button and potentionmeter test fine. Solenoid bench tests good.

The solenoid is supposed to get ground from the speed controller. It doesn't
Red/Black wire from solenoid to wiring harness ohms out fine.

I have not bench tested the motor but given the the solenoid wont "click" on the primary leads me to believe it is the controller.

With that said, what does everyone else think? Am I missing something?

I DON'T want more speed. Any recommendations on a new controller? any easy or not so difficult pluck and chuck options? I am decent with electronics (MS in Computer Science / Engineering) with 25 years hands on. I just don't have the time to create a new space shuttle and just want it to go forward and backwards when the wife presses the pedal. Happy Wife = Happy Life.

[Volt_Ampere]

Sounds like motor brushes to me. It may have eventually taken out the controller but I'd go for replacing the brushes first. I have had this with two Yamaha G29's with Hitachi motors.

[njcowboy]

Originally Posted by Volt_Ampere

Sounds like motor brushes to me. It may have eventually taken out the controller but I'd go for replacing the brushes first. I have had this with two Yamaha G29's with Hitachi motors.

Really? I was going to bench test the motor but honestly the motor was at perfect speed just prior to this. Never was an issue with any motor function prior to this weekend. Short of pulling the motor to inspect/replace the brushes, is there anyway to diagnose further?

[Volt_Ampere]

You can try to run the motor by bypassing the controller but If it ran when you pushed it, that sounds like brushes. You can't run the motor by itself because there will be no front bearing to support the armature once you pull the motor off the transaxle.

[njcowboy]

Originally Posted by Volt_Ampere

You can try to run the motor by bypassing the controller but If it ran when you pushed it, that sounds like brushes. You can't run the motor by itself because there will be no front bearing to support the armature once you pull the motor off the transaxle.

It only ran when pushed. While I think it could be the brushes and a bad spot on the motor, now it won't kick over the solenoid. I am not sure how the motor could kill the controller but am always curious what could cause any failure.

[Volt_Ampere]

Bad brushes with intermittent contact can kill the controller. When the brushes fail they may contact sometimes and pushing can get it sort of running but it's losing contact which can put big voltage spikes on the controller. The stock Yamaha (Hitachi) motor is pretty weak and the brushes do fail quicker than with many other more robust motors.

[njcowboy]

Originally Posted by Volt_Ampere

Bad brushes with intermittent contact can kill the controller. When the brushes fail they may contact sometimes and pushing can get it sort of running but it's losing contact which can put big voltage spikes on the controller. The stock Yamaha (Hitachi) motor is pretty weak and the brushes do fail quicker than with many other more robust motors.

Given 9 years on the motor, I might get it rebuilt and order a new controller.
Regardless of what caused the controller to fail, we both agree that the controller failed?