How does a gas powered golf cart work?

[mattmatthews]

I was recently given what I believe to be a 1990 Yamaha golf cart. After some cleaning and a new carburetor I have it running pretty good. However, if I put it in gear and turn the key it will start and drive as long as I give it gas. When I stop it shuts off but wont restart when I mash the gas. I know from golf course experience that it should start and continue on. This is the first time I have ever owned a golf cart so my knowledge is minimal. Can someone please help me understand what needs replacing or fixing?

[Bubba75]

When you say you turn the key the engine started, let only when gas pedal pushed?

When cart initially starts is there hesitation if you"mash" it? In had an issue with mine that turned out the s/g brushes were bad. Replaced them and when in put the s/g back on I didn't turn that belt enough and the belt earls just spin in the pulley. So there are two things to check that are cheap and easy

[mattmatthews]

What I'm saying is if the cart is in forward, I pull the choke and turn the key and the cart turns over and starts moving forward. The cart starts and travels on down the road. The same way an older manual shift car will jump forward if you don't push in the clutch when trying to crank it. Once started I should be able to press the gas and the cart start and move on down the road. Once started when I press the gas my cart does nothing. I am trying to figure out what mechanism causes the cart when the gas pedal is depressed.

[Bubba75]

Could be stop switch at accelerator or bad solenoid.

Usually what I do to locate where different things are is go to the Yamaha OEM parts finder. I access through my local dealer's website wwwmidohiogolfcarcom and pull up by model.

[sho305]

The switch on the pedal gets power from the key, it powers up the start solenoid and ignition when pedal pressed. The solenoid powers up the generator to start the engine (it generates power once you get higher rpm, it stays on all the time when running). When you press more it opens the carb to go faster. The CVT automatically shifts gears as you drive, it should not move at idle and starting engine rpm.

If you press the pedal and the gen spins you have good electrical, is the belt slipping? If it wont turn it like it has no power it could be bad electrical connection in the large battery cables, bad brushes in the gen, bad battery, usually the solenoid works or it dont, and is the clutch hanging up on the drive belt trying to move the cart. So you have to make sure the key and pedal are getting power to the solenoid, the gen is getting power from the battery, the gen is working right, the gen belt is working right, then it should spin the engine over. If it spins and don't start then its an engine issue, check fuel system and clean carb, check for spark, etc.

[cgtech]

They will all "creep" in the direction they are shifted in while cranking, before they start (g1 more). Thhs is not the same as "running". I cant recall all the "it runs, but wont go" concerns i have seen from customers who confused "cranking" with "running". Lets not confuse the two...

[Mike Mac]

Nothing should happen with just turning on the key. The starter should engage when you press the throttle (on a Yamaha), and should stop when you let off the throttle!!

If the car tries to start with just turning on the key, there is a problem with the pedal switch, (switch under the throttle pedal) or connections to it.

It sounds like you may have 2 problems, one, the pedal switch, and two, the gas engine is not running. The car may just be moving on the starter.