Looking to buy first cart. Is this a good buy?

[Riso]

I am looking to buy my first cart. This Yamaha is for sell for $350.00. Needs batteries and a charger. I want to keep it electric. Which model is this and is it a good buy?

[cgtech]

Its a G2e, from the '80s. By the time you are done getting batteries and a charger, you will have at least $850 more into it. Its gonna go about 13mph, and if you wanna go faster its stock electrical motor and speed control system would have to be totally replaced ($$$).

[Riso]

Thank you. It looks like I could go 48V. I have to replace the batteries and buy a charger anyways. What else would I need? A solenoid and cables?

[cgtech]

The resistor coils are marginal, might start melting stuff. They generate heat at any speed other than full throttle (the less throttle, the more heat). I have seen it done, but be careful. You would need a 48v solenoid at minimum.

[gadavis]

We have an 88 model G-2 with the resistor setup. It is definitely not a fast cart, but it is almost bullet proof. We have had it for about 12 years and have done a lot of heavy work with it. I use it for a tow truck around the shop and wife pulls a pine straw rake with it. It has gobs of low end power and will sometimes get a hot smell from resistors when she runs it for a hour or so at a time slowly spraying weeds in lawn. I'd rather smell a hot resistor than a controller with the magic smoke pouring out of it from straining it.

In more than 10 years I have put in one set of batteries, (will need batteries in about 2 more years probably),replaced the wiper arm contact,(was broken when I got it), a couple of battery cables and a couple of tires have been replaced. When I want to run fast, we use our Ez-Go Solid state controller carts, and if I want to pull something or do a lot of slow work, I use the G-2 so that I won't smoke a controller pulling it hard. It is the most dependable and trouble free cart I have ever owned.
My wife would run me off if I got rid of it. She has it fixed for yard work. It has a hauling box with a tail gate, extra basket beside the sweater basket for tools, the 36-12 volt reducer for running lights, a 12 volt fan to keep the driver cool and blow away gnats. There is a hook up to power her 12 volt sprayer and a 12 volt power outlet she can plug in an inverter and use for occasional 120 volt tool for a short while or a small house electric fan if she is working in one place like her garden box. It even stands up to grand children trying to run the wheels off it.

[Riso]

Sounds like a cool setup. Thanks for the info.