2002 wont crank when hot

[BigRed77]

Geez this is frustrating

So today I stopped by a golf cart shop while I was in the big city (an hour away)
I picked up a White-Rodgers solenoid like the one linked by CP241 above, while there the guy an obvious old mechanic type, suggested checking wire connections, since a loose one could me made looser by the heat of the engine

Well I'll be damned, I get home and fine a loose wire blade plug that comes from one of the small lugs on the solenoid
Fix it and cart runs great, all over the hood, for over an hour start and stop many times over

Then, grandson wants to ride his little tractor on the road. So we go cruising
Obviously low speed start and stop for the golf cart to 'keep up'
After about 15 minutes of this suddenly, my golf cart doesn't want to go.
Different this time than before though
This time its actually cranks, but just barely, like the battery is dead

Again though, we wait around for it to cool down a bit and it cranks just fine

Get home and the voltage on the battery is low
Like 8. Something

Wait around for it to cool off and the batter voltage is back up to like 11.8

I had just bought a new batter for it about a month ago, and I thought it had given out when I first had a problem, hut i took it in and they tested it and said it was fine

[trig123]

I haven't been following this but have you checked to see you the this is charging ?

[BigRed77]

Originally Posted by trig123

I haven't been following this but have you checked to see you the this is charging ?

How do I check?

[BigRed77]

Ok found this explanation on another thread

Originally Posted by Dave Box

102md / smokin crow.

Here is the regulator test procedure. Good luck

Fully Charge your battery and note the battery voltage

Check for loose, broken wiring.
2 Raise rear of cart and attach a volt meter between the regulator's red and black wires. (Or across the battery)
3 Start engine and run at mid speed, making note of the meter reading.
4 Reading should be between 14 to 16 volts.
5 If reading is above specs, check for a grounded green wire from the starter/gen.
6 If no rise in voltage, disconnect green wire from starter/generator ** and temporarily ground to frame. (It is important that you actually remove this wire from the generator. Shorting it when it is still connected may cause damage to the generator.
7 If voltage rises within specs, replace voltage regulator.
8 If the voltage does not rise then the generator is defective and the first step would be to check the brushes.

** It is important to place a thin wrench under the wire to prevent the stud turning and ripping the wire off the stud inside the generator

With volt meter measuring across the battery, with no pedal I get 13V
Cart on jacks in gear, Push pedal it drops to 12.6v and holds there no matter what the engine speed is

Located green wire and unhooked
Now my question is, do I run the green wire to ground or run a ground to the stud on the starter?

[BigRed77]

Ok, so after some thinking, I ran a jumper from the negative on the battery to the stud I had removed the green wire off the starter
Press the pedal and with the engine running the voltage goes up to 16 or so

So, bad voltage regulator

Now the last dumb question, recommendations for replacement VR?
I am scared to buy the cheap ones off amazon, but the expense ones on amazon are not really all that much more

[CP241]

I'd try and find a used one here or Ebay. I havent been able to find just the VR... only the plate that's $300 with the VR , ignitor, and solenoid

[trig123]

https://shop.txtsv.com/voltage-regulator-4-cycle

[BigRed77]

Originally Posted by trig123

https://shop.txtsv.com/voltage-regulator-4-cycle

ok, got this one and everything seems to be working great

thanks to all of you for your help
I need to stick around here more often, the wealth of info is awesome