potentiometer issues

[WGCS]

I have a 1993 ezgo marathon electric 36 volt. The cart only runs when the pedal is pressed about half way down. No more no less. Before I start tearing into the potentiometer is there anything else that could be wrong? Also when looking at new potentiometers some say only with a "solid state" controller. Clueless on that one.

[JohnnieB]

Marathons came in two flavors. Resistor drive and controller drive.
All controller drive Marathons used "Solid State" controllers, so if you have the controller type drive, it is a solid state controller.
It being a 1993. it is most likely a controller type drive.

Pull the small black and white wires off the controller and measure between them with an Ohmmeter.
With F/R selector in F, it should read about -0- Ohms with pedal up and about 5,000 Ohms with pedal down.

Press pedal slowly while watching Ohmmeter. The reading should increase smoothly without and skips or jumps.

With F/R in R, the reading may be the same or it may be from -0- to 2,500 Ohms (Half speed reverse)

[WGCS]

Thanks jonnie.
So if the voltage is jumpy and doesn't climb slowly that indicates a faulty potentiometer correct?

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by WGCS

Thanks jonnie.
So if the voltage is jumpy and doesn't climb slowly that indicates a faulty potentiometer correct?

You mean ohms right? Ω

yes a jumpy signal would indicate a bad pot or bad connection.

[WGCS]

The black and white wires coming from the pot? All other wires are black going to my controller

[WGCS]

Yes ohms my bad

[scottyb]

Yuo should have 4 small terminals on the control

Pot is connected at pin #2 & 3 on series controllers ( any order)