Cushman Sharknose HELP

[poppa]

Hi all. Can't find much good info on this. Have some questions ;
1) These are 12v ,neg ground , correct?
2) I have 2 wires coming out of the engine (for charging) ,does it matter where the 2 go ,ie , if 1 goes to spot A and 1 to spot B ,can they be switched? ?
3) It dies after a 20 minute ride , no spark. New points ,cond ,etc. Will start again after maybe 10 mins. Ideas ?
4) Is there a repair manual for these? Where ? A "Cushman" forum?

Thanks for taking the time to read. Poppa

[backyard]

I have no experience with that cart but I might be able to help you out some.

1) Look at the negative battery terminal and find the big black ground wire. Follow it to where it goes. If it goes to the frame or engine block then yes it is a negative ground engine. As far as being 12volt I don't know for sure but probably. What kind of engine is it?

2) I doubt you can just switch the wires, but I don't know for sure. Need to know what kind of engine it is and what the wires are for.

3) Did you try a coil?

4) I don't know. Sorry.

[CharleyL]

What motor is in it? Make? Model? HP?

Charley

[poppa]

Sorry. Cushman Sharknose 735. I think it's an 18hp. Our backrest broke so I was doing that this weekend. I want to replace the sheet metal , kinda like the guy did with the orange one. You have to see it ,his looks awesome. I will have to find that link again.

Anyone know if these are spot welded? Need to separate the metal body. My front piece ,behind your legs , is good but I want to separate the rest and attempt to replace all the other outer metal. Thanks

[CharleyL]

Is it an 18 hp OMC engine, a Kohler, or a Briggs & Stratton?

The OMC engine used a separate alternator similar to a GM car alternator. The Kohler and Briggs engines used coils inside the flywheels to generate electricity. Both have diode rectifiers mounted external to the engine that these coil wires connected to. There was no polarity on these wires from the internal coil. The wires from the diode rectifier to the battery are polarity sensitive.

All Cushman vehicles that I know of are negative ground.


Charley

[poppa]

I think it's an OMC but it does not have the separate altenator. Did Kohler or Briggs make an opposed cylinder??

[poppa]

Didn't even think about the coil. Getting too focused as I get older. Thanks

Originally Posted by backyard

I have no experience with that cart but I might be able to help you out some.

1) Look at the negative battery terminal and find the big black ground wire. Follow it to where it goes. If it goes to the frame or engine block then yes it is a negative ground engine. As far as being 12volt I don't know for sure but probably. What kind of engine is it?

2) I doubt you can just switch the wires, but I don't know for sure. Need to know what kind of engine it is and what the wires are for.

3) Did you try a coil?

4) I don't know. Sorry.

[meangreenmachine72]

I have a 1972 cushman Golfster that is not negative ground. Found out the hard way.