Can Controllers Be Rebuilt?

[Doc]

I have a Curtis 1204-412 controller that is dead. Are they worth keeping around or are they rebuildable? TIA

[NoleFan4Ever]

Yes they can be rebuilt. If you search eBay there are a few companies out there that do it. It is ~#200-~$225 for most I have seen.

Note- You can buy a new Alltrax 300 for a third more and have much more control and performance....

[Sergio]

Check with FSIP, which is a site sponsor, and then decide which way to go:

http://www.fsip.biz/RemanGolf.html

[charlesnbray]

Im in the market for a controller as well my stock one is a ge and to rebuild it its 300 to switch to the 500 amp controller from d&d motors is 550 plus the cost of the high amp solenoid, just hoping my motor holds up for a while.

[Sergio]

Check these prices for the Altrax Programmable Series Controllers and the Solenoid packages:

http://www.cartsunlimited.net/alltrax-sr-series--.html

[scottyb]

Controllers are not rebuilt. They are repaired.
(read that again)
These units are filled with expendable parts.
When they fail to make the cart go they are sometimes repaired and put back in service. It is unfair to market this service as rebuilding. It's repairing or patching. Most of these repaired controls will be back on the service bench in 90-120 days. We tried this route and found our time was too valuable to R&R controllers and ship over and over again. When a speed controller component fails it has many parts equally as old and ready to fail within.
Unlike motor rebuilding where know wear parts are replaced, there is no list from any controller rebuilder of what goes into their remanufactured controls... they just patch them up and cross their fingers it makes it to the end of warranty.
Go ahead ask for a parts list. I did & I got " uhm.....ahh... well ... yeah, each control is tested....... and uhm, tested again..."


10 reasons to buy Alltrax next

[NoleFan4Ever]

Originally Posted by scottyb

Controllers are not rebuilt. They are repaired.
(read that again)
These units are filled with expendable parts. -snip-

Yup. That is absolutely true, although that is the standard in the market for most all Instrument & Controls. We send out 12-15 cards/month, plus L&N equipment and lots of analog cards that are tested, failed parts replaced, and returned to us to be shelved until we need them in our plant.

Our issue is a lot of these are no longer made as analog equipment has been phased out over the years....

[scottyb]

My issue is that the OEM controllers are as outdated as a flip phone and people get took for almost 1/3 the cost of a brand new 'iphone type technology' controller that would give longer better service. So why bother?

[Golf cart guy]

Ive installed 100's of rebuilt controllers and never had one come back that I'm aware of. Last job tonight was a install of a rebuilt controller. I think If a customers rebuild failed in 90-120 days I would have known about it. Its never happened. Even if it did, it would be covered under warranty. Guess I'm lucky as I read here. I think the key here is who you have rebuild it. There are some cheap companies that use cheap parts and don't update anything on the inside.
I guess I'm crazy cuz when I get a failed Altrax, I swap it back to a factory set up and never have a problem again. Again, I guess I'm just lucky that I don't have the failure rate the others are experiencing.

[NoleFan4Ever]

Originally Posted by scottyb

My issue is that the OEM controllers are as outdated as a flip phone and people get took for almost 1/3 the cost of a brand new 'iphone type technology' controller that would give longer better service. So why bother?

Agreed 100%