EZ-Go guy might jump ship, is this cart worth it?

[tguellich]

I found this cart on Craigslist and it looks like it may be in good shape. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/for/2250550713.html
Seller's description: 2001 yamaha gas G16aw, tool box

I am waiting for a call back from the seller. I am fairly good with my EZ-Go trivia but I know nothing about Yamaha.

What do you think?

What should I look for when I go to look at it?

Thanks in advance for your help and knowledge.

[ChevyRacing75]

Id say it has a tool box alright

[sho305]

Overall condition including tire wear or odd wear, seat and controls wear, damage. Make sure everything works far as operation. That should give you an idea of the use its had and if it works well. Price kinda depends on the local market. Also make sure it has oil in it, a few times mostly with older carts people have drained them or likely ran them partially dry. When you fill it they smoke like crazy because the rings are gone. They will still run ok that way its the oil ring that goes bad....but mostly that is G2/9 carts. Should look at the oil and for any leaks that is always a good idea.
Man that is a tool box lol, or.....is it a super cooler?

[thechevyman]

Check the frame under the battery area.

Looks like i was used and an apartment maintenance cart.

[bigstik40]

Take a look at the bottom of the differential to make sure it hasn't been thrashed against a rock or pipe. There is very low clearance to the differential on a cart with regular tires. The differential is cast aluminum and will punch through if hit a few times. This is from actual experience with my 97 G16 that I recently purchased. During my first servicing, I attempted to refill my empty differential. Pulled the cover, cleaned and resealed it, then proceeded to refill it. Oil was coming out of a crack in the bottom almost faster than I could put it in. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper !! I'll be finding out how good J-B weld is. Hope this helps some. RAY

P.S. - I think the cart comes with a skid plate to keep this type of damage from happening , but mine was missing, so that's probably why my differential had damage.

[Mike Mac]

I don't think this is any smokin deal. I think you can buy 01 G16's all day for that kind of money. This one is telling you its carried alot of weight in its time, and probably not seen alot of maintenance to boot. This might be ok if its alot cheaper, But i'd still look for a cleaner one.

Look for one thats been in the garage with some old man, and still has the straps on it to hold golf bags, cause its gonna be about the same price!

[tguellich]

Thanks for the input everyone. This one is gone bu I will keep my eyes out for more. I have been looking at customization and it looks like you can really do a lot with these gas motors. Shims, Timing keys, jets, etc. seems like you have many more options than with EZGo carts.

[Mike Mac]

To be honest, ezgo's are the most popular by quite a large margin. But in my opinion, they are just ugly. The old marathon(sorry) is very hard to work on. The yamaha is a lot more fun and well thought out.

[sho305]

I think the yamaha is the best built cart, but a cart is a cart and the CC and ezgo both work fine and parts are available for all of them so the difference is negotiable. There is more stuff available for the ezgo like engine cradles and kits and other accessories if you are going to mod one a lot. You can easily look at the prices of parts and lifts for each. Around here I'd say yamaha are quite popular far as supply, other places you find more ezgo or CC. I'll guess there are more ezgo out west and since they were the first to mod them that is why there is more stuff for them.

One thing I will say right now is if you interested in more power, start out with replacing the engine because you will get near nothing in comparison by modding any stock cart engine. They are all about 9.5hp, the new drive yamaha is 11.4hp and was the highest hp, oh my, and you can't do much to any of them and changing the carb and muffler helps little. My stock G9 has 30 degrees of timing advance in the ignitor over 2500, a $380 fixed timing stock clone 16 just laughs at it and goes the same speed, but gets there way faster. For what it costs to custom mod a stock GC engine you can buy a 23hp v-twin with more torque/HP and ability to double that in the future with off the shelf parts. Even a clone is less than having a stock engine rebuilt and near double the power if you can make a mount for one and hook it up. I was told the 16hp clone is about 18hp with minor mods like cut head, timing key, good intake/exhaust flow, etc. And after putting one in I can tell you the bottom end torque is good with no mods other than high flow airbox and exhaust and rejet. Anyway, that is my $.02 and how I will plan my next cart. I'd rather buy a cart with a blown engine. On the other hand if you don't have the ability to swap the engine or are not interested, then you work with what you have or buy one already done. I've run the stock engine for over a decade and it was fun, but more power is certainly more fun. And for me I don't even care about high speeds that much.