89 CC Gas runs good in reverse, poor in forward

[lespaul52]

Since the engine on my 89 Club Car only runs one direction, I'm stumped that it runs great in reverse and not in forward.

It starts, accelerates excellent in reverse. Lots of torque, smooth engine.

In forward, starts OK but runs rough, jerky, stumbles no power to accelerate until I'm on flat hard road for about 25 feet. Then slowly accelerates, smooths out and runs great at high speed (its stock so I guess 15 mph)

In high grass or small up slope, wont get up to speed at all in forward. (it does in reverse though)

Engine runs great in maintenance mode.

Any ideas would help. Is there any different kill or limit switches in forward and not in reverse?

Great Forum, I've been reading for a couple of days and could not find a thread like this.

[nobuckbuild]

im betting your rear clutch is broken either the spring or the cup , either way its either a rebuild or replace depending on condition

[lespaul52]

Thanks Nobuck,

I will check it in the sunlight tomorrow.

I bought a service manual, hope it has good pics.

[lespaul52]

Clutches seem ok.

Engine rpm seemed high so I adjusted the governor by the book. It is working correctly now.

Belt is loose with engine off.
In service mode, engine clutch closes with rpm and trans clutch opens.
Same with reat tire off ground in forward and reverse.
No noise or vibrations that I can tell either direction of tranny.
It works same in forward and reverse with no load on drive train.

I drove the cart to see if I may have loosened something. No Change.
Jerkey, little power and poor acceleration in forward until I got 4 houses down the street. Then rpm came up and engine smoothed. I drove until I got to a slight incline in road, engine started to bog and ran jerky again until I reached level ground and it smoothed out.

I stopped and drove in reverse a couple of times, Great power and torque, engine runs strong and smooth from dead stop. It goes faster than I want to go in reverse.

I forward I understand why it sounds like the clutches are sticking. I could not see them while driving, but they too go the same direction in forward and reverse.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm still stumped.

[nobuckbuild]

any update ?

[ellis555]

Could it have the wrong clutch on it? If it had a clockwise clutch on it it would do that I had that issue. I still have the clutch for the 96 and under for sale.

[lespaul52]

Hi Nobuck,

All I could think of was the governor, I adjusted it by the book, faster, slower, disabled it, no change in good reverse, poor forward.

I saw one thread that suggested "washing" the driven clutch in case its just dirty. I'll try anything. Its at my camper and I wont get there till tues or weds.

Both clutches are moving as the speed increases.

[lespaul52]

Thanks Ellis,

If I find it is a clutch I would be very interested.

[nobuckbuild]

why not try a clutch spring from tom at cpp their bidirectional and only like 20 bucks

[DOOmsman]

Not sure about club Car but are the brakes self actuating?Perhaps dragging in forward??