New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice

frank43 · 07-04-2018, 02:42 PM

Hey all,

Brand new to the golf cart life. I am pretty handy when it comes to car repair and such, but completely a newbie to these machines.

So picked up a 1994 Medalist 36V in good shape with new batteries and tires. Frame looks great and so does the interior.

So far I am seeing 2 issues that I need guidance on:

1. Cart runs but super sluggish on even the most modest of hills. I can almost walk faster than the cart with just me on it. (185 LBS). What do I need to check to fix this issue?

2. Brakes dont seem good. I need to press the pedal to the floor to get to a stop. If I am heading downhill, I need to plan ahead and really brake 100%.

Let me know the best way to troubleshoot these issues and advise on repair. Again the batteries are new and charged-just seems SLOOOOW. And braking could be improved.
I am all ears , let me know your thoughts. Glad to be aboard on this forum
Thanks in advance,
Frank in Atlanta area

Sideways · 07-05-2018, 07:02 AM

Welcome to the club, I have a 94 Medalist as well.
99.9% of the advice you will get on here is to upgrade to 48v. (Great Advice)
Then based on what you are going to use your cart for, a new controller, 2 or 4 gauge cables (including cables that go to the motor) a new solenoid and a heavy duty F&R switch (forward & reverse).
I listened to the advice given and glad that I did!
Visit then contact Scottyb (a sponsor of the site) at www.cartsunlimited.net

If the cart has been sitting awhile the brakes might need a simple adjustment or cleaning, pull the wheels and drums for a visual inspection.
Worst case scenario would be new brake shoes and drums.

frank43 · 07-05-2018, 12:34 PM

Thanks Sideways.

How hard is it to upgrade to 48V? I have 6 new batteries, where would I fit two more?
Sounds like a lot to do, are these all bolt on type upgrades? What type of cost would I be looking at?
Is it worth fixing what I have in place now? If so, where is the best place to start?
Thanks!
Frank

Mooncarter · 07-05-2018, 01:46 PM

Hello Frank. "modest" and "slow" are relative terms. How steep/long are the hills? How slow are you really going?

I don't recommend jumping into a 48V conversion unless you really need to upgrade. For example, when it's time to replace the controller or batteries. Never hurts to upgrade cables.

I know the batteries are new. Are you sure they are charging correctly?

Get a voltage meter and check pack voltage. Find out how slow you are actually going on those hills. Hope this helps.

Sideways · 07-05-2018, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank43

Thanks Sideways.

How hard is it to upgrade to 48V? I have 6 new batteries, where would I fit two more?
Sounds like a lot to do, are these all bolt on type upgrades? What type of cost would I be looking at?
Is it worth fixing what I have in place now? If so, where is the best place to start?
Thanks!
Frank

you can add 2 more 6v batteries in the back (if your not using the cart to golf) or you can sell the 6v batteries you have then purchase 6 8v batteries. (theywill fit where the 6v are) You would also need to purchase a 48v charger.
These upgrades are bolt on that you can do as long as you have some mechanical skills (if I can do it anyone can).
Get with Scottyb and tell him how you plan on using the cart, he will make recommendations.

Sero · 07-05-2018, 02:50 PM

Be sure to check all your cable connections to be sure they are clean of corrosion and rust. Battery to battery cable, battery pack to solenoid, solenoid to controller, controller to motor. You can lose a lot of power through bad connections.

frank43 · 07-05-2018, 03:25 PM

Great advice all. Thank you!

I will start with inspection and cleaning of all connections (in addition to checking brake drums and shoes.

As per how fast I can go on hills, it seems to be about 6-7 MPH give or take based on my gps app.

Hills are a very small incline, by no means 'steep'. More like flat roads that slowly go to an incline. Steeper hills drop MPH by 1-2 MPH, but cart seems to make it up them, albeit slooowwww……

Mooncarter · 07-06-2018, 02:56 PM

Did you check the pack voltage?

frank43 · 07-06-2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooncarter

Did you check the pack voltage?

Yes, my meter reads after a full charge around 38-39
I think that is where it is supposed to be.
Frank

Sideways · 07-07-2018, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank43

Yes, my meter reads after a full charge around 38-39
I think that is where it is supposed to be.
Frank

It is

07-04-2018, 02:42 PM	#1
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37	New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Hey all, Brand new to the golf cart life. I am pretty handy when it comes to car repair and such, but completely a newbie to these machines. So picked up a 1994 Medalist 36V in good shape with new batteries and tires. Frame looks great and so does the interior. So far I am seeing 2 issues that I need guidance on: 1. Cart runs but super sluggish on even the most modest of hills. I can almost walk faster than the cart with just me on it. (185 LBS). What do I need to check to fix this issue? 2. Brakes dont seem good. I need to press the pedal to the floor to get to a stop. If I am heading downhill, I need to plan ahead and really brake 100%. Let me know the best way to troubleshoot these issues and advise on repair. Again the batteries are new and charged-just seems SLOOOOW. And braking could be improved. I am all ears , let me know your thoughts. Glad to be aboard on this forum Thanks in advance, Frank in Atlanta area
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37

07-05-2018, 07:02 AM	#2
Sideways Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 690	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Welcome to the club, I have a 94 Medalist as well. 99.9% of the advice you will get on here is to upgrade to 48v. (Great Advice) Then based on what you are going to use your cart for, a new controller, 2 or 4 gauge cables (including cables that go to the motor) a new solenoid and a heavy duty F&R switch (forward & reverse). I listened to the advice given and glad that I did! Visit then contact Scottyb (a sponsor of the site) at www.cartsunlimited.net If the cart has been sitting awhile the brakes might need a simple adjustment or cleaning, pull the wheels and drums for a visual inspection. Worst case scenario would be new brake shoes and drums.
Sideways Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 690

07-05-2018, 12:34 PM	#3
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Thanks Sideways. How hard is it to upgrade to 48V? I have 6 new batteries, where would I fit two more? Sounds like a lot to do, are these all bolt on type upgrades? What type of cost would I be looking at? Is it worth fixing what I have in place now? If so, where is the best place to start? Thanks! Frank
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37

07-05-2018, 01:46 PM	#4
Mooncarter Gone Insane Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 14,215	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Hello Frank. "modest" and "slow" are relative terms. How steep/long are the hills? How slow are you really going? I don't recommend jumping into a 48V conversion unless you really need to upgrade. For example, when it's time to replace the controller or batteries. Never hurts to upgrade cables. I know the batteries are new. Are you sure they are charging correctly? Get a voltage meter and check pack voltage. Find out how slow you are actually going on those hills. Hope this helps.

07-05-2018, 02:50 PM	#6
Sero Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 33	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Be sure to check all your cable connections to be sure they are clean of corrosion and rust. Battery to battery cable, battery pack to solenoid, solenoid to controller, controller to motor. You can lose a lot of power through bad connections.
Sero Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 33

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07-05-2018, 03:25 PM	#7
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Great advice all. Thank you! I will start with inspection and cleaning of all connections (in addition to checking brake drums and shoes. As per how fast I can go on hills, it seems to be about 6-7 MPH give or take based on my gps app. Hills are a very small incline, by no means 'steep'. More like flat roads that slowly go to an incline. Steeper hills drop MPH by 1-2 MPH, but cart seems to make it up them, albeit slooowwww……
frank43 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 37

07-06-2018, 02:56 PM	#8
Mooncarter Gone Insane Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 14,215	Re: New Owner, 94 Medalist, Need Advice Did you check the pack voltage?

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