1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow

rfurnell93 · 08-18-2010, 10:07 PM

Any idea what would cause my 1980 Club Car Marathon to go very slow. It sat for about a year. The charger would only read 5 amps so I put another charger on it and was able to get it to go to about 20 amps. Then after charging it, it ran, but very slowly. I tested the batteries with a hydrometer and they are all good. Think the motor could be worn out? Other Suggestions?

scottyb · 08-18-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfurnell93

Any idea what would cause my 1980 Club Car Marathon to go very slow. It sat for about a year. The charger would only read 5 amps so I put another charger on it and was able to get it to go to about 20 amps. Then after charging it, it ran, but very slowly. I tested the batteries with a hydrometer and they are all good. Think the motor could be worn out? Other Suggestions?

Could be corroded connections/cables but mostly running slow is a bad batteries problem? Did it sit for a year without charging?

rfurnell93 · 08-19-2010, 07:54 AM

Yes, it sat without being charged.

scottyb · 08-19-2010, 08:01 AM

That is very bad for the batteries.... Get a good hydrometer and see if there is any life left in the cells.... sounds like the batteries are shot

rfurnell93 · 08-19-2010, 08:11 AM

Scotty,

I checked every cell of all of the batteries with a hydrometer and they all read good. I checked them after charging them all day is that okay?

scottyb · 08-19-2010, 08:32 AM

Good you asked but not good you tested after charging...
The charger elevates both the voltage and specific gravity readings. The batteries must be left to settle 12 hours to get true readings. I can tell you now if your charger ran for 16 hours and the pack was at 90% you have a battery issue......

rfurnell93 · 08-20-2010, 10:08 AM

All of them tested at between 6.18-6.26. I charged them for the better part of a day on Tuesday and then tested them yesterday. Should I have done something different?

CART-ZILLA · 05-17-2016, 07:33 AM

This is off scottyb's website compare the # s to the chart and see what you have..

scottyb · 05-17-2016, 08:11 AM

Also when it come to hydrometers they are not all equal. There are many ball or float type hydrometers designed to be used with antifreeze, these are not good for battery acid.
There are battery acid hydrometers out there. reading should be taken when the batteries have sat for 12-24 hours after a charge.

08-18-2010, 10:07 PM	#1
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20	1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow Any idea what would cause my 1980 Club Car Marathon to go very slow. It sat for about a year. The charger would only read 5 amps so I put another charger on it and was able to get it to go to about 20 amps. Then after charging it, it ran, but very slowly. I tested the batteries with a hydrometer and they are all good. Think the motor could be worn out? Other Suggestions?
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20

08-19-2010, 07:54 AM	#3
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20	Re: 1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow Yes, it sat without being charged.
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20

08-19-2010, 08:01 AM	#4
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: 1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow That is very bad for the batteries.... Get a good hydrometer and see if there is any life left in the cells.... sounds like the batteries are shot

08-19-2010, 08:11 AM	#5
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20	Re: 1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow Scotty, I checked every cell of all of the batteries with a hydrometer and they all read good. I checked them after charging them all day is that okay?
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20

08-19-2010, 08:32 AM	#6
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: 1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow Good you asked but not good you tested after charging... The charger elevates both the voltage and specific gravity readings. The batteries must be left to settle 12 hours to get true readings. I can tell you now if your charger ran for 16 hours and the pack was at 90% you have a battery issue......

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08-20-2010, 10:08 AM	#7
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20	Re: 1980 Marathon Runs Very Slow All of them tested at between 6.18-6.26. I charged them for the better part of a day on Tuesday and then tested them yesterday. Should I have done something different?
rfurnell93 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20

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