motor brushes failing?

[marwol26]

OK just took a test drive for about 5 mins or so and nothing hot to the touch. Should I drive a longer duration? checked all battery connections and upgraded new battery cables as well. All other wires have been takin off and sanded off for sure connection.

Mark

[delagem]

Originally Posted by marwol26

OK just took a test drive for about 5 mins or so and nothing hot to the touch. Should I drive a longer duration? checked all battery connections and upgraded new battery cables as well. All other wires have been takin off and sanded off for sure connection.

Mark

Are you saying you drove it for 5 min's with no problem? Or you drove for 5 min's 200 yards at a time, slowing from 8 to 3 to stop, let off pedal, repeat?

Also, I'd really like to see some numbers here. Your battery pack is showing 48-50 volts while the cart is crawling along at 3mph, pedal mashed to the floor, and your son making disparaging remarks?

Post the overall pack voltage while at rest, several hours after charge. Post overall pack voltage while driving, after accelerating to max speed; and post individual battery voltages while driving. If you see a change(voltage dropping while running steady speed), post the high and lows, too.

Take a good look at your F/R switch; they sometimes melt and make poor contact.

[hiperf2007]

A REPLY WITH MY SAME PROBLEM - BUT MINE WON'T RUN AFTER IT SLOWS DOWN.
"When this happens, does the speed then stay slow until recharge? Or if you stop briefly, will it go 15 again? HAVE NOT TRIED

Next, what's your pack voltage? Test this by charging it completely, until the charger shuts off. Then, wait several hours before putting a voltmeter across the entire pack. What does it read?
38V IN THE PACK WHEN CHARGER IS PULLED.
Then, keep the meter hooked up, and drive the cart on level ground. What was the meter reading at rest, and again once up to speed?
JUMPS FROM 36V TO 29 DEPENDING PEDAL POSITION. JUMPS FROM 35 TO 27.5 AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES.
Repeat this test, driving up a small hill. We are looking for the voltage drop going up the hill. How many volts did it drop?
STARTED AT 36 SOMETHING - RESTING AND WON'T MOVE AFTER 5 MINUTES IT SHOWS 33 SOMETHING

[joesam]

Probably don't need to jump in here but something makes absolutely no sense to me - from earlier in this post...

Batteries tested and are all perfect

Followed by a report that says....

WON'T MOVE AFTER 5 MINUTES IT SHOWS 33 SOMETHING

One of these statementsw makes no sense at all, and I'm guessing its the first one. No matter how steep the hill, any batteries that were charged and 5 minutes later are sitting at 33 volts are anything but good!

Who told you the batteries were perfect? Its time to put the meter on one battery at a time while driving and figure out which one is bad - or more likely - how weak are many/most of them.

Edit: OH...wait, there are two people replying...now I'm puzzled!

[Cuppajavamom]

Did you ever figure out the actual cause? I'd be really interested to know what your fix was.
I have the same exact symptoms on a 2001 Club Car DS 48V. New batteries, starts running fine but then loses speed after a minute or so. Comes to a stop, wait a minute or two, then starts running fine again. Repeats. Batteries check ~48.6V even under load, nothing feels hot, all cables are tight. A friend said it maybe worn brushes in the motor.

[tag50]

Pack voltage of 48.6 is about 55% SOC. It's the batteries (or battery).


.

[Cuppajavamom]

Thanks Tag50!
I thought a 48V system indicated that 48V was fully charged. I looked up "SOC" and now I know what it should be for the pack. Shouldn't the cart still run fairly well though, even at 48.6V?

Guess I go back to the guy that sold it to me with those "brand new batteries".

[SFPO1]

Mark, I'm in need of a motor for a 89 ezgo marathon, one of the brush connectors broke off along with the end of the cable attaching that node. Please reply