New to me EZgo Shuttle Speed

[Lochlin]

Gents,

I just procrured what I believe is an '88 EZGo shuttle. The model is 956 or PC-956, 36 volt. It's heavy.

The good news: This thing has been garage kept since it's birth and it's nearly spotless. See pic. Batteries are all 2014 Trojans and are all in good shape with each easily reading over 6 volts. The charger is also new, a 2014 Lester. It is working as it should. I paid $2,000 for this thing which, given the new batteries and new charger, is probably a fair deal.

The bad news: The carts runs as it should regarding starting, stopping, turning, etc. Heck, even the lights, turn signals, and horn work right. However, the cart is wicked slow. I mean 7-8 mph slow. Torque seems a bit weak too in that going up a slight grade slows things considerably.

I certainly don't expect a 36v cart that is this heavy to zip around like a regular 2 seater but I would like to improve on the speed if possible to make a ride more enjoyable. Given the shape this thing is in otherwise, I am not afraid to spend a few bucks to get a few more mphs. Does anyone have any thoughts on how this can be accomplished? I'd rather not convert to 48v but I would consider it if there are no other options.

This is my 6th vintage cart so I know my way around these things a bit but this is my first EZgo. It appears as if it has standard EZGo parts with the speed controller and such. I don't think the brakes / axle bearings are holding anything back as the cart coasts silently and freely.

Anyone have any thoughts as the getting a bit more speed from this beauty?

[JohnnieB]

I'd make sure the batteries are being fully charged. Individual batteries ought to read 6.37V about 12 hours after the charger shuts off automatically and the 36V pack ought to read 38.2V.

Check the cables and components after a long hard run. Anything other than the motor getting hot is suspect.

Max speed on the cart is 12 MPH in stock form. So the initial objective should be getting it up to that speed.
If 12 MPH isn't fast enough, some upgrading will have to be done.

Attached is the service manual for 91-93, the oldest I have in my stash, but ought to be pretty close.

[Lochlin]

Wow. That service manual is golden. I have one for all of my other carts but just assumed I wouldn't be able to find one for this EZGo given that it's a bit more rare. I can't thank you enough for it.

I'll check the individual battery voltages next weekend (cart is 100 miles away at the camp so I can't do it now) and will post up what they are. I don't have my digital volt meter there or else I would have already checked them. I do have an older analog meter there and it appeared that all of the batteries were in your 6.3v range but it's tough to say for sure with an analog meter. I have an early 70s 36v Cushman there that has 3 month old batteries in it and runs perfectly. It will be pretty easy for me to swap batteries around and see what happens.

I actually read somewhere that, just like you mention, 12 mph is what you get with these given their weight and such. I would probably actually be ok with 12 mph as, even though I have a couple of carts that can fly, I like a nice slow cruise more than drag racing.

I know I am getting WAY ahead of myself here by I am just curious, are there motor / controller upgrades for this cart? What kind of motor is in it? Is it a stock EZGo series motor? Is it the same one that's in the same era EZGo golf cart?

Again, I am just trying to get some knowledge as to what is what with this thing to increase my knowledge base. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

[cgtech]

First, get a digital meter to keep there. There are motor and controller upgrades possible for nearly every cart out there. Some are more expensive to upgrade than others (oddball motor types, ect), yours should not be any more costly to upgrade than average.

[JohnnieB]

I don't have a parts manual that specifically covers a 1988, if that is in fact what you have.

Fortunately, EZGO didn't reinvent the wheel every year like auto makers did back then, so between the two attached manuals covering 86.5-87 and 91-93 model years ought to list what is in a 88, but you'll have to eyeball what's in the cart to make sure it is what is in the manual.

Unfortunately, it appears that the motor type was changed someplace between 87 and 91, so you'll probably have to look at the label on the motor to identify which one it is. The motor in the 91 and later appears to couple to the differential the same way as the motors in regular golf carts, but the motor in the 87 and earlier appears to be different.

However, in either case, it is a series wound DC motor, so to get more speed than 12 MPH, you'll have to change the final driver ratio (differential gears or tire height), or up the battery pack voltage, or replace the motor.

I suspect the high current cables are only 6Ga, so the first thing I'd do is replace all of them with 4Ga or thicker and considering the length of the ones going to the F/R assembly, I'd use 2Ga throughout.

[scottyb]

That's a beauty. We have one of these on 48v with aftermarket 400 control. It does pretty good on the hills. But still not a speed demon by any measure. You can just add 2 more batteries in the rear with a little bit of angle iron fab.

I have a newer 01 Ezgo with 6/8v D&D torque motor and 500 Alltrax in it for use around the shop. Great carts

[Lochlin]

I plan on trying to get this cart back to spec before winter. I won't be able to really start monkeying with it till spring (it kills me to type that).

That said, can the stock controller / motor / wiring handle 48 volts? There is a TON of room under that rear seat and I do my own welding so it would be simple to add some batteries there. Again, this work will have to wait till spring but I am just wondering for curiosity's sake.

[JohnnieB]

Motor, cables and F/R switch will work on 48V, but cables are most likely 6Ga, so they need to be upgraded to at least 4Ga.

Stock solenoid won't and the stock controller most likely won't.

You probably have a Curtis 1204 - xxx or 1205 - xxx controller and the suffix (xxx) will identify what voltage it works on. (See last page on attached Curtis 1204/5 manual)

[Volt_Ampere]

Invest in a digital meter. Well worth it and they are not expensive. You do not need a fancy one. That cart looks like it is in excellent shape!

[Lochlin]

No worries. I have high-end Klein digital voltage meter already. I just have it at home and not at the camp. I am in the middle of restoring an old Pargo and just got done with an old Cushman. I do this work at home where I have all of the "good" tools. I fell into this shuttle unexpectedly and really wasn't ready for it.

We'll get the good meter to the camp this weekend and will confirm voltage. Again, those batts are 2014 Trojans. They are stamped as such and the guy I bought the shuttle from gave me the receipt for them should they be under warranty. I have my doubts that they are the issue but I get that, unless I rule those out, there is no sense in going forward.