Electric golf cart motor and controls.

Windy in Kansas · #1 03/04/10, 08:27 AM

I just noticed an electric golf cart chassis complete, less batteries. I've toyed with the idea of powering ---- something with a motor from one.

Any idea of value? I rarely see these and don't know what demand is but supply is low for my area.

Any idea how the power of one would compare to a small gasoline engine?

Thanks.

OntarioMan · #2 03/04/10, 09:45 AM

A new low end DC 3 or 4hp motor is probably $400, a new controller, maybe $350. Here, you can buy complete working used electric carts for about $1000 and up.

I think the "old saying" is that a 1hp DC motor is equal to approximately a 3hp gas engine. 1:3 or 1:4 or something like that.

There appears to be alot of folks "hotrodding" golf carts as of late, not exactly sure why, but finding carts and parts is easier than ever around here.

Curtis B · #3 03/04/10, 12:06 PM

Keep in mind, they are usually 36 volt. I am trying to remember the price of a new deep cell battery for one. I know last time I had to buy a battery for an electric floor scrubber they were over $250 a piece. Take that times 6, (the size for a cart is smaller though) since the last one I worked on had six 6 volt batteries. Call Easy Go or Kansas Golf and Turf in Wichita, and just ask for a price on a motor for the cart. DON"T get the batteries from them, I think they have a 30-40% mark up on them.

zant · #4 03/04/10, 12:52 PM

If you use the motor for something else,you can use the rolling chassis as a horsedrawn buggy.We have 2 local people that ride up and down our dirt rd every Sun with one.

Windy in Kansas · #5 03/04/10, 01:38 PM

Thanks for all of the information. I had forgotten or didn't realize that they were 36 volt motors.

The one offered is for sale at $95 --- price negotiable.

I seem to remember a thread on these forums not long ago that told of Trojan T105 batteries being available at Sam's Club for not much more than $80. Anyone know, and would they work properly?

WisJim · #6 03/04/10, 07:04 PM

$95 is a good deal for the motor, probably, I'd buy it if it were here. My son just bought a 2hp 36v golf cart motor last week (used) for $100 or more, to use on an electric motorcycle project. I think we paid around $100 each for new Trojan T105 batteries last fall for the electric car. Sams Club had something similar but not a name brand that I recognized.

Windy in Kansas · #7 03/04/10, 07:13 PM

Thanks all, I think I will check into it tomorrow and see if they still have it for sale.

Ed Norman · #8 03/04/10, 08:13 PM

Several years ago we took a 3 wheel GE electric golf cart from the dump. It was built in 1965. It was 36V, but the batteries were gone. I put in one trolling motor battery for a test and it went around the yard fine. I put in two batteries and DW used it with 24V for a year or more. I finally found a 36V charger so we got one more trolling motor battery and now it really zipped around. One time while transferring feed sacks from the pickup to the shed, she had 850 pounds stacked on the little cargo bed and half the seat and floorboard, plus her and DS. She used it for years until I found a 1980 gas golf cart that I rebuilt. Some day I want to build something with the parts from that old electric.

travis91 · #9 03/04/10, 08:49 PM

i cant stress to you enough how not worth it is to convert one to gas from electric or rebuild a old electric. its a hole you will throw money into

travis91 · #10 03/04/10, 08:50 PM

i spend alot of time over at www.buggiesgonewild.com its a golf cart forum they know alot about this.

Ed Norman · #11 03/04/10, 09:20 PM

You can also learn some things at this forum, too.

http://server1.buggiesunlimited.com/...fd68a9066b192e

Windy in Kansas · #12 03/05/10, 08:29 AM

Thanks. Ed this one is a three wheeled model so may very well have the GE motor you mentioned.

Ed Norman · #13 03/05/10, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Thanks. Ed this one is a three wheeled model so may very well have the GE motor you mentioned.

Did I say GE? I don't think so. It's a Westinghouse, like this one: http://www.vintagegolfcartparts.com/...=100021&Page=1

Windy in Kansas · #14 03/05/10, 12:29 PM

Looks similar but not alike. Westinghouse would be good too. Forgot about calling on it until now.

PyroDon · #15 03/06/10, 12:36 AM

It depends on what your looking at .
a neighb oir gave us there EZgo 4 wheeler when the batteries were dying I replaced them with $25 reconditioned trojans from the local battery shop.
It does good and will run all day, during storms it doubles as a back up power supply. It stays connected to a UPS when not in use
another neighbor has given me an old three wheel cart That I havent had the time to pick up yet .
the local cart shop offered to sell me an older gas cart minus the motor for scrap + roughly 150. it would be a simple conversion to a 6-13 hp
newer carts are 48 volt

travis91 · #16 03/06/10, 08:30 PM

ed, everyone that was on buggiesunlimited went to buggiesgonewild

Ed Norman · #17 03/06/10, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis91

ed, everyone that was on buggiesunlimited went to buggiesgonewild

Really? My cart has been working good for the past year and I haven't needed to go there and diagnose anything. Why did they leave?