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Started By
Message
Golf Cart Owners: Upgrading Controller w/o Upgrading Motor
Posted on 8/16/22 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 8/16/22 at 4:46 pm
I was given a 2016 Yamaha Drive (G29) with a DC motor. It was from a local golf course so very heavy use. It's come time to replace the batteries, but also looking at a few upgrades. Biggest complaint is that its slow. Only getting 12mph.
I have heard good things about the Plowman's Riot Kits, but don't need to go that fast. I am thinking of upgrading to the All Trax 275a controller, and then if/when the motor burns out to add their 5.5hp motor. Does anyone have any experience programming an All Trax controller? Is it easy to do?
My second option is looking at a total controller/motor/solenoid upgrade to the Navitas 440a/600a and the 4kw motor. I like that you can throttle it from your phone, but was quoted $2,800 for the job.
Last option is to look at getting some bigger tires (without lifting) to try and squeeze some additional mph out of the cart with all stock parts.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful.
I have heard good things about the Plowman's Riot Kits, but don't need to go that fast. I am thinking of upgrading to the All Trax 275a controller, and then if/when the motor burns out to add their 5.5hp motor. Does anyone have any experience programming an All Trax controller? Is it easy to do?
My second option is looking at a total controller/motor/solenoid upgrade to the Navitas 440a/600a and the 4kw motor. I like that you can throttle it from your phone, but was quoted $2,800 for the job.
Last option is to look at getting some bigger tires (without lifting) to try and squeeze some additional mph out of the cart with all stock parts.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 7:36 pm to Drunken Crawfish
Check the speed sensor. Mine was broken. It would get up quick but then just top out at about 11. Easy and cheap fix.
Posted on 8/16/22 at 7:52 pm to Drunken Crawfish
Not familiar with Yamaha as I am EZ-GO, plenty of things to checkout before throwing parts at it though. Controllers are a great upgrade, you can't really get much more speed since that is mostly voltage dependent but you can get more usable torque within what the motor and cables can handle. Simply throwing bigger tires at it is a good way to make other issues show up quickly.
Posted on 8/17/22 at 5:09 am to Drunken Crawfish
I also bought a well used yamaha cart about a year ago.
It started getting slower, then would "miss" and eventually wouldn't go at all.
I changed switches, solenoid and the controller was my next target. The batteries all showed to be putting out their correct voltage even when it acted up.
I ended up pulling the motor and changing the brushes in it. Solved everything. The brushes were less than $50 off of amazon.
I'll go look for the youtube vid that proved invaluable. I'm no mechanic and was proud after my feat.
LINK
As you saw, controllers are expensive and may or may not solve your problem. Good luck.

It started getting slower, then would "miss" and eventually wouldn't go at all.
I changed switches, solenoid and the controller was my next target. The batteries all showed to be putting out their correct voltage even when it acted up.
I ended up pulling the motor and changing the brushes in it. Solved everything. The brushes were less than $50 off of amazon.
I'll go look for the youtube vid that proved invaluable. I'm no mechanic and was proud after my feat.
LINK
As you saw, controllers are expensive and may or may not solve your problem. Good luck.

This post was edited on 8/17/22 at 5:12 am
Posted on 8/17/22 at 7:04 am to Art Vandelay
quote:
heck the speed sensor. Mine was broken. It would get up quick but then just top out at about 11. Easy and cheap fix
What speed were you getting before? I thought the fleet G29s are only set up to go a max of 14 from the factory?
Posted on 8/17/22 at 7:05 am to Drunken Crawfish
I put a 450amp Altrax controller on my stock 2016 EZGO. Huge difference. The guy who sells it programs it to a stock motor. If you upgrade your motor, you could also tweak the controller but I have since sold it so never tried to make my own programming
Posted on 8/17/22 at 7:07 am to Grassy1
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/17/22 at 7:08 am
Posted on 8/17/22 at 8:17 am to DawgCountry
quote:
LINK
I have been reading a few other forums and they have good things to say about CartsUnlimited. I may give him a call today and see what is going on. Did you have to upgrade the solenoid?
This post was edited on 8/17/22 at 8:18 am
Posted on 8/17/22 at 8:23 am to DawgCountry
I bought mine for my ezgo from him as well. Awesome guy. I had a microswitch issue and he stayed on the phone with me for an hour helping me diagnose. I added the alltrax to my stock motor and it's unreal how much of a difference it makes.
From what I understand you don't get the same performance out of a yamaha. A buddy had one and was told he would have to upgrade the motor as well as the controller to get any real change in performance. If anyone would know for sure cartsunlimited would know.
From what I understand you don't get the same performance out of a yamaha. A buddy had one and was told he would have to upgrade the motor as well as the controller to get any real change in performance. If anyone would know for sure cartsunlimited would know.
Posted on 8/17/22 at 8:27 am to Grassy1
quote:
I ended up pulling the motor and changing the brushes in it
How bas was it pulling the motor? That is the one part this keeping my from doing it myself.
Posted on 8/17/22 at 8:37 am to Drunken Crawfish
Pulling it wasn't bad.
I put a small floor jack under it to catch it and just lowered it down.
Had my gf help me put it back in. We lowered it down with a couple straps around it, it lined up easily for us.
Taking the motor apart wasn't bad at all. Lot's of carbon will come out, so do it somewhere that you don't mind the mess. I ruined a nice pair of leather gloves doing it.
I put a small floor jack under it to catch it and just lowered it down.
Had my gf help me put it back in. We lowered it down with a couple straps around it, it lined up easily for us.
Taking the motor apart wasn't bad at all. Lot's of carbon will come out, so do it somewhere that you don't mind the mess. I ruined a nice pair of leather gloves doing it.
Posted on 8/17/22 at 10:27 am to Drunken Crawfish
I just bought a Golf cart. (Used)
How hard is it to get a gauge for battery life/stregnth?
How hard is it to get a gauge for battery life/stregnth?
Posted on 8/17/22 at 10:33 am to ShermanTxTiger
I found this link when I was checking battery life. I am not sure if its 100% correct but a good rule of thumb from what I have found.
Fully charge your batteries then let it sit for 12-24 hours and then check your voltage on your main terminals. You can reference this chart to see what your current battery capacity is.
To translate: if you have a 48v cart with a set of brand new batteries at full charge you should get 50.93v. When I checked mine it was 48.8v which means I have about 50-60% battery capacity. From what I have read when it gets that low the batteries need to be changed.

Fully charge your batteries then let it sit for 12-24 hours and then check your voltage on your main terminals. You can reference this chart to see what your current battery capacity is.
To translate: if you have a 48v cart with a set of brand new batteries at full charge you should get 50.93v. When I checked mine it was 48.8v which means I have about 50-60% battery capacity. From what I have read when it gets that low the batteries need to be changed.

This post was edited on 8/17/22 at 10:34 am
Posted on 8/17/22 at 10:48 am to Drunken Crawfish
Dawg linked it above.
I can't speak to Yamaha but I did a complete 36 to 48v conversion on my TXT. Batteries, controller, solenoid, cables etc.
Still running the stock motor and getting 20+ mph with no lift.
Shoot Scotty an email at cartsunlimited. He knows his stuff and hands down has the best customer service / technical knowledge out of anyone I spoke too - even if he website looks likes its right out of the 90's.
I can't speak to Yamaha but I did a complete 36 to 48v conversion on my TXT. Batteries, controller, solenoid, cables etc.
Still running the stock motor and getting 20+ mph with no lift.
Shoot Scotty an email at cartsunlimited. He knows his stuff and hands down has the best customer service / technical knowledge out of anyone I spoke too - even if he website looks likes its right out of the 90's.
Posted on 8/17/22 at 11:03 am to tigerfanatic61
quote:
Shoot Scotty an email at cartsunlimited. He knows his stuff and hands down has the best customer service / technical knowledge out of anyone I spoke too - even if he website looks likes its right out of the 90's.
all of this

Posted on 8/25/22 at 11:03 am to Drunken Crawfish
Update: I decided to do the AC conversion kit with the 440a Controller and 4kw motor. The thing absolutely flies. Hit 27mph with me and the wife. Went with the 440a over the 600a controller to save a couple hundred bucks. The on the fly programmer, lets you set acceleration, speed and regen settings on your phone instead of having to plug the controller into a computer to adjust settings.
This post was edited on 8/25/22 at 1:23 pm
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