36 Volt Western Golf Cart Quits Running

[kangolfer]

I have a 98 western 36 volt cart that i just put in a new battery pack, solenoid with silver contacts, and a new 400 amp controller. The motor was redone by Plumb quick last fall.
While driving around the neighbor hood the thing started to hesitate and then run, finally it quits running completely. I turned it off as well as the radio, in about 2 minutes turned it back on but left the radio off and it ran the rest of the way home. Any ideas, could the new solenoid not be heavy enough for the controller(original eq. except for the silver contacts)?

 

[HotRodCarts]

Are any cables, forward and reverse switch, solenoid, controller, motor, etc. getting hot?

 

[kangolfer]

Just took it out for a 5 minute run and it started doing it again. No nothing is hot. Yesterday when it acted up the new solenoid was pretty warm but i ran it longer yesterday. It kind of sputters like a gas engine when it is low on gas. I had just took it off the charger when i ran it today

 

[kangolfer]

I couldn't reach the f&r switch for the batterys. I has previously disassembled the switch and cleaned it.

 

[HotRodCarts]

It sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere. Did the forward and reverse switch look like it had been hot when you took it apart and cleaned it? It's possible the solenoid or the motor could be causing it but I'd double check all the cable connections and the forward and reverse switch first.

 

[kangolfer]

no the f&r switch looked good, no discoloration or pitting on the contact points. Should i need a heavy duty switch with a 275 to 400 controller?

 

[HotRodCarts]

It wouldn't hurt to have a HD solenoid but that may not be what's causing the problem. You could try jumping the 2 large posts on the solenoid with a 6 gauge or larger cable and see if you still have the same problem. That would tell you for sure if it's the solenoid or not.

 

[kangolfer]

Thanks, i will try jumping the solenoid and will get back with you.

 

[kangolfer]

Just got back and it ran like it is suppose. Jumping the new solenoid seem to do the trick. What amp sol. do you think i should get with that controller. Thanks again, i am sure glad i found this site. You guys are a bunch of help.

 

[HotRodCarts]

I'd go with a White Rodgers 586. I use them on all my carts and never had one go bad. They carry them at Everything Carts Everything Carts and Buggies Unlimited Golf Cart Replacement Parts and Accessories | BuggiesUnlimited.com