Club Car Has No Low End Power Torque

[bassman2010]

First I have a 48 volt 1991 club car that was recondition in 1995. Speed was around 15-19 MPH. I had a hi-performance 48 volt motor installed lo-end stayed good, hi-end 22 MPH.Since then I had installed a 36 volt hi- performance motor, I have no lo-end toque at all. hi-end is 32 MPH. I was told two things: Change rear end gears to 8:1 or 12:1 depending on what I have now( I don't know what gears are in the cart now) or go to a 350 to 400 AMP controller. I still use this on the golf course and would like a little lo-end to get up the small hills and would like to keep what I have on the top end.

 

[HotRodCarts]

Welcome to the forum.

You will gain some torque with a higher amp controller if your running a stock controller now, without loosing any speed. You will lose top speed with the gear change.

 

[dougmcp]

If you don't have at least 4ga battery cables, do that first and you may recover some torque.

Changing the gears from the stock 12:1 to a torque gear of 15:1 will lower your top speed by about 25%.

If changing cables doesn't do what you need, you can either change back to your original motor or add a 400 amp controller.

IMO, 32 mph in a cart that was designed for 12-14mph is a little fast without the addition of front brakes.
Make sure your front suspension components are really tight and the wheels are aligned, any change in direction at 30mph turns these carts into a rollover candidate.

 

[bassman2010]

I believe my current controler is a 235 amp.

 

[HotRodCarts]

The high speed motors won't have as much torque. A bigger controller will help. Like Doug said if you haven't already done it a cable upgrade will help and should be done with a motor like you have. Do you know what brand and model the motor is? If the cart is running 32 MPH 2 gauge cables and a Alltrax 650 will give you a nice increase in torque.

 

[bassman2010]

The motor was redone by Plum Quick motors. I was told that if I changed the Controller from my stock 235 AMP to a 400 AMP that would get me what I want. They also said that I should change the battary cable to 4gage. I believe thats what you guys are both telling me. Do you think I need to change the cables to the motor. One dealer told me I might need to change to a heavy duty F&R switch.

 

[HotRodCarts]

Yes you need to change all the cables. The high RPM motor like you have will draw a lot of amps so a HD forward and reverse switch wouldn't be a bad idea either.

 

[bassman2010]

Thanks for the help, one more question before I start looking for what I need. I'm not looking for a lot of lo-end (no off road hill climbing) do you think a 300 amp would be enough and where can I order cables a web site would help.

 

[dougmcp]

As HRC said above, a 650a controller is ideal but nothing less than 400a is acceptable for that motor to maintain your speed and gain some torque.
Try our sponsors or ebay for cables. I make my own 4ga cables for about $40 by buying 4ga welding cable and ends from my local welding supply.