The wife who is definitely the smarter of the two of us said to drive the thing in a ditch. I don't have the heart, this cart has given great service hauling helicopters and airplanes around the flight line for many years. I replaced it with a new old cart and brought the tugbuggy home. So far it's only cost me $650.00 rounded down from $700.00. It's a 75 EZGO with a lift kit, left leaning list and best I can tell a Gator rear end or shocks' or both. New batts, wires, and it warps out about 1 mph up a hill if I push with my good leg. I suppose this is more complicated than I assumed. Any advice on where to go from here (no comments about ditches please).
Old cart Newbee!
- Thread starter tugbuggy
- Start date
HotRodCarts
Cartaholic
Welcome to the forum...
Are you sure all 6 batteries are wired correctly? Take a look at the resistor coils for broken coils or bad connections.
Are you sure all 6 batteries are wired correctly? Take a look at the resistor coils for broken coils or bad connections.
Gale Hawkins
Member
As a guess I would check out the brushes in the motor. After 36 years as a tow tractor they may be getting on the short side and should cost a lot less than the set of batteries. 
Gale Hawkins
Member
Heck when you get the battery pack up to near 38v it may fly up the hills.
HotRodCarts
Cartaholic
I see it happen a lot. You should be fine after getting the battery charged and wired correctly. 
Let us know how it works out.
Let us know how it works out.Thanks for the help Gale and Hotrod. Brushes dont appear to have a wear indicator visible so they are either toast or very short brushes. The motor looks good inside but really nasty. I don't want to mess with pulling the motor so I think I will get the old electro bath in a can and call it good. All the non battery wires are #4 and look ok as well. I think clean all the contacts and posts and save the money for an overhaul on the totally wore slap out steering unit. Still can't get the one battery to take a charge over 6.2 volts, it goes back tomorrow. No broken coils. The locking portion of the hill brake does'nt stay latched. I am going to try swapping the rear spring/shocks ( John Deere ) to see if it helps level the cart out. The mudder tires are in great shape and loud at higher speeds but the left front rubs during right turns no rubs turning left
Good news is,,, The cart was much stronger today after the second and third cycle on the batteries I had a hoot scootin around on flat ground and yes Gale I did fly...right down the hills. I feel like the uphill speed tripled at least so I am making progress. So at this point I will keep improving on the power issues, I need brushes and a service book or something so I know what I am looking at. Can I overhaul the steering unit or should I send it somewhere. Thanks again for your advise
Good news is,,, The cart was much stronger today after the second and third cycle on the batteries I had a hoot scootin around on flat ground and yes Gale I did fly...right down the hills. I feel like the uphill speed tripled at least so I am making progress. So at this point I will keep improving on the power issues, I need brushes and a service book or something so I know what I am looking at. Can I overhaul the steering unit or should I send it somewhere. Thanks again for your advise
Gale Hawkins
Member
Remember new batteries will not give max power until after 20+ recharge cycles. If you reversed charged the one battery I would give it several more cycles to equalize again. You got the electrons confused and they do not know where they are coming or going. 
HotRodCarts
Cartaholic
The cheapest upgrade would be a EMP motor. Here's a link to their site.
EMP Electric Golf Cart Motors
EMP Electric Golf Cart Motors
I have about three good charge cycles on the new set of batteries. Yesterday I moved 5 ton of crush and run and about a hundred bags of mulch. I guess I loaded 200 or so, per run. Each trip was up and down a very steep hill with a sharp turn in the middle. For being an old girl I was quite impressed with the tugbuggy. Last week I replaced the front wheel bearings but the oversize tires are still rubbing on the steering arms? I am sure the front end is worn out but what bearing would be causing this. Tie-rod bearings all seem to be okay.
Gale Hawkins
Member
Glad the batteries got you back in business.
HotRodCarts
Cartaholic
What size tires are they? If they're wider than stock and you don't have offset wheels or wheel spacers that could be why they're rubbing.
Thanks Gale my cart climbs like a billy goat. I was so proud gettin the ole ladies attention and tryin not to fall off climing the hill in my back yard. Hot rod, I did not know about spacers, got some today (1"ers), OMG no more rub. Thanks guys I am fixed and workin. My back and ankles (army wounds) will always hate you (just fooling). I took the hill brake apart worked it with a dremel and it still seems weak. Pads are okay but something is hanging up in the cables. Now that I got some work out of her I don't mind tinkering. You guys are great!