Series Cart Slower Than PDS Cart

[mick]

I bought this 04 Series cart to fix up and sell in the neighborhood. I'm amazed at how much slower it is up hills than my PDS even before I put the lift and tires on it. I put new 4ga cables on and a 400 amp Alltrax but I didn't notice much of a torque gain. It hauls ass on the flats but just dies going up hill. All batts are right around 6.48 volts with a fresh charge. Should I be looking contacts in the fwd/rev switch or somewhere else? It stopped for no reason twice now and seems to have pretty slow throttle response sometimes.
Thanks!

 

[HotRodCarts]

Easiest way to check for problems with the contacts in the switch is look at the four cable connections on the switch. If they look like they've been hot that usually means bad contacts or loose cable connections at the switch. Take the cart for a 10 minute ride then feel all the cables and see if any are hot. You say the cart is fast on level ground. How fast? Does the cart have the stock motor?

 

[dougmcp]

Nice cart!
When you did the 4ga cables, did you also do the ones to the controller, the F-N-R switch and the motor?
The larger controller on a series cart won't do much for speed but should have increased the available torque.
You gain speed but will lose some torque with the larger tires.
What was it like going uphill before you changed the controller and cables?
Did you just add the lift, tires, controller and cables all at the same time?
You may need to add a HD solenoid and HD F-N-R switch to this cart.

 

[mick]

It's a stock motor and it goes about as good as my stock PDS cart on the flats, although it is a little nicer not having the regen down hill. I drove it around in stock from and it was a little weak on the hills. I did notice hot cables around the controller before changing them all. I was shorted two cables, I have two of the long cables to change still and that will be all of them. The solenoid is a little warm but you can leave your hand on it. I will check all connections when I get home tomorrow and go for a longer drive and check cables again.
Thanks guys

 

[dougmcp]

Without all the cables that carry power/amperage to the motor through the controller, solenoid and F-N-R switch not being 4ga, you have a restriction that will limit amperage and cause your cart to slow on hills and anything that requires torque.
Once you get all the cables to 4ga you should notice an improvement.

 

[mick]

Got it done and it's a little better, but not that great. I did find a broken wire on the solenoid so that was my stopping problem. I just don't think it's that much better with the Alltrax, I' almost tempted to return it and put the stock one in but at least this way whomever buys it can put a better motor in and the controller will be there ready to go. Next time I'll stick with a PDS to fix up and sell.
Thanks for the help guys