From: Paul Heinzerling <heinzerling alltel net>
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Sent: Wednesday, November
12, 2008 8:15:15 PM
Subject: (ET) Golf Cart for Elec-Trak Uses
This is a response to several posts
back:
I've converted an old Club Car 36V
solenoid/resistor controlled golf cart for yard cart uses. I can't speak
to mowing uses, but I can talk about motor duty cycle. I've added chains
to the rear wheels, a dump bed on the back, and a heavy duty bumper from Club
Car. I put a 4+foot blade with electric lift on the front and weight in
the bed and use it for plowing my driveway. The series motor and controls
are original. It works fine, but with some caveats: I don't think
the motor is really designed for the heavy use to which I put it when
plowing. This is a lot of full-power work and in a half-hour or so will
get the motor too hot to put your hand on, and will give that warm fuzzy
"electrical hot" smell. I just let it cool off and then continue on.
Also, the gearing is more designed for travelling than working. That said,
I've used it for eleven winters and it shows no signs of
failing.
Other things to think about: Golf Cart frames
are usually aluminum and fairly chintzy. The HD bumper I put on or some
sort of reinforcement would be a necessity for any front attachment. Also,
I would think there might be problems keeping a constant ground speed when
mowing.
Regards,
Paul Heinzerling
Hudson,
OH