Gear ratios

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Stevem

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Hi, new here. See if someone can point me in the right direction.
Have a golf cart that i converted to gas. Has a 16hp. Lifan.
The rear end has a gear ratio of 12:1. Not really sure what the 40 series torque converter ratio is.
Tire height is 23".
What gear set do i need to purchase to have the best of both worlds. Low end and a little top end. I am trying to not buy multiple gearsets if i dont need to.
I hope i have given enough information on what i am trying to do. Any info is appreciated
Thank you
 
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Stevem

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I have not bought those yet. Scared to pull the trigger. Not wanting to buy the wrong parts. Its a 40 chain sir

---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 PM ----------

Its throwing my thinking off ,because the rear end is in the mix . So without any gearsets i am starting out at 12:1 on the rear end
 
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mckutzy

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Im not too sure what you mean 12:1 already?
Is this a trans axle?? Shaft drive differential??

Let see some pics???
 
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Stevem

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The golf cart rear end has a gear ratio of 12:1.

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 PM ----------

It had an electric motor that attached to the rear. I just removed the electric motor. That left a shaft that i milled a key way in it. To be able to put a sprocket onto it.

---------- Post added at 01:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

Not sure how to post pictures.
 
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Stevem

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I had a Chinese reverse gear on there . But the shaft is not round and wobbling. So , i will just take that out of the equation and go straight from the Jack shaft off the driven clutch to the rear end.
 
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mckutzy

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Okay... I see what your getting at now....
A bit of a pickle, you might have to break into the redux box itself and try to mate a sprocket to that...
ASAIK most do a live axle conversion...
 
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Stevem

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Thanks, i will not be able to break into the rear end to modify it.

---------- Post added at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ----------

Thanks, but there is no way to adapt to the rear end gearset. Its enclosed on top of have a quart of oil in the casing
 
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You could probably get around the 12:1 reduction with some funky gearing, but the easiest will be to replace the axle.

Is there some reason that you cannot crack the case open to look inside?
 
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Stevem

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I could do that . But to me it makes no sense to. Its a sealed case. They sell different gearsets , but the lowest will only get me to 9 to 1. At almost 300 bucks. If i was to be able to adapt if you will to something in the case, i would most likely not be able to close it back up and that would just not work due to it having a quart of gear oil in it.
Plan now is to purchase a 23t. And put it in my Jackshaft, behind the driven clutch and try to reverse the 12 to 1 somehow. I am going to put either a 10t or 11t on the axle. That should get me in the ballpark of 5 0r 6 to 1. I could be wrong. Thats just the way i am thinking.
 
anickode

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With 23" tires I don't think you want as tall a ratio as 5 or 6. In a vehicle that size, you'd probably end up needing to put a new belt on it every time you fill it with gas if you're running it hard.

The 9:1 gearset will put you up to 27mph with the governor still on the engine, and probably around 35 without it. That's a substantial speed increase; plenty for a golf cart. They're not the most stable vehicles at high speed. I've driven some fast golf carts (40+mph) and they're basically uncontrollable in anything but a straight line.

In reality, 35 is probably about all you'll get out of a 16hp engine without significant power mods anyway. Golf carts are fairly heavy, and have a lot of aerodynamic drag, especially with 2 people on them.
 
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Stevem

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Well i am not sure how to get the right gear ratio. I am trying to overcome the 12 to 1 with spending 300 bucks to do it. What i said earlier is the only way i know to get it going the other way. Not sure what the gear ratio will be. But i bought and am fixing to try it at a 24 tooth on the jackshaft and a 12 on the rear. If that doesn't work. Then i will try something else.
I am not trying to get a top end machine or a low torque pull the wheels. Just something middle of the road
 
anickode

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Stevem said:
Well i am not sure how to get the right gear ratio. I am trying to overcome the 12 to 1 with spending 300 bucks to do it. What i said earlier is the only way i know to get it going the other way. Not sure what the gear ratio will be. But i bought and am fixing to try it at a 24 tooth on the jackshaft and a 12 on the rear. If that doesn't work. Then i will try something else.
I am not trying to get a top end machine or a low torque pull the wheels. Just something middle of the road
Click to expand...

That will make your gear ratio between the engine and the wheels 6:1.

Gear ratios multiply. a 12:1 reduction in the gearbox with a 0.5:1 reduction feeding it. That will gear you for 41 mph with the governor on. IF the engine has the power to get it going that fast.

Plus your input shaft speed with be 7200 rpm, which is pretty daggum fast. Perhaps an 18t on the input instead of 12? That'd put you at 9:1 overall.
 
anickode

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It's hard to say for sure, but I'd put my money on yes. That's just a big vehicle on big tires to push with less than that.

It'll likely be as fast as you'd ever really want to go on a lifted golf cart, but you should have enough torque for it to perform alright off road.
 
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