golf cart drive

[rbtp]

Like so many others I'm exploring whether my first go-kart build should involve a conversion to electric. There have been many recommendations to use a golf cart motor. I found a couple craigslist ads for old carts for a couple hundred dollars which seems like a pretty good deal for a motor and speed controller (as long as they are working).

The problem I keep seeing is that typical golf cart motors don't have a shaft and it requires a decent amount of machining to adapt to a go-kart.

So here's my question: Why not use the entire drive system and weld it on to a go kart frame?

 

[itsid]

main reason: typical golf cart top speed

Other than that you could just bolt it to a kart frame and even keep the suspension.

'sid

 

[rbtp]

I take it that typical golf carts are governed at 15-18mph. Can the speed controllers be messed with to increase the top speed?

I suppose they may be geared to operate at max rpm, so overvolting may be the answer. Anyway, I hear about golf carts being modified to pull wheelies, so a golf cart based go-kart could be made fun. Yes?

 

[itsid]

The golf cart controllers that you can reprogramm, are worth a fortune,
I do not think you will find one of those in a cheap pack;
you'll rather have a non programmable controller,
so that's most likely not an option here.

I think you'll need to regear the axle there to get the speed you want.
Overvolting is possible (up to a point) but to be avoided.
You'll loose efficiency more than you'll gain power.

The golf cart motors typically have something around 2-4kW at least, more than enough for serious fun in a kart.

but get rid of the axle if you do not want to drive slow.

'sid