Restoring a golf cart in seven steps
- Establish your budget and find a golf cart. Even very old carts that look to be in bad shape can be restored with a...
- Check the battery and ensure that it has enough fluid. When you have the fluids leveled off, plug the battery in to...
- Tires are the next item on your restoration list. Check each golf cart tire for any signs of dry...
- Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. ...
- Step 2: Mix 8 ounces of Epsom salts into 2 quarts of warm distilled water: Stir thoroughly. ...
- Step 3: Put the battery or batteries on a charger.
Can You refurbish a golf cart yourself?
You can take the potential for savings even further by following a few steps to refurbish a cart yourself. With the wide range of used golf carts on the market, you will find that they are available in various states of disrepair. Before making a purchase, consider how much work you are prepared to undertake and are capable of.
How to revive old golf cart batteries?
Two basic ingredients are all you need: Epsom salts and distilled water. Below is a tutorial which will help you out with reviving old golf cart batteries – to restore them to life! Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. Clean the battery with your paintbrush dipped in a baking soda solution.
How do you clean an old golf cart?
Wash the soap off using cold water from a hose. Wipe the cart using a towel and let it dry completely. Dismantle removable parts like bumpers, roof, trim and parts of the frame that don’t require painting.
How do you fix a crack on a golf cart body?
1 Clean the crack on the golf cart body with mineral spirits 2 Dry, prime and lightly sand the surface 3 Glaze the surface using a product such as Bondo 4 Alternatively, if the crack is not on the gel coat but the cart body, you will have to paint it with a resin/hardener mix.
How do you refurbish a golf cart?
2:085:52GOLF CART RESTORATION FOR UNDER $40!! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd free of debris and dirt it's time to prep the surface. For this you'll need your water onlyMoreAnd free of debris and dirt it's time to prep the surface. For this you'll need your water only squirt bottle tries act 3000 and compressed air palm sander. Don't be intimidated here.
Does Epsom salt help golf cart batteries?
Mix 4 ounces of Epsom salts into a quart of warm distilled water and stir. Using a turkey baster fill each battery cell slightly over the lead plates. Do this for a cycle of 4 charges so the Epsom Salts remove the deposits on the battery plates.
Can you restore dead golf cart batteries?
So being in a pinch a 12 volt battery charger will work to get some energy back into your dead golf cart batteries and revive them. The sole purpose here is to just get some energy back into the batteries so the golf cart battery charger itself can do the brunt of the charging and charge the batteries properly.
Does aspirin help golf cart batteries?
Be warned that adding aspirin will shorten the battery life, as the aspirin will react with the sulfuric acid to form acetic acid. Good for a boost, but bad for the innards of the battery.
How do I bring my golf cart batteries back to life?
Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. ... Step 2: Mix 8 ounces of Epsom salts into 2 quarts of warm distilled water: Stir thoroughly. ... Step 3: Put the battery or batteries on a charger.
How can I extend the battery life of my golf cart?
Although golf cart batteries are designed to be deeply discharged and re-charged the battery life is improved if they are charged at about 50% discharge. Keep your golf cart battery in the top 50% of charge so that it takes less time to re-charge it.
How do you charge a completely dead golf cart battery?
3:335:42How to Charge Dead Golf Cart Batteries Manually - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe recommend starting by charging each battery for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and then moving on toMoreWe recommend starting by charging each battery for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and then moving on to the next. One.
Should I leave my golf cart plugged in all the time?
Manufacturers suggest leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time while using an auto battery charger, as it will keep the batteries fully charged and always available. If batteries are not charged for prolonged storage, they may damage over time and deliver less capacity.
How do I know if my golf cart batteries are bad?
Here are six signs to look for when batteries need replacing.Charge Times Are Out of Hand. Just like any rechargeable battery, the repeated cycles of draining and charging your battery can take a toll on it. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio.
How do you bring a dead lead-acid battery back to life?
Attach a battery trickle charger or a computerized smart charger to your old lead acid battery, and allow charging continuously for about a week to 10 days. The extremely slow charging rates dissolve the de-sulphation that kills the battery, and revives it back to being able to hold a usable charge.
How do you revive a battery that won't charge?
First, you need to light a fire and let it burn down to hot ashes. Then remove the filler/vent caps from the top of the battery, take the battery off the car, and place it on the hot ash. Be careful and make you it doesn't catch fire. The hot ashes should warm the battery up.
How do you rejuvenate lead acid batteries?
2:5617:01How to Revive a dead 12V Sealed Lead Acid Battery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI begin by adding two milliliter of 30 percent sulfuric acid solution into each cell. Then I addMoreI begin by adding two milliliter of 30 percent sulfuric acid solution into each cell. Then I add distilled water all the way up to the top of the plate.
What to do if your golf cart is old?
If your golf cart is very old or poorly maintained, you may need to replace the tires. This will ensure the safety of your golf cart, as well as your ability to enjoy it. You don’t want to have to stop ...
Why do people restore golf carts?
People restore golf carts for fun, because they live in a gated community or an area where they can actually travel by golf cart, or for their actual intended purpose - golfing. If you’re interested in restoring a cart, here are seven steps to consider.
Do you need to inspect a cart canopy?
f your cart has a canopy and you elect to keep it, it will need to be considered when you plan your budget. Assuming you want a canopy, inspect the canopy for dry rot, holes, and other damage.
What to put in a golf cart?
Protective gloves. Rubber tire patch kit. Clean rags. Wrench. Distilled water. Battery. Baking soda. Warm tap water. As much as golf can be an enjoyable hobby, it can also quickly become an expensive one, which can lead you to consider a used golf cart.
What to consider before buying a golf cart?
Before making a purchase, consider how much work you are prepared to undertake and are capable of. Be aware that if you are buying in an area with a longer golf season, the golf cart is likely to have suffered more wear and tear because it has been used more.
Can you use an air filled tire repair kit on a blow out?
Even if the air-filled tires appear to have no damage, a tire repair kit will still be useful in case of a blow out. As with a regular car, regularly check the air pressure to ensure that the tires are not over or under-filled, which can cause uneven wear and poor traction, or that they are suffering a slow puncture.
Can you refurbish a golf cart?
How to Refurbish a Golf Cart. As much as golf can be an enjoyable hobby, it can also quickly become an expensive one, which can lead you to consider a used golf cart. You can take the potential for savings even further by following a few steps to refurbish a cart yourself.
How to restore a golf cart?
Steps. Apply some dish soap all over the golf cart and wash it using a hose fitted with a fine spray nozzle. Use a microfiber cloth to spread the dish-wash soap uniformly, both inside and outside the cart. Take some water in a bottle with a spraying mechanism and spray on the surface that has to be restored.
How to repair a crack in a golf cart?
You can try the following options to repair cracks on a plastic golf cart body. Drill through the crack in a V shape and put a plastic weld on the rear. Fix some plastic tape on the front side so that the weld doesn’t push through. Drill the crack at the end so that it doesn’t become bigger.
How to paint a dark cart?
Apply a thin coat of plastic primer spray paint on the surface to be painted. You might need an extra coat if you’re planning to give your dark colored cart a light color. In this case, give a drying time of about half an hour before you apply the second coat. Paint the cart using acrylic or plastic-fusion paint.
How to clean a golf cart with soap?
Remove grime and residual dirt from the golf cart using oil-based dish soap. Wash the soap off using cold water from a hose. Wipe the cart using a towel and let it dry completely.
What is a golf cart made of?
The body of a golf cart is primarily made of sheet steel, fiberglass or sheet aluminum. The frame is generally made of steel while tires, foam seat cushions and steering mechanisms are made of rubber, vinyl and metal. Parts like suspensions, drive trains, motors and brakes use metal. The 1993 model Club Car used an indestructible thermoplastic ...
How to avoid spray painting windows?
Line the outer edges of windows to avoid spray painting them. Rub the cart body cart in a circular pattern using a 120- to 140-grit sandpaper to make the paint application easy and retain the paint on non-porous surfaces. Brush off the sanding dust with a microfiber cloth.
What is a golf cart?
Golf carts are also known as golf cars. The term "cart", in its purest sense, refers to a vehicle that does not travel under its own power. Golf cars, however, are most commonly referred to as golf... Continue Reading.
How to tell if a golf cart battery is bad?
Symptoms of a failing battery or batteries could include the following: 1 You may notice the battery power and range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf after charging back to the advertised voltage using a full trickle charge cycle. 2 A “Shutter” feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake rapidly. This is a classic sign of low voltage. If this is experienced, your cart may be low on charge, the charger may not be functioning properly or you may have a battery issue. Use a volt meter to measure each battery individually to isolate individual battery health. 3 On electric golf carts, the cart refusing to move at all on a charged set of batteries could be the speed controller not engaging, a faulty maintenance switch, or when the voltage falls below a preset value. 4 A deep cycle battery charge time takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had a battery bank installed. As the battery bank ages, it will not hold a charge as well as it used to. The automatic charger has no way to know this and will continue to charge the battery bank trying to get to a full charge – meaning it will take a longer charge time for the batteries than normal.
How to clean battery terminals?
Clean the battery terminals posts using 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a 1 quart of water. A Wire scratch brush does the job nicely (it looks like a metal bristle toothbrush). Do not allow any of the baking soda water to enter the battery. Rinse the battery thoroughly and air dry or use a paper towel.
What does it mean when your cart is low on charge?
This is a classic sign of low voltage. If this is experienced, your cart may be low on charge, the charger may not be functioning properly or you may have a battery issue.
What to do if battery is cracked?
If a battery is cracked and leaking acid, it should be replaced. With the cell caps removed, check the water level and ensure the battery plates in each battery cell are covered and not exposed. Add distilled water to any that are low. Replace the battery caps. Step 4.
Can you use tap water to refill a battery?
Note: Never use tap water..only distilled water should be used in refilling a battery. Impurities in the water contribute to the deposits that form on the inner components of the battery. After the battery is charged, the once distilled water is now sulphuric battery acid.
Step 1 – Consider Abilities
- With the wide range of used golf carts on the market, you will find that they are available in various states of disrepair. Before making a purchase, consider how much work you are prepared to undertake and are capable of. Be aware that if you are buying in an area with a longer golf season, the golf cart is likely to have suffered more wear and te...
Step 2 – Check Power Supply
- The batteries that power electric golf carts have a certain lifespan, and this is likely to be where the problem lies if the cart fails to start or only has an intermittent power supply. The label on the battery should confirm its age; if it is over three years old or shows any sign of an acid leak, then it is prudent to replace it. If the battery is in order, use some steel wool to clean the terminals befo…
Step 3 – Check Brakes
- If possible, test drive the golf cart in a safe and open area so that you can check for any sign that something is amiss. If the brakes don’t react quickly enough or their use creates an unusual noise, they must be carefully checked. Correctly position the brake shoes if they have fallen out of alignment. If they have worn completely, you will need to replace them.
Step 4 – Tires
- Even if the air-filled tires appear to have no damage, a tire repair kit will still be useful in case of a blow out. As with a regular car, regularly check the air pressure to ensure that the tires are not over or under-filled, which can cause uneven wear and poor traction, or that they are suffering a slow puncture. Where tubeless tires have suffered wear or damage, use a wrench to unscrew th…