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how to tell if golf cart clutch is bad

by Ulises Morissette Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Three things can indicate that your golf cart clutch is going bad:

  • Your cart’s initial acceleration is jerky
  • It feels as if power is slipping while your cart is climbing incline terrain/hills
  • Your cart has varying top-end speed (alternating between fast and slow)

What Kinds of Problems Can a Golf Cart Clutch Have?
  1. A sudden inability to maintain even slow speeds when heading uphill or changing elevation.
  2. Slowing down to a crawl, then speeding up, then slowing again, seemingly without reason.
  3. Jolting during startup.
  4. A 'cranking' sound when starting up the golf cart.
May 11, 2017

Full Answer

How to fix clutch problems?

Mar 26, 2022 · Why is my golf cart clutch not engaging? The battery might be the key reason for the clutch not engaging. If the battery is faulty, the clutch systems will fail to generate enough power and will not function. If this is the case, it is advisable to replace or fix the battery and the issue should be resolved.

How to check your golf cart for a bad solenoid?

Jan 18, 2020 · How do I know if my golf cart clutch is bad? If the start up is jerky, or if there is poor speed transition from level ground to climbing a hill, or if the car has erratic (fast then slow then fast again) high end speed, bad golf cart clutches may be indicated. People also ask, do electric golf carts have a clutch? All golf cart (much like cars) have a clutch, which is a part of …

How do you replace coil on club cart golf cart?

When you’re driving up a hill or even on a flat surface and notice that the cart transmission is not smooth, then it... Another common problem a lot of people face is a jerky start. The cart while starting up might give out a few jerky... If you’re driving up a hill, any problems with the clutch ...

Why is my golf cart stalling?

Feb 28, 2020 · How to test a rear clutch on anezgo golf cart. Sometimes you can tell bad bythe squealing sound your cart makes when taking off. Or your cart will have no...

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Why is my golf cart clutch not engaging?

The battery might be the key reason for the clutch not engaging. If the battery is faulty, the clutch systems will fail to generate enough power and will not function. If this is the case, it is advisable to replace or fix the battery and the issue should be resolved.

What does the secondary clutch do on a golf cart?

Yamaha driven clutches are better known as a secondary clutch. This clutch attaches to the rear end and is used to propel your golf cart to higher speeds. The clutch is closed until the motor turns over.

How does a golf cart driven clutch work?

Both golf cart clutches look similar to a large pulley but each clutch has a sliding sheave that moves in & out along a central shaft as the clutch spins. The other sheave is fixed to either the crankshaft or the differential input shaft and it does not slide, it just spins.Apr 4, 2012

How do you diagnose a golf cart problem?

There are a few simple problems that you can fix yourself that will not necessitate professional maintenance.Test the wall socket where you charge your cart. ... Expose your golf cart batteries. ... Test the batteries for voltage. ... Replace dead batteries. ... Expose the motor for inspection. ... Reset the motor. ... Test the cart.

What is a driven clutch?

A primary drive clutch is the one that connects to the engines crankshaft and acts as the first clutch in operation. This clutch compresses when the engine turns over to give your cart torque. The secondary driven clutch attaches to the transaxle and acts as your speed.

How often do you grease the clutch on a Yamaha golf cart?

Clutch lubrication should be done every six months or 500-750 miles. One to Two pumps with grease gun primed, using a multipurpose grease.Jan 9, 2017

How does a belt driven clutch work?

1:305:29How A CVT Works by TEAM Industries.mov - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe primary clutch closes. And tightens the belt. This forces the secondary clutch sheaves to spreadMoreThe primary clutch closes. And tightens the belt. This forces the secondary clutch sheaves to spread and shifts the CVT to a lower ratio.

Does a golf cart have a transmission?

All golf carts (much like cars) have a clutch, which is the part of the drivetrain that helps the put the power of the motor down through to the wheels/ground. Golf cart clutches are a part of the Continuously Variable Transmission (or CVT).

How does a gas powered golf cart work?

In a gasoline-powered golf cart, the engine starts when you step on the gas pedal, and it shuts off when you take your foot off the gas. That feature helps save gas, cuts down on emissions and helps keep the course quiet, too.Feb 22, 2021

What goes bad on a golf cart?

5 Common Electric Golf Cart Problems and How to Solve ThemTroubleshooting Batteries. Like any electric vehicle, the battery is often the root of the problem. ... Ignition or Motor Issues. ... Solenoid Woes. ... Faulty Direction Switch. ... No Speed Control.

How do I know if my golf cart solenoid is bad?

If your golf cart fails to turn on when you turn the key on, this is the most obvious sign of solenoid failure. The solenoid clicks a little with the ignition system in regular operation; in most cases, a failing solenoid will not snap.

How do you troubleshoot a golf cart controller?

Here are 5 steps you should follow for a DIY fix to your golf cart's speed controller.Flip the maintenance switch. ... Reset the battery cable. ... Check your connections. ... Test the solenoid. ... Check your controller's power output.Mar 7, 2018

Why is my clutch not engaging?

Sometimes a belt that does not have the correct tension and is loose may cause the clutch to not engage properly. It might help to clean out any rust on the clutch system as this could also be the cause of this issue. Rectifying these problems could help resolve the clutch issue.

Why does my clutch get stuck?

Another cause could be a bad spring. Sometimes, if the spring in the system is bad, it could cause the clutch to get stuck. Try replacing the spring and check if the problem is resolved. If none of these work, you might have to replace or rebuild the entire clutch system.

Why is my cart not smooth?

When you’re driving up a hill or even on a flat surface and notice that the cart transmission is not smooth, then it clearly indicates that the issue lies with the clutch system. Another common problem a lot of people face is a jerky start. The cart while starting up might give out a few jerky movements.

Why does my clutch make a squeaking noise?

Sometimes this issue of the clutch not fully engaging but slipping could be caused due to the dirt build-up inside .

How to stop clutch from coming apart?

Gently place the crowbar behind the clutch and apply pressure. The clutch might slide off and come apart. Make sure to add even pressure at the same intervals otherwise you might end up breaking a part. If none of these techniques work, you can try cutting some relief on the clutch.

What is CVT in golf carts?

Golf carts have a special technology called CVT which stands for Continuous Variable Technology . This technology allows the user a smooth drive without having to worry too much about changing gears. Every golf cart will have a clutch consisting of two parts namely the primary clutch and the secondary clutch.

Can a clutch be smooth?

If you’re driving up a hill, any problems with the clutch can be easily noticed. The clutch system will not be smooth and the speed will be erratic. These are some of the common problems observed due to issues with the clutch system.

Drive

The drive, or primary, clutch is found on the crankshaft of the engine. A thick, heavy ‘drive’ belt is wrapped around it and links it to the driven clutch, on the differential. At rest, the drive clutch sheaves (or pulley halves) are separated enough that the drive belt rests in between the sheaves & against the center shaft of this clutch.

Driven

The other half of this system is the driven, or secondary, clutch. At rest the driven clutch sheaves are spring loaded together, so the belt sits up at the outer edge of this clutch, NOT down toward the center shaft. It, too, spins around and has a sheave that sides in & out along it’s main shaft but this clutch has no flyweights.

Belt Operation

As the drive belt forces the driven clutch sheaves to separate, the PULLING ratio of the engine changes from maximum (when the belt is at the outer edge of the driven unit) to minimum PULLING power, or top cruising speed (when the sheaves are completely apart).

Driven Issues

The driven clutch can misbehave in many ways. It has one main shaft and the sliding sheave has an internal bushing that will wear, and it has several inclined metal ramps (usually aluminum) with small plastic buttons that protect the ramps as they glide against one another.

Buttons

OK picture this: The engine revs up and the drive belt starts to ride down into the pulley faces of the driven clutch forcing them to separate. The inboard pulley half begins to slide along the main shaft compressing the spring and bringing the funky cup ends and their respective ramps up against one another.

Driven Spring

While we are on the Yamaha driven clutch another failure that occurs is almost impossible to detect but it also impairs the hill pulling power of the car. Keep looking inboard to where the funky spring cap butts up against the differential housing. The spring cap doesn’t actually touch the differential case.

How to tell if clutch pedal is bad?

Clutch takes higher up than usually. Clutch Feels soft while pressing. Trouble shifting gears. Noise when pressing the clutch. Clutch pedal feels stiff. Clutch pedal stays on the floor. Here is a more detailed list of the most common symptoms of a bad or worn clutch.

What happens when you have a bad clutch?

Slipping Clutch. The first issue you may notice when you have a bad clutch is that it will slip when you accelerate. A damaged clutch tends to slip, especially when driving uphill or when transporting heavy loads. You will notice that the engine speed increases, but the car doesn’t go faster or that the engine RPM does not match the speed increase.

Why does my clutch make a grinding noise?

If you hear a certain grinding noise from the engine compartment when pressing the clutch, this can mean that the clutch pressure plate or the throwout bearing is damaged or defective. The throwout bearing is the bearing that is pressing the clutch pressure plate to release the clutch, ...

Why does my clutch stick to the ground?

In addition to the possibility that the clutch is too loose or too stiff, it can sometimes stick to the ground. This points to a problem with the clutch plate, throwout bearing, or hydraulic system. If you have this problem with your car, you need to diagnose the clutch’s hydraulic system before replacing the clutch.

What does it mean when your clutch pedal feels stiff?

Clutch Pedal Feels Stiff. If the clutch pedal feels stiff, it can mean that there is something wrong with the clutch pressure plate. However, a hard clutch pedal can also mean something wrong with the hydraulic clutch system, like a faulty slave or master clutch cylinder. Therefore, it is important to make a proper diagnosis before you decide ...

What happens when a clutch fails?

If the clutch fails to release the connection between the engine and gearbox, you will find it extremely difficult to shift gears. When the clutch is bad, this often happens on all gears, so if you noticed that your car’s gear shift became difficult lately, it is definitely time to check the clutch.

What is the function of a clutch?

Function of the Clutch. The clutch is used to transmit the torque from the engine to the gearbox. The clutch controls the connection between the shafts that turn the gearbox and the shafts that come from the engine. The clutch’s main function is to release the connection between the engine and gearbox so you can shift to the next gear easily.

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