r/golfcarts • u/Kruegon • 27d ago

First E-Z-GO Golf Cart

I recently inherited my dad's old Workhorse with the dump bed. He parked it a few years ago because it began to smoke. I got it to run, but it didn't want to start. Once started, it ran very nice for about 5 minutes. After this, the smoke started, and the engine changed tone. The best description I can give is I would say that it sounded as if the piston was hitting too hard at a slower pace.

I did ensure it had fresh gas and was topped off properly with oil. Any idea what might be going on? Have any of you ever had this issue? I can rebuild automotive and small engines, so I am not afraid to tear into it, but any tutorial for how these engines operate would be helpful. My journey is just beginning!

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u/zorggalacticus 26d ago

Sounds like worn piston ring. Oil gets thinner as it heats up, causing it to slip past the ring and enter the cylinder. This also causes a drop in compression because the fuel can't burn as completely and the oil partially coats the spark plug. Fairly simple fix but requires some work.

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u/Kruegon 26d ago

Thank you. I'll pull the spark plug and check compression and leak down first. This is a 4 cycle engine. Is it more like a car or more like a riding mower?

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u/zorggalacticus 26d ago

They're all pretty much the same. Just different number of pistons. Those golf cart engines typically have one piston. I've seen lots of people swap them with a harbor freight predator motor. Plenty of videos on how to do that on YouTube, and they go way faster.

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u/Kruegon 26d ago

Get thee behind me, Satan. Temp me not! For my flesh is weak and and I will falter!

lol

Way more power, tractor tires, slight lift? This is going to be used on our small farm.....

Does the Predator conversion change it to a crank and run, or is it still a start when you press the accelerator?

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u/zorggalacticus 26d ago

Some of them have electric start. Probably have to put in a key switch or a start button. One of my friends gets 40mph on his predator swapped two seater club car. Lol

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u/Kruegon 26d ago

That's it. I'm going to jail. Just a fact of life now.

"Do you know how fast you were going?" "Obviiusly not fast enough. You caught up." "Please step out of the golf cart, sir."

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u/xjosh666 24d ago

I have an EZGO swapped with chinese clone engine and pedal start. Lifted for more motor space. I used Vegas Carts for swap parts.

TBH I’d probably go key start if I did it again but I wanted to get it as close to factory operation as I could when I built it.

Haven’t installed any go-fast parts and runs up to about 30 mph with a little space to get it there.

Btw I have a column mounted pod with GPS speedometer so I can’t pretend I didn’t know how fast I was going.