LET'S GET SOCIAL

TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS WITH #GOLFCARTINGMAG

YOU MIGHT SEE YOUR POST IN THE NEXT ISSUE!

HOW TO KEEP YOUR GOLF CART RUNNING GREAT

If you own a custom golf cart like myself, you’re going to want that vehicle to last as long as possible. Maintaining your golf cart throughout the years is going to prolong the life tenfold. In this article we do our best to explain to you the most important tasks you can perform in order to keep your golf cart running great for years to come. Let’s get to it.

KEEP YOUR BATTERIES CHARGED

The first tip up on the list is a pretty obvious one. Keeping your batteries charged at all times is going to have a huge effect on the life of your batteries and golf cart. We recommend that you invest in a quality battery charger in order to keep your batteries running optimally.

The best kind of battery chargers are ones with auto shutoffs, that way you don’t have to worry about plugging and unplugging your golf cart. These chargers will automatically shut off when the battery is fully charged. This will also prolong the life of the battery only because over-charging your batteries can damage them over time.

Batteries are the life of the golf cart, without them the golf cart won’t move, so taking care of the heart of the golf cart is going to make sure it’s running smoothly for its lifetime.

MAINTAIN BATTERY WATER LEVELS

Staying on the subject of batteries, the next thing you’ll want to keep an eye on is your battery water levels. Each battery has lead plates inside, and in order for them to work correctly, they’ll need a specific level of water.

Each cell should have a cap that you can pop off in order to check the water levels. If your battery plate is bone dry, then you’ll need to add some water. The recommended level of water is usually about a ½ inch over the lead plate. It is also very important that you used distilled water, and not tap water.

Depending on how often you are using your golf cart, you’ll probably want to check these battery water levels each month. If you forget to check your water levels, then you could find yourself purchasing brand new batteries for your golf cart. Running your golf cart on bone dry batteries can do some serious damage over time.

CLEANING CONNECTIONS TO THE BATTERY

While you're filling your batteries with water you should also take a closer look at the connections to your battery. Keeping your battery connections tight, and clean is going to make the golf cart run better and extend the life of your batteries.

It is very important to keep dirt and corrosion away from your batteries and their connectors. If you do happen to have a bunch of gunk build up, or corrosion overtaking your connections, you should make a simple concoction of baking soda and water, and scrub those areas clean. Another helpful tool to use would be a wire brush, this will make getting the corrosion off those connectors a lot easier.

MAINTAIN HEALTHY TIRE PRESSURE

Batteries are definitely one of the most important parts to maintain on your golf cart, but it’s not the only thing you should take care of. Inspecting your tires before and after each ride should become second nature.

If your tires are low on air, we recommend that you fill your tires up to the optimal pressure. This is important because if you let your tires run flat, or even a little low, you’ll find that the tires wear a lot quicker.

Not only will this prolong the life of your tires, but it can also make for a smoother ride. So, before you take a trip in the golf cart down the road, make sure all the tires are properly filled.

BRAKE INSPECTIONS

If you plan on stopping your golf cart, then your brakes are going to need to be in tip top shape. Most golf carts

With the cap off, if you can see the plates with no water over the top you will need to add water.

The recommended level of water is usually about a ½ inch over the lead plate. It is also very important that you used distilled water, and not tap water. Overfilling the cells may cause battery acid to leak out during the charging process leaving you with an ugly mess to clean up. Most tires have stamped on the sidewall of the tire the proper tire pressure as denoted as PSI. If you purchased you cart new, chances are you received an owners manual that will also include the correct tire pressure PSI. Granted, that the tires that came on your cart are from the manufacturer and not aftermarket tires and wheels.

aren’t moving at 60 mph so wearing out the brakes takes a little longer than a normal vehicle, but it’s still something you should be mindful of.

Checking your brakes each year is a good way to keep your golf cart running smoothly. The brake drums, pads, and cables should all be inspected at least once a year. If you aren’t too sure how to do this yourself, you should take it to a local golf cart shop to have them checked.

Maybe you need a brake pad replaced, or the brake cable is a little loose, in any case, a golf cart shop will be able to help you. The last thing you want is for your brakes to go out when you need them most.

CHECKING FOR OIL LEAKS

Oil leaks tend to be a problem with some older golf carts. If you notice that your golf cart is leaking oil, the first place you should inspect is the rear differential. The rear differential is one of the most popular places for a golf cart to lose oil.

Get yourself down on the ground and look underneath the cart at your rear differential. If you see a good buildup of oil around the rear differential, then you could have problems in the near future.

Oil leaks should be taken care of immediately in order to keep the golf cart running optimally. Any leaks that are left unattended to, can cause even more problems for your golf cart down the road.

LIGHTEN THE LOAD

In many instances there are companies using golf carts to transport equipment, or tools around large properties, whether that be a vacation resort, or even a manufacturing company.

A big part of maintaining your golf cart is making sure that you don’t overload your golf cart. Before you pack your golf cart full of heavy equipment, you should be aware of the load capacity that your golf cart is rated for.

Overloading your golf cart can put strain on the frame, shocks, and tires if you aren’t careful. If your golf cart is rated for carrying a good amount of weight, then just make sure you secure, and balance each load properly in order to keep yourself safe, and the golf cart healthy.

SERVICE YOUR GOLF CART EVERY YEAR

Even if you are good about keeping your golf cart in great shape throughout the year, we still recommend that you have a professional inspect it every year. Sometimes we forget things, and that’s why it’s always smart to have someone double check everything.

Golf carts can have components go bad without you ever knowing, and even if you do catch the problem, you may not know how to fix it, or have the time to do so. Taking your golf cart to a service shop each year will keep your golf cart running great for years to come.

BEWARE OF ISSUES AND DON’T MAKE THEM WORSE

If you’re driving your golf cart around and suspect an issue, you should immediately park the golf cart until you assess the situation. If you continue to ride the golf cart around with impending problems, then you could just make it worse.

We always recommend troubleshooting the problem before running your golf cart into the ground. This will keep you, your family members, or even your employees out of danger until the problem is fixed.

A lot of big problems that occur on golf carts are because of years of neglect and riding through problems that should have been fixed a long time ago. If you suspect an issue, park the cart and get it fixed immediately.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Why is it important to keep your golf cart maintained throughout the years? Your golf cart is an investment, and most custom golf carts can cost a pretty penny so keeping your golf in tip top shape will protect your investment for years to come.

In this article we did our best to explain to you the most important things you can do daily in order for you to maintain your custom golf cart, such as checking your batteries for corrosion and dirt build-up, making sure your batteries are properly filled with water, and even keeping your tires at a healthy pressure.

Doing these simple things can help you to keep your custom cart running for many many years. If you have any questions about golf cart maintenance, or any information to add, please let us know! Thanks for reading.