Some golf carts may run slow due to some kind of equipment failure. For instance, an electric cart slowing down may be a sign that the battery is low on power and needs to be replaced.
However, most golf carts come with built-in limitations even when they are running in otherwise perfect condition. Things like small tires and wheels effectively limit the top golf cart speed.
The default motor and gear ratio also hold the top speed back. On top of this, the built in RPMs are usually too mild to let you go very fast.
Don’t worry, though: this guide has detailed instructions on how to fix all of these issues. You’ll have a fast golf cart in no time, all while staying perfectly within the confines of the law!
1. Bigger Tires and Wheels
Arguably, the easiest step on the road to a faster golf cart is to get bigger tires and wheels. However, many drivers do not understand exactly why this is such an effective strategy.
Increasing the size of the tires and wheels is not going to change the rotational output of the engine. Instead, the speed magic is all about surface area.
The larger surface area of the bigger tires and wheels increases the maximum possible miles per hour. In some cases, this can be a boost of 300%!
The bigger the tires, the better the speed. But this means that you may need to install a lift kit to get the biggest bang for your buck.
2. Change the Gear Ratio
Most drivers consider a golf cart the driving equivalent of a “plug and play” device. That means they trust the default settings that it comes with, including the gear ratio.
Unfortunately, the default gear ratio is one of the main things holding back your golf cart speed. This is because the standard ratio is 12:5:1.
What this means in plain English is that your tires make one complete rotation for every 12.5 revolutions of your input shaft. Dropping the ratio down means boosting your speed.
Dropping that ratio to 6:1 means that you could get an extra fourteen miles per hour out of the golf cart. Keep in mind that this trick greatly reduces your torque (it’s like having a cart permanently in fourth gear), so it may not be a great idea for every hobby and every terrain.
3. Replace the Motor
Many of the tricks in this guide focus on ways of coaxing some extra speed out of the default motor. However, here’s an outside the box solution: replace the motor entirely!
This is a relatively easy way to get up to an extra seven miles per hour out of your golf cart. However, this is a good place to remind you to doublecheck any state and local regulations about where you can drive your golf cart and how fast it’s allowed to go!
4. Increase RPMs
Our final modification for a fast golf cart is to adjust the RPMs. There are different techniques for modifying electric carts and modifying gas-powered carts.
For gas carts, you’ll need to make an adjustment to the governor which dictates what the top speed of the motor is. Alternately, if you’re already exploring replacing the motor, you can replace one with the RPMs you desire.
For an electric cart, the trick is to increase the voltage. Most of these carts have a range of acceptable voltage and they come powered on the lower end. By powering it with the highest acceptable voltage, you’ll see a definite boost in speed!
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