@@NotthatNeil Exactly what I was thinking! I've experienced the VW Beetle heater in all its glory. Perhaps it just kept my head from freezing off But the rest of me???...... still not so sure lol
Drinking coffee with my wife watching this. She looked over side-eyed, “Did he say petroleum battery?” 😂 Can’t wait for the next installment! Great job!
LOL, In order to make it into the Cleetus club, I need to get this thing to melt the tires down to the rims... hmmm that's going to take some effort. I cant guarantee that's possible with a little 212cc engine.
@@robotcantina8957Add a smaller high discharge battery as a buffer, like in Toyota hybrids, and you can use it as a boost of sorts. Then you can use the excess power when crusing to charge for the next launch. Capacitors could work too but would be bulky and more expensive but it was what they were going to use for Prius originally.
Nice episode! BTW, that holdover relay that you showed was a Prestolite design. It was designed in the late 60s/early 70s. I was the Product Engineer on that line for a spell in the mid to late 80s. They were oem for Ford and we also sold them to Club Car and EZ Go car. So I spent hours in the drivers seat of those things running tests. It was horrible duty running around outside in the sunshine and fresh air in those balmy Alabama mornings! This cold spell were having would not be a fun time to be out in the seat. peace!
never ceases to amaze me how the Internet can pull people together over an interesting or wacky project. Thanks for sharing a little piece of history with us.
I've been working around golf carts for a very long time we used them to haul people around at the auto auction where I work. Most of the golf carts will hit 20 mi an hour in under 15 or 10 seconds the gas-powered golf carts take about 10 seconds. The battery powered golf carts take about 15. And if you adjust the governor on the gas powered golf carts. Like we often do at work. You can hit 30 and 35 in under 15 seconds. Do not get me wrong I really appreciate and like your videos. I watch everyone you put out. You have great ideas about how to repurpose a battery-powered golf cart. And small cars. So please keep making the great videos cannot wait to see the next one. Have a great day🎉😊😊
@@robotcantina8957 Many years ago, on April 1st, some radio station started announcing the times as something like "6:15Am Imperial time and 18652 Metric". They were also announcing the switchover to using only metric time would happen next year. It was funny but someone from the department of "waiting for measuring" got in touch and asked that they stop.
@@robotcantina8957 you'd think with how family friendly your content is, that youtube would promote it to the moon. Even if the projects stay budget minded, should be making more than you're probably making. Thanks for everything you do, love your content!
@@Timman57 Ive been leaving@robotcantina in the comments of other channels in an attempt to get people to look Jimbo up. I think it might be helping a little.
I actually found this channel and project from searching a similar type golf cart project that myself and a friend have been brainstorming about. But our idea is more of a gasoline electric hybrid that still has a battery, more like a Prius style drive/charging system. But this idea here is cool as heck too, and fairly simple compared to that.
I used to work at a golf course. We had gas powered Club Car golf carts. They have 13 HP Kawasaki single cylinder engines with a CVT transmission much like a go kart, except it is attached to a rear differential gearbox which has forwards and reverse gears. The gas pedal activates a starter/generator which is belt driven on the flywheel side of the engine. It is basically a small PMDC motor seen on a treadmill. Unlike a typical starter motor, the starter/generator will act as the alternator when the engine is running. The accelerator petal is cable driven to the engine’s governor which regulates the top speed of the golf cart. When the accelerator is released, the engine will continue to coast until the golf cart is nearly stopped and the engine is turned off. This is all to create a very smooth and quiet transition between starting, driving and stopping the vehicle. Top speed on these golf carts, we typically keep them around 15 mph for the safety of the golfers and less wear and tear on the equipment and turf. But our maintenance golf course vehicles we have gotten them to go around 30 mph. They have enough power. The reason they have 13 HP is because the golf carts have to be designed to accommodate two adult passengers with their golf gear around the course, and able to traverse across varying terrain. I personally think 212cc is a bit small for a golf cart. The 13 HP engines we have are 400cc. That’s almost double the displacement of the Predator. If would at least upgrade the engine to the 420cc Predator engine. The extra horsepower will definitely help in both top speed and acceleration in this project without stalling the engine.
Hi there, I was thinking the same at first but then I realized that there will reach a limit eventually, and the engine could get too big for the alternator / electric motor drive combo. I think the goal of this project is to see what can be achieved with as small of a motor as possible and maximize efficiency. With his experience in micro controllers, Jimbo is well suited for this. I mean, he's essentially testing everything I wanted to try when I was a teenager. When I was a teenager, we didn't have access to fancy electronics! We made everything work with old donated pulleys, belts and old engines people didn't want anymore. That and doing this covertly. My father didn't want me to ride an mechanical contraptions built by two kids in the country side far away from the hospital. Meh, we still did it anyways. He told me years later that he knew about it even if we were trying to hide it.
@erik_dk842 Oh yes he did tell me when I was 25. I couldn't have a three wheeler (popular at the time) because he was afraid i'd kill myself on the damn thing. I ended up buying one at 18. I ended up owning 5 in my life. Always treated the vehicles I ride with caution and respect. Will never change the fact that the lawnmower engine belt driven bicycle we built in the summer of 1992 was my favorite project ever! We had a banana seat so both of could ride at about 25 miles an hour to our favorite fishing spot. Youth an all that.
Indeed, the 420 Predator would be better for power, but it wont fit without cutting up the aluminum chassis. The goal on this build is to make a street cruiser and the little 212cc engine will have to do right now. In the future we will get an EZGO with a steel chassis and have a bit more fun.
Tell me about it, cold is relative to ones latitude. Where I live (Montana), cold begins at 0F/-18C and has dropped to -42F/-41C. It is currently (as of 1-26-2025 7:43AM) 4F/-16C, pretty warm for January.
Sad to hear you mention the incentive part, but certainly understandable ... Yours is one of the most creative and original channels on the 'tube, IMHO. But even with the incentive, much like ToT, you can't be faulted when the creativity sputters and gives out. I think my life was destined to only have about 2 good ideas, and I used them up years ago.
Diesel version would be great for people who only use it through part of the year too, since it's less likely to fight you when the time comes to start it next and you forgot to drain the fuel, etc.
I built a "big block" Carryall. Gas original. 18 HP Briggs twin with high rev kit. New clutches and put high speed gears in it. It was lifted and had oversized tires. It was cool, sounded like a Harley and was the most dangerous thing I've ever driven! I clocked it at 50+ MPH using phone gps. It was a mistake building it that way because I couldn't let my kids drive it. Not even with me in the buggy with them. It was that dangerous to drive. I ended up selling it pretty quickly. Love this series. I think it's genius. I think Id want a 10 HP motor and little more "juice" though. There I go again.
lol, nothing wrong with the desire for adding more power, however when you start considering dropping in an LS then you may have a problem. I think 25-30 mph is probably the fastest you really want to go on one of these things.
A few notes for those following along The electric motor is a "series motor". These things tend to make an output torque that runs as something like the square of the current. At low speeds it only takes a lowish voltage to get the motor to draw a large current. The result is that at low speeds the thing will really dig in its heals and pull. It is almost like you have an automatic transmission in the system and you are in 1st gear. The torque the engine has to make to turn the alternator varies as something like the current being sent to the motor times the rotor current of the alternator. The voltage out of the alternator also varies with the rotor current so at low speeds where you need low motor voltage, the rotor current can be lowish and the alternator output largish so the engine can turn the alternator when it is making the largish current you need when starting off. As your speed starts to get closer to Mach-1, the electric motor will only draw a reasonable current even if you take the voltage up to 48 volts. The rotor current on the alternator can be high and the engine will still be able to spin it because the output current is reasonable. This is a situation very like you have put your transmission into overdrive. These guys are keeping the engine RPM at 3600. No law says you can't increase this to perhaps as much as 3745 to get more power for drag racing. For those who don't know what drag racing is, this is where a man dresses up like a woman and drives really really fast.
On the prototype we saw 60 volts at 50 amps (3000 watts) at full speed with the engine running at 3600 rpm (max HP) . Way back in season one we actually dyno tested the 212cc engine and going beyond 3600 rpm the HP starts to drop off. The camshaft pretty much limits the stock engine from making more power above 3600 RPM. Right now we are OK with 3600 rpm, however I do have a modified cam in my stash to help the engine make more power above 3600 rpm.
@@robotcantina8957 so you’re getting 4.0 HP (electrical) from a 212cc engine rated at 6.5 HP @3600 rpm. implying the efficiency of the alternator/pulleys/belt is 60%, which sounds about right. It looks like your pulley ratio is 2:1 (?) so the alternator is spinning around 7200 rpm, which should be very close to peak current output. All-in-all looks like an optimal setup for peak efficiency and output, with measured output matching up with expected output! Maybe put a wide-band O2 sensor in the exhaust header so you can monitor mixer vs. electrical output in order to optimize engine tune?
@@kimsmoke17 I'm looking forward to loads of data logging and testing... I'd love to see figures for it running laps at different speeds to see the difference in fuel consumption figures, current/voltage/speed/acceleration graphs, etc. I'm curious whether the fuel economy can be governed by setting a maximum power output, or using software to adjust the current and voltage output vs speed and acceleration demands... All that good stuff.
If there's one thing I've learned about living in Kansas, it's that predicting the local weather is a dicey situation. The state is flat, and located in the middle of the country so we get air masses from everywhere coming in to duke it out. I'm just glad enough that my neighborhood streets have cleared up enough that I can take my bike out.
Yeah, I live in rural western Montana, and here it's either put my motorcycle on a trailer and head south for a long weekend, or wait until April or May.
My idea to "calibrate" acceleration with analog components would be adding micro switch to governor for testing if motor is full load. If motor is full load then use relay to switch resistor to alternator control voltage to limit alternator power intake. Then calibration would be looking best size resistor so that engine does not stall.
@@joey66436 Wouldn't a bolt limiting travel only work for the load (weight and slope) it's been calibrated for? And possibly even vary by speed? Or is my mind adding some complexity that doesn't exist in reality?
@@tin2001 yes you are right. I actually wrote it before the video ended and he explained the balance of slowly being able to apply the throttle. I think an easy way would be to use a MAP (manifold pressure) sensor off say, a GM car. They output voltage is proportional to engine vacuum. If the voltage goes too high or low (forget which way around they run) it could switch in a resistor as you were saying. Another purely mechanical way would be some sort of centrifugal switch that switches in resistors if rpm drops too far. I know he doesn't want to use a microcontrroller on this one.
It's cool that you found a matching extinguisher but it may make it hard to find in an emergency. In my Minnesota town driving a golf cart on the streets means you over 80 years old so you may find the 70 year olds start to bully you. Good luck.
Wow them bots sure love Robot Cantina... Hey wait, I think I see a connection. All kidding aside, well done getting that beast to move on a cold winter's day.
@@robotcantina8957 HA, Last year Scotty Kilmer would get 20+ prostitute bots post as soon as his video posted every time. So quickly that they had to be from YT itselft. A different nearly naked profile pic and the same three emojis on each one. It was kinda funny and as long as your kids didn't use your account to watch YT they were innocuous.
For peak transient loads add a large mechanical capacitor (heavy flywheel) to the predator. For balancing max acceleration with stalling the engine maybe use a map sensor (analog voltage output) to switch in a resistor when vacuum drops below an adjustable setpoint (stop stalling)
Excellent presentation. Thank you. We all know you are doing prototype work on a kit for Teslas, Leafs and other EVs when they start needing the inevitable battery replacements.
If you cut the front off the golf trike (from previous episodes) then attach the rear to the back of this golf cart you'll have a 6-wheeled golf cart with twice the power that you currently have.
Nice to see the Club Car moving around with the Petroleum Batteries. Looking forward to seeing the refinement of the design in the pursuit of speed. Thanks for the Videos, Jim.
Brilliant! It's like an old Owen Magnetic (see Jay Leno's Garage episode). I wonder if a little diesel or propane generator engine would work as well. It would be interesting to see the simple system put into a light little car.
VW still sells the plastic tubes that they installed around thier air cooled exhausts. You split the end over the pipe and metal hose clamp it in place. The other end could either exit under the seat or at the petals to warm your feet. They are four inches in diameter and just scoop the air coming from the cooling fan of the motor.
If you dress up for the cold weather or wait for warm weather I believe you can pick up a lot of performance by removing the windshield and roof from your Club Car. I cruised around a FL housing complex in a battery powered Club Car golf cart 10 years ago. 1 hour was the maximum run time with the windshield and roof installed. 2 hours was the maximum run time with the windshield and roof removed. Really enjoy your shows, Thank you.
I'm looking forward to the tuning episodes, the throttle calibration process is basically running the engine on a dyno so it should be easy to quantify the results in equineforce terms
Diesel electric locomotives proved this concept decades ago. Neat to see it applied to something accessible to the common man. I think this is the way hybrid cars should be.
LOL, that would be nice. I'm told that a normal cart can get up to 20 in about 15 seconds... if you watch the original test we are actually real close to matching the performance already. Stay tuned, I think we can do better.
Ah Sunday morning green tea, bagel & Robot Cantina. I kinda like the idea later on of capacitors & push to pass/ race button. Hybrid petroleum battery golf cart equivalent of a nitrous boost. 😂
Its easy to ignore basic safety on a lot of stuff, but on this buggy we are relying on a cheap PWM power supply and if it goes berserk , full fielding the alternator would be bad, especially with the automatic throttle.
I use one of those dedicated GPS speedometers in a little truck with a metric instrument cluster. The GPS speedometer is very optimistic - about 2.5 mph constant.
You probably already have this planned, but for the throttle control, you could add a delay for throttling down just in case you want to get back on the power going into a turn. It might also be good to have a way to govern the pedal input to keep the engine running at 100% while it is floored.
One reason why you're seeing the engine running lean is because of the cold air. Remember, cold air is much more dense than warm air and carries a lot more oxygen. Love the way this golf cart is turning out. I'd be curious to see how much more current you'd get with a higher output alternator. But with that in mind you might need a more powerful engine. Anyways, nice work as always, Jimbo!! 💪🔥
The engine sets the limit of how much power we can produce. At this point we cannot take advantage of the full potential of the little 140 amp alternator.
I really think there should be a "like" scale. Starting with its worth a click for the effort but little better than no click. Up to Heck Yea thats awesome! that way you would get your full recognition. Definitely awesome! Thanks for taking the time.
To ensure that the motor doesn’t bog down and stall if you plant the gas adding a flywheel will probably help. It should give a buffer and allow the engine to recover if you get off the go pedal in time.
Oofdah ! You are a braver soul than I. I couldnt deal with temps like that. Correction, I could, but wouldnt. This variety of adaptive engineering is extremely cool in my humble opinion. This makes me wonder. Could a 420 predator engine and a 24 volt alternator from old school semi trucks be made or forced to fit in a similar golf cart ? Not for high speeds, just for dragging around a yard or garden trailer. Or maybe, just maybe dragging around a gang of reel mowers. Just speculation on my part of course. Anyway, I hope that you have a fabulous week and keep up the good work. 👍
Good progress Jimbo! Those air cooled engines, when run at 3,600 rpm, make half their noise from the entrails thrashing around and half from the exhaust. Between mounting the engine under the seat and the muffler, the driving experience must be better. I would have controlled the alternator output by sniffing the frequency from one of the alternator windings to feed a frequency to voltage converter to set a load line for the maximum current output. That way the engine can be slowed down when maximum road speed and acceleration is not required. A simple alternator current limit can be accomplished by reducing the alternator feedback voltage.
There is a lot that can be done, however keep in mind we are focused on the simple solutions and right now we are validating the "simple circuit" I would loose too much of my audience if I went too far with the electronics. I'm already seeing bad numbers in my analytical data that youtube sends me.
I reckon that the goal was NOT to adapt a golfcart from electric to gas, but to replace the battery and keep the electric motor. You managed the last brilliantly, which I think was the idea. I would have amputated the electric motor and connected directly a quad 125 cc engine, which comes with reverse included, and costs around five hundred bucks, but that is me and a different goal. So keep up with the good work and making entertaining videos ...
Indeed the goal was to get this jalopy to go down the road without batteries, but YES I agree getting ride of the motor and using something like the quad engine would be better.
I would recommend you see if the fire extinguisher is not expired, or if the powder has not clumped together, they're notorious for not working when a fire breaks out
I used to be a factory tech for floor care equipment that used similar batteries to golf carts, just three times the size. Talk about a back busting job trying to change those. Some of those deep cycle 6 volts were well over 100 pounds.
JImbo, I think you have created the perfect "Dare to 2B different". vehicle for we old pharts getting to & from McD's for our morning McBrkfst gathering. I bet you're going to lament giving the cart back to your sister in law. 🙂
Yeah, it's fun to drive. I might miss it when she gets it back. I really need to get my hands on a cheap EZGO cart with a steel chassis. The aluminum chassis in the Club Car makes it impossible to easily modify so I'm OK with letting it go.
the space behind the axle would be a good place for a fuel tank as there is nothing there. also might be interesting to up the field voltage max on the alt so it pushes a slightly higher voltage to the drive motor like 36>40
Ironically I used to use an EZ-GO for short range trips on a security-tight closed campus years and years ago and can tell you they top out at 18mph without mild fettering of the throttle plates. Timewise I never put it on a stopwatch, but measuring in distance between two known buildings, it was about 400 feet. These models had the start-stop controls, but you could hotrod them with light hovertoes on the accelerator pedal. On that note, I don't recall if I was thinking it on the last vid or wrote it down, but one thing I wanted to try on them way back when was salvaging the gen head and a higher horsepower engine of an unwanted generator set to see what you could squeeze out of 'light attack golf cart'. Yeah, couldn't sell that one to the maintenance guy, but it turned into a One Day idea never to be touched again.
A lot of folks have suggested we try a generator, but keep in mind a generator produces high voltage and low current, on this project we need low voltage and high current. The little alternator is actually better suited for this application.
@@robotcantina8957 Ah, good point. I have no idea if this would work, and it would likely add unnecessary complications to what you're already doing, but off the top of my head, I bet you could salvage an inverter mainboard of a cheap welder and get some juicy amps. That's basically what I do when I need to weld stainless plate is put my welder on the 220/50 line of my generator and the electronics handle the rest since I don't have a second 220 line in our older house.
I think it is awesome. I like the idea of a battery replacement using gasoline. Especially considering the cost of new batteries. Maybe even a gasoline backup in certain situations. Lots of ways it could be used. A cvt would solve the torque/top speed issue if you went gas only. That's how the old Go-Karts were, and probably a lot of other things.
I really like your implementation. Would be fun to use a small turbo diesel to kick up the amps available, and the efficiency, but I think what you have done here is really cool.
Should you add any radiative heat shielding between the wood seat bottom and the exhaust pipe under it? Hard to gauge how close they are so it might not be a problem. Maybe you can change the seat bottom to metal and make it a heated seat or set up a different exhaust routing for some VW style heater box action. Actually you probably do have the excess electrical to install a heated seat element, that would sure be swank!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Rare glimpse in the mirror of our favorite narrator lol great video.
Remember on Home Improvement how Wilson always had half his face blocked by the fence. Maybe we could have eyes only shots looking over something? lol
I bout shit. I've seen every single one of his videos the day he's released it and I can't remember a more complete shot haha made me happy
I was literally thinking like , yay , people can finally put a face to the voice if they never seen jimbo 😅.. very humble dude, he is
@@mastercricket7626 Someone else narrates the videos...
@@Adrenacyde lmfao yeah , the secret jimbo
"I don't think I broke any laws,.....today." Total outlaw.
Need a heat exchanger on the exhaust and a fan to blow warm air on the driver.
VW bug style
Trabant style
I was thinking the same thing 😂
With the engine under the seat it already has heated seats. How about a heated steering wheel.
@@NotthatNeil Exactly what I was thinking! I've experienced the VW Beetle heater in all its glory. Perhaps it just kept my head from freezing off But the rest of me???...... still not so sure lol
Drinking coffee with my wife watching this. She looked over side-eyed, “Did he say petroleum battery?” 😂
Can’t wait for the next installment! Great job!
Puts a smile on face every time he says it... knowing the total uproar if carbon cult members got wind of this 😆
Indeed, I did say Petroleum battery many times. Thanks!
Even she knows it sounds pretty stupid.
Just hear me out Jimbo. I've got four words for you.
Golf. Kart. Racing. Series.
You could be the Cleetus of petroleum-battery-powered golf karts.
😂
LOL, In order to make it into the Cleetus club, I need to get this thing to melt the tires down to the rims... hmmm that's going to take some effort. I cant guarantee that's possible with a little 212cc engine.
@@robotcantina8957Add a smaller high discharge battery as a buffer, like in Toyota hybrids, and you can use it as a boost of sorts. Then you can use the excess power when crusing to charge for the next launch. Capacitors could work too but would be bulky and more expensive but it was what they were going to use for Prius originally.
Nice episode! BTW, that holdover relay that you showed was a Prestolite design. It was designed in the late 60s/early 70s. I was the Product Engineer on that line for a spell in the mid to late 80s. They were oem for Ford and we also sold them to Club Car and EZ Go car. So I spent hours in the drivers seat of those things running tests. It was horrible duty running around outside in the sunshine and fresh air in those balmy Alabama mornings! This cold spell were having would not be a fun time to be out in the seat. peace!
That’s cool, it's always fun to get history on the components used in projects like these.
never ceases to amaze me how the Internet can pull people together over an interesting or wacky project. Thanks for sharing a little piece of history with us.
I love that you put up a "gearstick" graphic with the FWD and REV switch positions like you do with the actual gearstick on your manual cars
LOL, thanks... I want sure anyone would notice that.
"not too shabby" - it's your signature catchphrase lol 😂
I've been working around golf carts for a very long time we used them to haul people around at the auto auction where I work. Most of the golf carts will hit 20 mi an hour in under 15 or 10 seconds the gas-powered golf carts take about 10 seconds. The battery powered golf carts take about 15. And if you adjust the governor on the gas powered golf carts. Like we often do at work. You can hit 30 and 35 in under 15 seconds. Do not get me wrong I really appreciate and like your videos. I watch everyone you put out. You have great ideas about how to repurpose a battery-powered golf cart. And small cars. So please keep making the great videos cannot wait to see the next one. Have a great day🎉😊😊
Thanks for the numbers! I think a reasonable goal would be 15 seconds to get to 20 mph. Right now we are pretty close. Perhaps we can do better.
Thanks for the translation from 30 minutes to 0.5 hour for metric users.
:-D
I wasn't sure anyone would catch that. Bravo!
I chuckled when I saw it! Didn’t go unnoticed by any means 😂
@@robotcantina8957 Many years ago, on April 1st, some radio station started announcing the times as something like "6:15Am Imperial time and 18652 Metric". They were also announcing the switchover to using only metric time would happen next year. It was funny but someone from the department of "waiting for measuring" got in touch and asked that they stop.
Jimbo takes care of all of us, no matter which system one believes in 😎👍
Is that the same as 5 deciHours or 5dH?
This golf cart is one of your most interesting projects, simple, but usable as well.
Your mechanical work on this one is superb.
Thanks for the kind words. I try to keep things simple so I don't spend 6 months on a project.
I wish the youtube community could get you way more subscribers and viewers, would love to see what you could do with more budget.
With that said, I also love the budget builds.
The small budget helps keep the project realistic, but at the same time its almost not worth making these videos because there is no incentive.
@@robotcantina8957 you'd think with how family friendly your content is, that youtube would promote it to the moon. Even if the projects stay budget minded, should be making more than you're probably making. Thanks for everything you do, love your content!
@@Timman57 Ive been leaving@robotcantina in the comments of other channels in an attempt to get people to look Jimbo up. I think it might be helping a little.
I actually found this channel and project from searching a similar type golf cart project that myself and a friend have been brainstorming about. But our idea is more of a gasoline electric hybrid that still has a battery, more like a Prius style drive/charging system. But this idea here is cool as heck too, and fairly simple compared to that.
8:05 so that's the Jimbo we all know and love ❤
I used to work at a golf course. We had gas powered Club Car golf carts. They have 13 HP Kawasaki single cylinder engines with a CVT transmission much like a go kart, except it is attached to a rear differential gearbox which has forwards and reverse gears. The gas pedal activates a starter/generator which is belt driven on the flywheel side of the engine. It is basically a small PMDC motor seen on a treadmill. Unlike a typical starter motor, the starter/generator will act as the alternator when the engine is running. The accelerator petal is cable driven to the engine’s governor which regulates the top speed of the golf cart. When the accelerator is released, the engine will continue to coast until the golf cart is nearly stopped and the engine is turned off. This is all to create a very smooth and quiet transition between starting, driving and stopping the vehicle.
Top speed on these golf carts, we typically keep them around 15 mph for the safety of the golfers and less wear and tear on the equipment and turf. But our maintenance golf course vehicles we have gotten them to go around 30 mph. They have enough power. The reason they have 13 HP is because the golf carts have to be designed to accommodate two adult passengers with their golf gear around the course, and able to traverse across varying terrain.
I personally think 212cc is a bit small for a golf cart. The 13 HP engines we have are 400cc. That’s almost double the displacement of the Predator. If would at least upgrade the engine to the 420cc Predator engine. The extra horsepower will definitely help in both top speed and acceleration in this project without stalling the engine.
Hi there, I was thinking the same at first but then I realized that there will reach a limit eventually, and the engine could get too big for the alternator / electric motor drive combo.
I think the goal of this project is to see what can be achieved with as small of a motor as possible and maximize efficiency. With his experience in micro controllers, Jimbo is well suited for this. I mean, he's essentially testing everything I wanted to try when I was a teenager.
When I was a teenager, we didn't have access to fancy electronics! We made everything work with old donated pulleys, belts and old engines people didn't want anymore. That and doing this covertly. My father didn't want me to ride an mechanical contraptions built by two kids in the country side far away from the hospital. Meh, we still did it anyways. He told me years later that he knew about it even if we were trying to hide it.
@@msamour He was secretly proud of you.
@erik_dk842 Oh yes he did tell me when I was 25. I couldn't have a three wheeler (popular at the time) because he was afraid i'd kill myself on the damn thing. I ended up buying one at 18. I ended up owning 5 in my life. Always treated the vehicles I ride with caution and respect. Will never change the fact that the lawnmower engine belt driven bicycle we built in the summer of 1992 was my favorite project ever! We had a banana seat so both of could ride at about 25 miles an hour to our favorite fishing spot. Youth an all that.
Indeed, the 420 Predator would be better for power, but it wont fit without cutting up the aluminum chassis. The goal on this build is to make a street cruiser and the little 212cc engine will have to do right now. In the future we will get an EZGO with a steel chassis and have a bit more fun.
@robotcantina8957 looking forward to that!
That ain't cold, I live at the arctic circle, northern Sweden. That's the best winter day we can wish for lol 😂
Tell me about it, cold is relative to ones latitude. Where I live (Montana), cold begins at 0F/-18C and has dropped to -42F/-41C. It is currently (as of 1-26-2025 7:43AM) 4F/-16C, pretty warm for January.
I’ve decided I’m a big baby about the cold and that anything below 20 degrees F is too cold.
@NotthatNeil Lol so just around freezing then 😂
Yeah I reckon -1C is like summer over there. LOL
So what's the best car for winter driving in Northern Sweden?
Sad to hear you mention the incentive part, but certainly understandable ... Yours is one of the most creative and original channels on the 'tube, IMHO. But even with the incentive, much like ToT, you can't be faulted when the creativity sputters and gives out. I think my life was destined to only have about 2 good ideas, and I used them up years ago.
I can not wait for the little diesel version of the petroleum battery version of this you are really on to something here jimbo
thanks!
Diesel version would be great for people who only use it through part of the year too, since it's less likely to fight you when the time comes to start it next and you forgot to drain the fuel, etc.
"Floor it and enjoy the ride." I like it.
I built a "big block" Carryall. Gas original. 18 HP Briggs twin with high rev kit. New clutches and put high speed gears in it. It was lifted and had oversized tires. It was cool, sounded like a Harley and was the most dangerous thing I've ever driven! I clocked it at 50+ MPH using phone gps. It was a mistake building it that way because I couldn't let my kids drive it. Not even with me in the buggy with them. It was that dangerous to drive. I ended up selling it pretty quickly. Love this series. I think it's genius. I think Id want a 10 HP motor and little more "juice" though. There I go again.
lol, nothing wrong with the desire for adding more power, however when you start considering dropping in an LS then you may have a problem. I think 25-30 mph is probably the fastest you really want to go on one of these things.
agree 100%. Great job with your videos! I really liked the predator civic project too.
A few notes for those following along
The electric motor is a "series motor". These things tend to make an output torque that runs as something like the square of the current. At low speeds it only takes a lowish voltage to get the motor to draw a large current. The result is that at low speeds the thing will really dig in its heals and pull. It is almost like you have an automatic transmission in the system and you are in 1st gear.
The torque the engine has to make to turn the alternator varies as something like the current being sent to the motor times the rotor current of the alternator. The voltage out of the alternator also varies with the rotor current so at low speeds where you need low motor voltage, the rotor current can be lowish and the alternator output largish so the engine can turn the alternator when it is making the largish current you need when starting off.
As your speed starts to get closer to Mach-1, the electric motor will only draw a reasonable current even if you take the voltage up to 48 volts. The rotor current on the alternator can be high and the engine will still be able to spin it because the output current is reasonable. This is a situation very like you have put your transmission into overdrive.
These guys are keeping the engine RPM at 3600. No law says you can't increase this to perhaps as much as 3745 to get more power for drag racing.
For those who don't know what drag racing is, this is where a man dresses up like a woman and drives really really fast.
On the prototype we saw 60 volts at 50 amps (3000 watts) at full speed with the engine running at 3600 rpm (max HP) . Way back in season one we actually dyno tested the 212cc engine and going beyond 3600 rpm the HP starts to drop off. The camshaft pretty much limits the stock engine from making more power above 3600 RPM. Right now we are OK with 3600 rpm, however I do have a modified cam in my stash to help the engine make more power above 3600 rpm.
@@robotcantina8957 so you’re getting 4.0 HP (electrical) from a 212cc engine rated at 6.5 HP @3600 rpm. implying the efficiency of the alternator/pulleys/belt is 60%, which sounds about right. It looks like your pulley ratio is 2:1 (?) so the alternator is spinning around 7200 rpm, which should be very close to peak current output. All-in-all looks like an optimal setup for peak efficiency and output, with measured output matching up with expected output! Maybe put a wide-band O2 sensor in the exhaust header so you can monitor mixer vs. electrical output in order to optimize engine tune?
@@kimsmoke17
I'm looking forward to loads of data logging and testing... I'd love to see figures for it running laps at different speeds to see the difference in fuel consumption figures, current/voltage/speed/acceleration graphs, etc.
I'm curious whether the fuel economy can be governed by setting a maximum power output, or using software to adjust the current and voltage output vs speed and acceleration demands... All that good stuff.
no fair ending on a giant teaser like that about the jetting!
If there's one thing I've learned about living in Kansas, it's that predicting the local weather is a dicey situation. The state is flat, and located in the middle of the country so we get air masses from everywhere coming in to duke it out. I'm just glad enough that my neighborhood streets have cleared up enough that I can take my bike out.
Yeah, I live in rural western Montana, and here it's either put my motorcycle on a trailer and head south for a long weekend, or wait until April or May.
My idea to "calibrate" acceleration with analog components would be adding micro switch to governor for testing if motor is full load. If motor is full load then use relay to switch resistor to alternator control voltage to limit alternator power intake. Then calibration would be looking best size resistor so that engine does not stall.
I think you have a very interesting idea!
Maybe, instead of a switch, have the last put of travel work a variable resistor that lowers the setting on the PWM
Just use a bolt to limit max accelerator position? -- Or add a large mechanical capacitor (heavy flywheel) to the predator.
@@joey66436
Wouldn't a bolt limiting travel only work for the load (weight and slope) it's been calibrated for? And possibly even vary by speed?
Or is my mind adding some complexity that doesn't exist in reality?
@@tin2001 yes you are right. I actually wrote it before the video ended and he explained the balance of slowly being able to apply the throttle. I think an easy way would be to use a MAP (manifold pressure) sensor off say, a GM car. They output voltage is proportional to engine vacuum. If the voltage goes too high or low (forget which way around they run) it could switch in a resistor as you were saying. Another purely mechanical way would be some sort of centrifugal switch that switches in resistors if rpm drops too far. I know he doesn't want to use a microcontrroller on this one.
It's cool that you found a matching extinguisher but it may make it hard to find in an emergency. In my Minnesota town driving a golf cart on the streets means you over 80 years old so you may find the 70 year olds start to bully you. Good luck.
hmmm, I may try racing a few of the locals for some extra cash.
Wow them bots sure love Robot Cantina... Hey wait, I think I see a connection.
All kidding aside, well done getting that beast to move on a cold winter's day.
I'm not sure what is going on with the BOTS. I'll delete there comments in a moment.
@@robotcantina8957 HA, Last year Scotty Kilmer would get 20+ prostitute bots post as soon as his video posted every time. So quickly that they had to be from YT itselft. A different nearly naked profile pic and the same three emojis on each one. It was kinda funny and as long as your kids didn't use your account to watch YT they were innocuous.
For peak transient loads add a large mechanical capacitor (heavy flywheel) to the predator. For balancing max acceleration with stalling the engine maybe use a map sensor (analog voltage output) to switch in a resistor when vacuum drops below an adjustable setpoint (stop stalling)
Excellent presentation. Thank you. We all know you are doing prototype work on a kit for Teslas, Leafs and other EVs when they start needing the inevitable battery replacements.
tesla diesel electric
@@marianarcas Detroit 2-stroke
If he is, he’s going to make a mint. Pray, pray it’s true!
@@marianarcas Tesla truck with a 3 cyl Kubota?
I think it was Wraped perception mounted a diesel generator on one as a range extender.
Thanks. Does the engine keep your butt warm when driving in the cold?😂
hmmm, I didn't notice. I'll likely notice when the weather gets warmer.
@@robotcantina8957 some dynamat like material works wonders.
@@robotcantina8957 Your invention has "heated seats" with no subscription needed
what a nice way to start the day, hot cofee an a new vid
Can't wait to see how the aluminum cart accelerates with the new intake and exhaust, keep up the good work jimbo!
Every Saturday I look forward to when a vid is gonna drop.
Makes my day.
If you cut the front off the golf trike (from previous episodes) then attach the rear to the back of this golf cart you'll have a 6-wheeled golf cart with twice the power that you currently have.
Nice to see the Club Car moving around with the Petroleum Batteries. Looking forward to seeing the refinement of the design in the pursuit of speed. Thanks for the Videos, Jim.
My man! You refrained from using "meh" through this video! Loved it!
Just for you.
You should add black dots on it call it ladybug.
Well done Jimbo!. Another piece of art revealed to the world. Keep up the good work 😎
That's a huge improvement at the end, awesome 👍
Brilliant! It's like an old Owen Magnetic (see Jay Leno's Garage episode). I wonder if a little diesel or propane generator engine would work as well. It would be interesting to see the simple system put into a light little car.
My Golf cart (2020 rxv) was tuned for 25.5mph. It's takes about 4 to 5 seconds to reach that speed.
Thanks so much for the info!
That's quite fast. The ones I've used were more like ten seconds to reach top speed
@@erik_dk842 rxv tuner helps the acceleration and top speed paired with a good battery.
If love to see it **try** to go through some snow! 😁😂
I was almost wishing you had repurposed some of that engine heat for a cabin heater Jimbo. Brrrr.
VW still sells the plastic tubes that they installed around thier air cooled exhausts. You split the end over the pipe and metal hose clamp it in place. The other end could either exit under the seat or at the petals to warm your feet. They are four inches in diameter and just scoop the air coming from the cooling fan of the motor.
If you dress up for the cold weather or wait for warm weather I believe you can pick up a lot of performance by removing the windshield and roof from your Club Car. I cruised around a FL housing complex in a battery powered Club Car golf cart 10 years ago. 1 hour was the maximum run time with the windshield and roof installed. 2 hours was the maximum run time with the windshield and roof removed. Really enjoy your shows, Thank you.
Yeah, I suspect the windshield is slowing the rig down. LOL, Right now I'm not willing to give it up, I hope you understand.
I literally said as you “launched” across Kansas Avenue, “Wow, Jimbo’s gettin’ pretty bold, racing through Downtown!” 😄
Thanks for this video! It was as brilliant as always!
P.S. The simple way is good, but I think it ends in a german way. 😍
I totally agree!
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
I'm looking forward to the tuning episodes, the throttle calibration process is basically running the engine on a dyno so it should be easy to quantify the results in equineforce terms
Watching these episodes on the petroleum battery is a real gas!😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Waaaaaaait a minute. It has reverse!?!? Jimbo stepping it up i see.
Hell yeah, reverse is the way to go.... if you want to back up.
Great episode, thanks Jimbo 👍 The POV shots of you cruising around the neighbourhood in that mad golf cart were epic 😊
Thanks 👍
The seat backs are mint!
Yes they are! The golf cart is very comfortable to drive and the setbacks provide awesome support.
Diesel electric locomotives proved this concept decades ago. Neat to see it applied to something accessible to the common man. I think this is the way hybrid cars should be.
Thank you again for putting in Metric conversions!
I like the 8 second speed test at the end. Jimbo's fastest build yet 😂😂😂
LOL, that would be nice. I'm told that a normal cart can get up to 20 in about 15 seconds... if you watch the original test we are actually real close to matching the performance already. Stay tuned, I think we can do better.
I really appreciate your tinkering with perfectly usable equipment. Dan Ricketts and your channel should do a collab for power chairs with this.
I am pretty sure I know just about everything. I watch you because you know more. Respect is earned, and you have all of mine.
Thanks!
Ah Sunday morning green tea, bagel & Robot Cantina. I kinda like the idea later on of capacitors & push to pass/ race button. Hybrid petroleum battery golf cart equivalent of a nitrous boost. 😂
Damn it! Captain Crunch is the *official* channel breakfast!
Thankyou,I look forward to Sundays.
Enjoy!
pretty cool that stopping the phone recording stopped the engine sound.
Indeed, the "sound" was being captured by the phone. The microphone on the POV camera sucks. Glad you noticed that.
It was -25°f here last week…..there has been NO tinkering going on in my garage lately! 😂 good to see somebody getting something done 👍
Right on!, stay warm!
3rd non bot comment. Loving the progress, white polka dot stickering when
Great to see this coming along nicely. And nice to see those safety features and E-stops included.
Its easy to ignore basic safety on a lot of stuff, but on this buggy we are relying on a cheap PWM power supply and if it goes berserk , full fielding the alternator would be bad, especially with the automatic throttle.
I use one of those dedicated GPS speedometers in a little truck with a metric instrument cluster. The GPS speedometer is very optimistic - about 2.5 mph constant.
You can calibrate them. The one we are using was calibrated. I'm also going to connect a bicycle speedo so we can keep track on the distance.
@@robotcantina8957 Aha! You got the deluxe Chinese GPS speedometer. Mine only has a MPH/KPH switch - no calibration. 😁
Best outro music ever ! I love this channel
Do your neighbors ever come out and inquire about you contraptions? I know I would 😎
Not really, A year ago one of them stopped me when I was driving the Renault because they wanted to have a better look at the car.
@robotcantina8957 I feel like we'd be hanging out turning wrenches 🤣🤣
Take care! Love the vids.
You probably already have this planned, but for the throttle control, you could add a delay for throttling down just in case you want to get back on the power going into a turn. It might also be good to have a way to govern the pedal input to keep the engine running at 100% while it is floored.
One reason why you're seeing the engine running lean is because of the cold air. Remember, cold air is much more dense than warm air and carries a lot more oxygen. Love the way this golf cart is turning out. I'd be curious to see how much more current you'd get with a higher output alternator. But with that in mind you might need a more powerful engine. Anyways, nice work as always, Jimbo!! 💪🔥
The engine sets the limit of how much power we can produce. At this point we cannot take advantage of the full potential of the little 140 amp alternator.
My Sundays are better because of this channel. Wish I had the money to support you!
I really think there should be a "like" scale. Starting with its worth a click for the effort but little better than no click. Up to Heck Yea thats awesome! that way you would get your full recognition. Definitely awesome! Thanks for taking the time.
Thanks!
To ensure that the motor doesn’t bog down and stall if you plant the gas adding a flywheel will probably help.
It should give a buffer and allow the engine to recover if you get off the go pedal in time.
As an old saying goes "The only job where you can be wrong all the time and still employed is as a weatherman" or something to that effect
Indeed,
Oofdah !
You are a braver soul than I.
I couldnt deal with temps like that.
Correction, I could, but wouldnt.
This variety of adaptive engineering is extremely cool in my humble opinion.
This makes me wonder.
Could a 420 predator engine and a 24 volt alternator from old school semi trucks be made or forced to fit in a similar golf cart ?
Not for high speeds, just for dragging around a yard or garden trailer.
Or maybe, just maybe dragging around a gang of reel mowers.
Just speculation on my part of course.
Anyway, I hope that you have a fabulous week and keep up the good work. 👍
Good progress Jimbo! Those air cooled engines, when run at 3,600 rpm, make half their noise from the entrails thrashing around and half from the exhaust. Between mounting the engine under the seat and the muffler, the driving experience must be better.
I would have controlled the alternator output by sniffing the frequency from one of the alternator windings to feed a frequency to voltage converter to set a load line for the maximum current output. That way the engine can be slowed down when maximum road speed and acceleration is not required. A simple alternator current limit can be accomplished by reducing the alternator feedback voltage.
There is a lot that can be done, however keep in mind we are focused on the simple solutions and right now we are validating the "simple circuit" I would loose too much of my audience if I went too far with the electronics. I'm already seeing bad numbers in my analytical data that youtube sends me.
@robotcantina8957 I understand, thanks for your response!
Hey Jimbo 👋🏻
Hey Sam!
I think you could add some heat sheilding to eother the exhaust manifold or the underside of the seat
Winter is a little "extra" this year. Hope you're staying warm!
I'm bundled up, but its not too bad in the shop!
California says they're staying real warm
I reckon that the goal was NOT to adapt a golfcart from electric to gas, but to replace the battery and keep the electric motor. You managed the last brilliantly, which I think was the idea. I would have amputated the electric motor and connected directly a quad 125 cc engine, which comes with reverse included, and costs around five hundred bucks, but that is me and a different goal. So keep up with the good work and making entertaining videos ...
Indeed the goal was to get this jalopy to go down the road without batteries, but YES I agree getting ride of the motor and using something like the quad engine would be better.
Thanks for the video. This is a very interesting project. 👍
I would recommend you see if the fire extinguisher is not expired, or if the powder has not clumped together, they're notorious for not working when a fire breaks out
It's extremely expired, perhaps I should update it.
Might want to add a heat shield under the seat to deflect heat from plywood. Or make holes in plywood for heated seated 😂
It's so good and with your future fiddling (modifications) it should be even better. Excellent fun, if a bit breezy. 😊👍
I used to be a factory tech for floor care equipment that used similar batteries to golf carts, just three times the size. Talk about a back busting job trying to change those. Some of those deep cycle 6 volts were well over 100 pounds.
Jimbo. Cool 😎
Yep. Nice and warm here in Australia. 37C today 😅
How could anybody criticise that cute little cart?
People do. I suspect they don't like the idea of getting rid of the batteries.
Love the mechanical, hate the electronics but I'll admit I'm hooked either way 👍🇬🇧🇺🇲
Thanks, I really try to keep the electrical as simple as possible, however there is a limit to how simple it can be.
Great stuff.
Are you having any heat issues with the engine?
Not yet. Removing the recoil starter will get the engine to run cooler.
I would 100% work for you. I love this dedign. We could make a fortune in The Villages, FL.
Another entertaining and educational video! I saw a Snowman pop up at the end, he is not allies with the gnomes is he, keep an eye on him...
This time of the year, the snow men are a bigger problem than the garden gnomes.
JImbo, I think you have created the perfect "Dare to 2B different". vehicle for we old pharts getting to & from McD's for our morning McBrkfst gathering. I bet you're going to lament giving the cart back to your sister in law. 🙂
Yeah, it's fun to drive. I might miss it when she gets it back. I really need to get my hands on a cheap EZGO cart with a steel chassis. The aluminum chassis in the Club Car makes it impossible to easily modify so I'm OK with letting it go.
You should show a side by side (video) drag race of the 212cc battery and 212cc prius!
Just great. Yeah, I love your videos.
the space behind the axle would be a good place for a fuel tank as there is nothing there. also might be interesting to up the field voltage max on the alt so it pushes a slightly higher voltage to the drive motor like 36>40
On the alternator we are seeing close to 60 volts at 50 amps at top speed.
Ironically I used to use an EZ-GO for short range trips on a security-tight closed campus years and years ago and can tell you they top out at 18mph without mild fettering of the throttle plates. Timewise I never put it on a stopwatch, but measuring in distance between two known buildings, it was about 400 feet. These models had the start-stop controls, but you could hotrod them with light hovertoes on the accelerator pedal.
On that note, I don't recall if I was thinking it on the last vid or wrote it down, but one thing I wanted to try on them way back when was salvaging the gen head and a higher horsepower engine of an unwanted generator set to see what you could squeeze out of 'light attack golf cart'. Yeah, couldn't sell that one to the maintenance guy, but it turned into a One Day idea never to be touched again.
A lot of folks have suggested we try a generator, but keep in mind a generator produces high voltage and low current, on this project we need low voltage and high current. The little alternator is actually better suited for this application.
@@robotcantina8957 Ah, good point. I have no idea if this would work, and it would likely add unnecessary complications to what you're already doing, but off the top of my head, I bet you could salvage an inverter mainboard of a cheap welder and get some juicy amps. That's basically what I do when I need to weld stainless plate is put my welder on the 220/50 line of my generator and the electronics handle the rest since I don't have a second 220 line in our older house.
Face reveal. I see an icecube in the mirror. Lol
Looking forward to your next video
I think it is awesome.
I like the idea of a battery replacement using gasoline. Especially considering the cost of new batteries. Maybe even a gasoline backup in certain situations. Lots of ways it could be used.
A cvt would solve the torque/top speed issue if you went gas only. That's how the old Go-Karts were, and probably a lot of other things.
I really like your implementation. Would be fun to use a small turbo diesel to kick up the amps available, and the efficiency, but I think what you have done here is really cool.
“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” -Ben Hogan
Interesting...
Looks so much better without the wheel trims.
Just one? step away from Diesel-Electric :-))) Nice Build!
Should you add any radiative heat shielding between the wood seat bottom and the exhaust pipe under it? Hard to gauge how close they are so it might not be a problem. Maybe you can change the seat bottom to metal and make it a heated seat or set up a different exhaust routing for some VW style heater box action. Actually you probably do have the excess electrical to install a heated seat element, that would sure be swank!