How to Repower a Golf Cart

Small engines like a golf cart motor often have issues with excessive wear without a regime of proper maintenance. Golf cart engines commonly have problems with the electrical system, which means they just won't start. Exposure to moisture without routine maintenance of the wire harness causes failure of the whole engine. When repowering rather than replacing the engine, you will find dramatic improvements in running conditions as well as save money. A rebuilt engine gives better results and costs less. Repowering kits are available, but a weekend mechanic doesn't need a kit -- just the time.

Things You'll Need

  • 11-horsepower engine
  • Brake cleaner spray
  • Clean clothes
  • Manual starter
  • Drive belt
  • Starter generator belt
  • Choke cable
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a small engine that is not the traditional flat-head side-valve engine that many golf carts operate with and replace the current engine with the new one. By choosing an 11-horsepower engine rather than a single-cylinder engine, you increase the power of the golf cart tenfold. An 11-hp overhead engine is quieter, releases fewer emissions, consumes less fuel and has a longer life than a single-cylinder engine.

    • 2

      Look to see how much carbon buildup is on the engine. Carbon buildup reduces the engine's power. Clean the carbon off the engine with some brake-cleaning spray and a clean cloth. Just a simple cleaning will help the engine run better and with more power.

    • 3

      Check to see if the engine is running hot. An 11-hp engine runs cooler than a single-cylinder engine; replace the current engine with a larger engine with a greater oil capacity. The 11-hp engine has an oil capacity of 2 quarts, which a single-cylinder engine doesn't have. The extra oil ensures a higher quality of cooling of the engine components. The extra oil also provides additional lubrication, which reduces wear and tear on the engine. Some 11-hp engines even have a oil filter. The oil filter helps keep the oil from breaking down in the engine. More oil running through the engine means greater power.

    • 4

      Take off the electric starter and add a manual start option. A manual start uses a recoil system that does not have the same malfunction issues an electric start has. A manual starter is more consistent. Sometimes repowering is simply making sure the engine starts every time.

    • 5

      Inspect the drive belt, the starter generator belt and the choke cable to see if they have any wear. Replacement of these components can enhance the power of the golf cart.