4 Essential Golf Cart Maintenance Tips
Whether you own a fleet of carts for your golf course or just one for personal use, maintenance is always going to be a key factor. However, there are certain aspects of golf cart maintenance that are not as obvious to newcomers as they are to experienced owners. In fact, the first point on our list may take even some of the more experienced cart owners by surprise.
You Can Find New Parts for Even the Oldest of Models
There are several advantages of owning battery-powered, aka electric golf carts, and longevity is one of the most overlooked ones. Changing old battery packs for new ones is much easier. On the other hand, if you have old gas carts that are now considered to be officially defunct, finding parts for repairs can be very difficult.
Fortunately, there is a viable solution to all your golf cart needs, even if the models seem ancient at this point. Just check with the online retailers as they stock thousands of items across multiple generations of golf carts from several manufacturers. The only point to remember here is that you should always be quick and regular with your older carts’ maintenance and repair requirements. That goes for all carts in general, but old golf carts need more attention to keep them in good service.
Use Smart Fast Chargers
Smart, fast chargers for golf carts help in the same way that they do for other electric vehicles.
1. They allow for fast charging without overheating the battery.
2. Smart chargers cut off the power supply to your golf cart’s charging port automatically to save energy and increase battery life.
3. Smart chargers will prevent battery damage by regulating any abnormal fluctuations in the current flow.
4. These can be programmed to take advantage of the off-peak hours for lowering electricity bills.
5. They can fully charge a golf cart within a previously specified time, while generating the lowest possible amount in electricity bill.
Checking the Water Levels of Each Cart’s Battery is a Mandatory Requirement
Ideally, the water level in a cart’s battery should always be at the level indicator. In case you are not sure about the correct water level, don’t worry, every cart battery has it. Fill it up to the marked water level every time you notice that the water has gone down below it. The water level should at no point be more than half-an-inch above the marker. If you have overfilled the battery beyond that point, gently drain the excess water.
The water level will go down quite frequently, so you will need to check your golf cart’s battery for water levels regularly. There are a few points to note though:
- Only add water after charging your battery
- Be extra careful in making sure that the battery is not plugged in before attempting to add water
- Do not add anything but pure distilled water in your battery
Check the Brake Lines
If you use your golf carts as just that and you do not have much use for them outside the course, then only a yearly brake line check should suffice. In case you also use your cart as an offroad vehicle, get the brake lines checked every three months. Even monthly checks can be necessary for extensive offroad users.
The average golf course is unlikely to fray the brake lines any sooner than a year, but rougher terrains will damage your brake lines much faster. In case you don’t know to check your brake lines, get your cart serviced by a professional. The cart is, after all, a motor vehicle, and off-roading can be very dangerous if your brakes don’t respond as well as they should.