There is so much I don’t know
 

Questions from a newbie on my Culb Car DS 2002 48 V

1) got a clunking sound in the front end when in turn the wheel at slow speed, not all the time but sometimes.
Could this just be in need of a front end lube ?
What type of grease should I use in the gun ?
2) My key turns to the right and left. When I turn it to the right I can engage forward and reverse and the accessories work. When I turn the key to the left it does not engage forward or reverse but the accessories work. Why ?
3)I have a flip down front windshield, why would I want to flip it down ? To eat more bugs ?

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

1) you'll have to be a bit more specific about the clunking!
2) your keyswitch is on (right) and off (left) which tells me that your accessories (voltage reducer) is/are wired directly to the batteries.
3) the fold down windshield gives you a good breeze when it's hot out... keep your mouth closed if you don't need the extra protein!

:thumbup:

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

:thumbup:
Clunking like metal to metal

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

Jack up the front and check the bushings in the King pins. They are likely worn giving you the clunking sound.

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

Someone may have installed an aftermarket key switch so they could run accessories without the cart being "On".
Does your key have teeth like a key for a lock? Most original club car keys are pretty much just a flat blade, no teeth.

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

I agree with Lockman1 that it sounds like your accessories are wired directly to the batteries. Let me expand on that (seeing that you want to learn more):

Accessories generally run on 12V. The cart runs on 48V from the full pack of 6x8V batteries (or 4x12V for some carts). To get the 12V required by the accessories you can run a 48V-12V reducer (the best method) or wire the accessories directly to one or two batteries. This is not preferred because then more power is being drawn from those batteries than from the rest of the batteries in the pack. This makes the pack unbalanced and results in reduced life for the pack. So, not fitting a reducer saves money in the short term but eventually costs more because you need to replace an expensive battery pack sooner than you otherwise would have to.

When a reducer is fitted (or the accessories wired directly to the batteries) it can be done via the on-off switch or not. If it is wired via the on-off switch then the accessories (& reducer) are off when the cart is not being used. If it is wired directly (i.e. not via the on-off switch) then the accessories (or their individual switches) have power all the time. If the accessories are wired through the switch then they are off when the key is off, even if the accessory (like the lights) has been accidentally left switched on at its individual switch. This protects the batteries by ensuring that everything is off if the key is off no matter what position the other switches are in.

As to the fold down windscreen, these carts are originally meant for the golf course and this helps to keep you cool in the hot weather. It is also easier to see a small ball out of a hole than through a dirty windscreen. The speeds available in a standard cart means you wouldn't collect too many bugs anyway.

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

I

I will check that out. If it is the bushing what I can find on the internet it’s a pretty inexpensive and easy DYI job. Thanks

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

I do have teeth so your thought is right.
Thanks

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

Understood, I appreciate the lesson. Like I said I wake up every day and realize there is so much I don’t know and I love to learn.
Would it be an easy switch ( yes I like puns) to put a reducer in now?

Re: There is so much I don’t know
 

Are you sure you don't already have a reducer? Do you have 4 twelve volt batteries?