8:1 Speed Gear or New Motor for Speed

[runbike4fit]

This is what I’ve had done to my cart over the years.

1995 EZGO 36 volt Medalist DCS.
Added rear seat and extended roof.
Converted from 36 volt to Eco Battery 48V 105 Ah LifePo4 Lithium Battery Bundle Kit
Alltrax XCT 500 controller
MZJ400 solenoid
D&D 170-502-0001 High Torque motor
Jake’s 3 inch lift kit
12" TREMOR Matte Black Aluminum Wheels and 22x9.5-12" ELITE Street DOT Tires Combo

It gets up to 25mph on flats and drops to 17 on moderately steep hills. I drive mostly on asphalt and grass. It’s usually just me, my wife and occasionally 2 small grandchildren onboard.


I would like if the cart were about 5 to 10 mph faster, especially uphill. Would an 8:1 speed gear be the best for my setup or would a better motor for speed be the way to go?

Thanks!

[ojo]

A speed gear wouldn't help here, especially uphill. A lower gear ratio will cost you a lot of torque what you need on hills. An AC conversion would give you more speed and more torque, but it's expensive.

[Capt. Lenny]

Any motor combination will lose speed going up hill it’s just the nature of things. You have a torque motor so you should notice it less. When running a DC motor you have a choice more speed or more torque, you don’t get both so you have to build for what you need. With AC you’ll get both but as Ojo said, it comes at a price. I think I remember reading a thread on this forum where someone did exactly what you want to do. Maybe try doing a Google search and see if you can find it. Your only other option is to sell your DC parts and convert to a Navitas, Alltrax or Silverwolf AC setup.

[Volt_Ampere]

I would not go with a speed gear. You lose way too much torque for hill climbing. IMO your cart is fast enough.

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by runbike4fit

It gets up to 25mph on flats and drops to 17 on moderately steep hills.

I would like if the cart were about 5 to 10 mph faster, especially uphill.

although mine isn't a lithium set up....I upgraded my cart years ago from 36v to 48v and up to a 500 A controller and the same solenoid.....AND I primarily run on the streets of my neighborhood, I get off the beaten path on the grass.

NOW....changing out the gears isn't the way to go.......and you can get a little more speed on the flats with a high speed motor, as I did, I get to 30.....but the speed will cost a little torque on the hills.......so its one or the other, you can't have both with a DC set-up.