Sluggish ride

[mdaddyrabbit]

I charge my batteries until they are full and the charger kicks out. When I ride on the cement or asphalt it runs well but when on grass or on a hill it slows to a crawl. What do you guys think is my issue?

1993 Marathon
2009 batteries

[Sir Nuke]

the fact that your batteries are 4 - 5 years old.

[mdaddyrabbit]

How do I check these batteries to determine if they are the culprit?

[720Deere]

Check your pack voltage 12 hours after fully charged. You should see at least 37.5 volts. Then you need to check each battery individually to see if one or several are weak.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Originally Posted by 720Deere

Check your pack voltage 12 hours after fully charged. You should see at least 37.5 volts. Then you need to check each battery individually to see if one or several are weak.

What is the method for checking for the 37.5 volts?

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by mdaddyrabbit

What is the method for checking for the 37.5 volts?

if you don't have a DVM installed in your carts dash......just use your hand held DVM across the entire pack. from the + of the first battery to the - of the last one.

[mdaddyrabbit]

I forgot to mention, when I charge the cart the smell in my building is nearly unbearable. Cross between rotten eggs and metal smell...almost scared to walk in the building. Is this normal?

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by mdaddyrabbit

I forgot to mention, when I charge the cart the smell in my building is nearly unbearable. Cross between rotten eggs and metal smell...almost scared to walk in the building. Is this normal?

no....that strong.

have you checked the water level recently?

do you charge the cart with the seat down?

[radioman]

Originally Posted by mdaddyrabbit

I forgot to mention, when I charge the cart the smell in my building is nearly unbearable. Cross between rotten eggs and metal smell...almost scared to walk in the building. Is this normal?

That is hydrogen sulfide you smell. Don't do anything to create a spark around them when they are gassing.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Originally Posted by radioman

That is hydrogen sulfide you smell. Don't do anything to create a spark around them when they are gassing.

It got so bad last week I opened the garage door and the entry door of my shop. The strong smell was different this last time because there was no water in the batteries. I really regret not thinking of that but I just messed up.

This is the cart I bought for my daughter's Christmas. I ended up totally restoring the entire cart....everything but the batteries. Since Christmas she has only been able to enjoy it because of so much rain and cold here and my yard is so spongy that the cart goes down 2-3 inches in many spots.

If it ever warms up and stops raining I would love for her to be able to enjoy it but if I have fried the batteries she may be in trouble since my money is short.