Golf Cart starter solenoid

[donnelly.me]

DL.jpg

First off please excuse my ignorance with computers... I cannot figure out how to rotate this picture This solenoid is for a 1981 EZGO golf cart with a two cycle engine. I can do a lot mechanically but wiring diagrams give me a headache! I'm hoping someone here smarter than me can help me out because I have burned up two solenoids in the last month. If this pic was rotated to the right I will explain what wires are going where. on the left big lug is the cable to the battery and the wire going to the key switch. on the small left lug is a wire going to the coil and a wire going to the start /stop switch that is attached to the gas pedal. On the right big lug is a cable going to the starter and a wire going to the voltage regulator. On the right small lug there was a wire going to ground on the frame. A pal said to unhook that because it may have been the issue but the damage was done by then. I am looking to see if anyone knows the correct way to wire this so my 3rd solenoid can be my last!! Thank you for any help!! Mark

[Alvy]

Donnelly, can you get a wiring diagram for it? I'm sure there's one out there for it by model and or serial number. Not sure if the regulator should have a switched positive as your describing, sounds like that might need to be constant positive but again, no diagram I'm not sure. And the start switch I'm guessing should only be hot for a moment to energize the coil of the solenoid to engage the starter, if it's "staying on" that might cause problems. Golf carts are different birds though. Try to post a schematic and we will help

[R Bedell]

I am curious. Just what model of Cub are you working on...???

[Billy-O]

Several wiring diagrams for EZ-GO carts on internet. You'll need to google up the wiring diagram specific to the cart you're messed up on!

My hunch is something's gotta disengage the solenoid once the gas motor starts and it ain't.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Billy-O

Several wiring diagrams for EZ-GO carts on internet. You'll need to google up the wiring diagram specific to the cart you're messed up on!

My hunch is something's gotta disengage the solenoid once the gas motor starts and it ain't.

He's kinda right.

You need a relay, not a solenoid. It does stay engaged all the time. That's the way it's designed. That's why you have to use a relay. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, and that is why you keep burning up the "solenoid".

You will need a ground wire on the small terminal (like you had it) when you get a RELAY.


Oh, and I fixed your pic.

[donnelly.me]

J-Mech, thank you for fixing my picture. I also know this is not a cub but I figured that if anyone could help me out it would be the guys on this site. I found this wiring diagram on the internet. It looks different than what I have currently.
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This diagram seems to make sense to me and I will try it out unless anyone else has any ideas.

I also went to my local napa store today and the helpful person behind the counter looked it up and told me I need a continuous solenoid which can handle being "on" all the time where as the ones I used were just for the small amount of time starting a car, tractor, ect. Any more help or info is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mark

[J-Mech]

I think that's the same diagram I found. Looks like what you have to me......

[donnelly.me]

Right now I had the ground on the right hand small lug and the wire to the coil and the wire to the coil and the gas pedal switch on the left hand small lug. This diagram says those should be reversed with the ground on the left small lug and the wire to the coil an pedal switch on the right small lug. I will try tomorrow when the solenoid comes in. Thanks again, Mark

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by donnelly.me

Right now I had the ground on the right hand small lug and the wire to the coil and the wire to the coil and the gas pedal switch on the left hand small lug. This diagram says those should be reversed with the ground on the left small lug and the wire to the coil an pedal switch on the right small lug. I will try tomorrow when the solenoid comes in. Thanks again, Mark

You have to go by terminal labeling. You can't use the diagram for terminal location. It's a schematic, it isn't accurate for "left and right". Besides, the wire position of the two small wires on a relay doesn't matter. It works either way.

[Billy-O]

Originally Posted by donnelly.me

Any more help or info is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mark

Hopefully....you're getting the solenoid rated for the voltage, aren't you? I believe it to be 36 volts? Not 12 volts!