electric golf trolley intermittent problem

eamoz

Have owned an electric trolley for last 5 or 6 yr since 2006. Very reliable, replaced battery once, switch once and clutches a few times, acceptable. During may 2012 noticed that I had to turn the switch knob a full revolution and a half before the trolley would start moving. And start it did at a brisk pace, not gradual as would be the norm. At the same time as this problem developed the motor packed in. I got a new switch and motor june 2012. The motor worked fine but the switch knob problem was still there. Changed the controller and that solved the problem, the trolley worked very well for 3 months. Since October 2012 I started getting surges in the trolleys speed getting gradually worse. During my round of golf the trolley would suddenly change speed and take off. It could happen any time and the frequency varied. I have returned the trolley to manufacturer but they can't detect the problem and returned it to me saying it was fine. I played 14 holes recently and the trolley was fine and then it took off 4 or 5 times on 15th / 16th hole. so dangerous really. any help with this frustrating problem would be grateful because the trolley could end up in a lake or hit a car in the car park. I'm guessing controller problem or worse again dampness getting in. the manufacturer is not really doing enough to find this problem.


Thanks.

Peterdalkey

Problems like this are normally, faulty switch, motor control unit or a bad connection/broken wire. The last is the hardest to find as it works perfectly until the circuit is broken. On golf trolleys the areas where the wires are bent by folding/unfolding the trolley are the most likely culprits. The easiest way to test is to put some blocks under the trolley and run the motor, then fold/unfold the trolley, wiggle/pull firmly at the wiring and see if you can reproduce the failures

Cheers

Peter

GreeBo

what make is it?
did you bring it back/for a service?

billy3sheets

Had a similar problem - intermittent starting - with my Powakaddy Freeway recently. No incidents of mad take-offs like yours though.
Initially I bought and replaced the on/off switch and the pot which controls the speed but ended up having to replace the controller. Going sweet again now.
Got all the parts from a shop in Longford via eBay.

eamoz

Peterdalkey wrote: »

Problems like this are normally, faulty switch, motor control unit or a bad connection/broken wire. The last is the hardest to find as it works perfectly until the circuit is broken. On golf trolleys the areas where the wires are bent by folding/unfolding the trolley are the most likely culprits. The easiest way to test is to put some blocks under the trolley and run the motor, then fold/unfold the trolley, wiggle/pull firmly at the wiring and see if you can reproduce the failures

Cheers

Peter

thanks for that. The trolley has recently been sent back to mocad service centre in Cork a second time, so I am waiting to see if they can find the problem this time but its unlikely as there tests could'nt find the fault the 1st time. If they dont find the problem on this occasion I think I'll put the trolley up on blocks as you say and wriggle the wires around a bit and see. I did put the hairdryer on the electrical parts (which also involved moving the wires about a bit )thinking maybe the problem was dampness and the problem did disappear for maybe 2 rounds. you could be correct about broken circuit. big help thanks for that.


eamoz.

eamoz

its a mocad 1 but the new electrical parts I recently bought are mocad 3. I got new motor, switch+ handle, controller back in june / july 2012 so there more or less still under guarantee. I have spent total 260euro on parts (new battery 100euro 36 hole) over 13 months on this trolley but its been so reliable and very smooth over the years. yes, the service centre in Cork took the trolley back recently and did tests on it, could'nt find the problem so its back in cork again for a second check. probably find no problems again.

eamoz

billy3sheets wrote: »

Had a similar problem - intermittent starting - with my Powakaddy Freeway recently. No incidents of mad take-offs like yours though.
Initially I bought and replaced the on/off switch and the pot which controls the speed but ended up having to replace the controller. Going sweet again now.
Got all the parts from a shop in Longford via eBay.

can you remember the name of the shop in longford, or if things don't work out, do you know were I might sell the trolley. the main problem with selling it would be that the intermittent problem still exists and I have every intention of making this clear to buyer.

GreeBo

eamoz wrote: »

its a mocad 1 but the new electrical parts I recently bought are mocad 3. I got new motor, switch+ handle, controller back in june / july 2012 so there more or less still under guarantee. I have spent total 260euro on parts (new battery 100euro 36 hole) over 13 months on this trolley but its been so reliable and very smooth over the years. yes, the service centre in Cork took the trolley back recently and did tests on it, could'nt find the problem so its back in cork again for a second check. probably find no problems again.

eek!
how much is a new one?!

eamoz

a new mocad is about 290euro i think in woodies. i won't get a new mocad this time. perhaps take the hit and go with a powakaddy or motacaddy. would get good guarantee on parts etc. my golf mates have motacaddy electric trolleys i think for over a year and the reports are good. can't beat golfglider i hear for relibility but once your warranty is up its costly to get a replacement part

Peterdalkey

in my opinon the Irish made Glider is the most rugged and simplest on the market. they are quite easy to work on yourself too as you can easily get at the wiring and all the parts are readily available.


cheers

Peter

darraghjm

Had a similar problem with a powakaddy, the guy who fixed it was telling me, that there is 3 speed settings in the trolley, slow, medium and fast. i noticed about 2years after i bought it that it took a full turn of the speed knob to get the trolley moving, the guy who fixed it told me that the slow speed had burnt out, probably from not turning the knob all the way off when the trolley was stopped. he was saying to keep using it and then when the medium speed ran out he would fix the speed controller. after about another year the medium speed went and the trolley was always on fast speed, so sent it to be fixed, it cost €75.

here is the website of the guy who fixed it
http://www.hillhopper.ie/

billy3sheets

eamoz wrote: »

can you remember the name of the shop in longford, or if things don't work out, do you know were I might sell the trolley. the main problem with selling it would be that the intermittent problem still exists and I have every intention of making this clear to buyer.

http://stores.ebay.ie/golfclobber