10 Important Tips For Golf Cart Winter Storage

This weekend the temperatures will drop and we may even see snow! It is important to completely prepare your golf cart for long-term storage, and is definitely a must for both Electric and Gas-powered Golf Cars. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when storing your prized asset during an extended amount of time.

1. Keep your golf cart in a cool and dry place. When stored in the ideal environment with a cool atmosphere, batteries will self-discharge significantly slower compared to batteries that tend to quickly discharge when the car is set in a warm location.

2. See to it that all Preventative Maintenance procedures your golf cart requires are implemented. Inflate tires properly and perform all the necessary semi-annual lubrications that must take place.

3. Disconnect Battery Cables. Start off with the negative cable first before disconnecting the positive cable.

4. Ensure that the battery is clean. Do so by washing the tops and terminals of your car's batteries with an acid neutralizer. This can be easily achieved through concocting a baking soda and water solution. Simply mix 1 cup of baking soda per 1 gallon of water). Make certain that it is thoroughly rinsed off and allowed to fully dry. Use a Battery Terminal Protector Spray to coat and treat the battery terminal connections.

5. Do not engage the park brake. Though there's no need to do it, make certain that your golf car is secured from rolling.

6. For the engine, you should remove the spark plug, then pour 1/2 ounce of SAE 10 weight oil into it by means of the spark plug hole. Rotate the engine's crankshaft a couple of times by hand and then have the spark plug reinstalled.

7. Set the forward/reverse handle in "neutral" position, while the neutral lockout cam should be set in the "maintenance" position.

8. The fuel shut-off valve should be set to the closed or "off" position. Run the engine at this point until all the fuel remaining in the carburetor is depleted and nothing is left visible in the fuel lines, where the engine evidently stalls. Now, turn the key switch into its "off" position then remove the key itself. Lastly, return the neutral lockout cam to "operate" position.

9. Do not remove the carburetor, but only loosen the drain screw to be able to fully drain the remaining fuel into a small, clean container. Next, pour the fuel you have gathered in the container into the vehicle's fuel tank. Afterwards, make sure to tighten the drain screw of your carburetor.

10. Seal your car's fuel tank. Do this by disconnecting the fuel vent line first which is attached to the tank vend barb or nipple. Next, plug in the fuel tank vent nipple such that it is air tight, which can be best achieved by utilizing a slip-on vinyl cap.

Note: Refer to your Owner's Manual or Maintenance and Service Manual for winter storage procedures and general maintenance which contains detailed information.

For best results, call us to have your golf car serviced before storing it for a long period.

Best Golf Cars
400 Enterprise Ave.
Myrtle Beach, SC, 29578
Phone 843-353-4130

Best Golf Cars – Market Common
Coventry Crossings Shopping Plaza
1600 Farrow Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC

843-839-5225

http://bestgolfcarsmyrtlebeach.com

Key Aspects Of A Complete Golf Cart Maintenance Routine

Regular and complete golf cart maintenance is necessary to keep your golf carts running smoothly and prevent repairs and replacements. Aside from regularly cleaning and properly charging your batteries, there are some other things that you should do and focus on to properly take care of your golf carts.

Golf cart battery maintenance 

One of the most used parts of your golf cart is its battery. You need to take proper care of your cart’s battery to extend its lifespan – up 4 to 5 years – so as to ensure your golf cart runs smoothly and is always in perfect condition. Another reason you might want to take better care of your golf cart batter is because it can be really expensive to repair or replace them.

Here are some things you need to keep in mind to properly maintain your golf cart battery:

Remove jewelry, particularly watches, necklaces and rings before handling, cleaning or servicing your battery. If they come into contact with the battery, the battery’s voltage may cause the metal to weld together, which is highly dangerous especially considering jewelry is made from metal.

Wear protective gear such as safety goggles and rubber gloves when checking and refilling your battery. Keep in mind that battery acid is highly corrosive and dangerous.

Always ensure the water level in each battery cell is in the right level AFTER the battery has been fully charged. You will know it is in the right level when the water covers the plates.

Use only distilled water to refill your golf cart battery. Do not overfill because this will cause the battery acid to flow out of the batter covers and cause corrosion to the metal frames and cables of your battery and golf cart.

Connectors should be tight and secure and without corrosion. If you notice signs of loose and corroded battery connections, call Best Golf Cars at once for professional assistance.

Make sure the tops and sides of your battery is clean and free from any debris, grass, dust and other debris as these may block your battery connections.

Engine maintenance

As with cars and other automobiles, golf carts that are gas-powered also include engine maintenance. Below is a list of things you need to keep in mind in maintaining your cart engine.

Change the oil, spark plug and air filter element once every 12 months.

Have a golf cart maintenance professional check your cart’s clutches once every year. This will help prevent bigger and more costly problems on your clutch which may also affect the overall performance of your golf cart.

Immediately call your golf cart technician or service provider when you hear loud noises or smell exhaust fumes coming from your engine. These may be due to a damaged muffler or exhaust pipe. Refrain from using your cart until a professional has checked it.

Tire maintenance 

Tires are often forgotten by many golf cart owners as part of their maintenance routine. Apart from the regular cleaning of tires, there are other things you need to keep in mind in order to properly maintain your tires.

Make sure your tires are always in the recommended pressure by the manufacturer, which is usually 22 psi. Depending on how frequent you use your tires, you should have its pressure checked once every month. Do not let your tires run on a lower or higher pressure than what is recommended by the manufacturer as this may cause your tires to wear out quickly and affect the performance of your golf cart.

It is also important to keep your tires properly rotated and aligned. You should have your tires checked for proper rotation and correct alignment at least once every year. On the other hand, if you have recently hit a curb or hole, you may want to have your tire alignment checked at once.

If you notice cracks on your tire walls, many golf cart maintenance experts agree that this simply means that your tires are nearing the end of their lifespan. You should consider having them replaced soon.

Brake maintenance  

According to industry experts and professionals, it is important to have the brakes of your golf carts checked and serviced at least once every 6 months. A complete brake service and maintenance includes cleaning and adjusting the pedal, pads, cables and drums of your brake system.

Every golf cart owner should have their brake system checked regular to ensure their safety when using their golf cart as well as to prevent costly repairs. Remember to always call your service technician if you notice any unusual changes in your brake system such as low brake pedal or squeaking noise.

For more information on complete golf cart maintenance, call Best Golf Cars now.

Best Golf Cars
1400 Enterprise Ave.
Myrtle Beach, SC, 29578
Phone (843) 448-7775

http://bestgolfcarsmyrtlebeach.com