Golf Cart Motor - Lawn Tractor Conversion

[H2Guy]

I'm converting a tired John Deere 100 series lawn tractor to electric and will be using a 36V Club Car motor with Curtis controller that all bench tests fine. The challenge with these golf cart motors is they don't have a front bearing plate since they use the differential connection/housing to support the rotor. The second challenge is they accept a male spline drive shaft so some solution is required to configure and secure a traditional shaft output. I've designed a front plate / shaft and 3D printed some fit-up prototypes. Before I commit to metal fab ($$) I'm wondering if anyone one else out there has used a golf cart motor and can offer any advice before I go in too deep.

The easiest thing might be to get my hands on a club car rear end and eliminate custom fab at the motor ... some kind of customization would be required to secure the rear end to the JD frame but unfortunately I can't seem to find a used part in my neck of the woods (Southern Ontario) so this doesn't seem to be a viable path forward.

Would really like to use the motor / controller on hand as it's sitting in a box and dying to be used on something. Let me know your thoughts and all words of wisdom please.

Cheers

 

[floydr]

you need a transmision input shaft such as this Club Car Ds Drive Unit Input Shaft 1013764 | eBay a metal plate to mount the moter to and support the bearing. Cut the shaft or pull the gear then adapt to pulley/drive shaft. different years of Club cars may have different splines
Later floyd

 

[Papa]

Not sure how helpful it is....

Golf Cart motor shaft adaptors?

www.diyelectriccar.com

 

[NOTA]

I found a sears 2 hp 220v square flange well pump end fits the GC motor

I still doNOT know the number but I found the part end bell to fit the golf cart motor out side a cart
not the newer smaller pump motor called a 47E or F
but the next size up but still 2 hp ac 120/220 v cap start no run cap
sears motor 56m2s11 aka square flange 2 hp
IT was in my back yard an old sears cast iron well pump motor

I believe the can size is 56 for the cart motor next problem is shaft size
I have not found a bearing to fit may need an adapter or needle or custom plain ?

 

[NOTA]

there is a stock end bell for dc cart motors
some used a 90 deg to the rear axle mount with a longer shaft
mostly older off brand carts from the 60's or before 36 or 24v
I had one and sold it

 

[H2Guy]

Well the journey is nearing completion … I worked with the local trades school and they machined the bearing host / adapter plate and splined shaft as per my design. I’ve installed it all, built a 14s16p 18650 based battery, added some 12V controls and I’m on my 3rd cut of my lawn. Everything has worked as expected and I’m now focused on tidying up the wiring, improving the battery tray mounts and have finished the paper design of an Arduino based “governor” with constant RPM throttle control (hall sensors and DAC based control voltage driver to the Curtis controller). I’ve found that this is required as rpms drop off when the PTO is engaged and then races when disengaged. Also fluctuates slightly going through different densities of grass - small gas engines do this with centrifugal weights acting on the throttle valve So this (if programmed properly) will simulate that experience.