Have you ever been cruising down the fairway and suddenly felt like your Club Car wasn’t reaching its full potential?
As you might already know, the governor is a small component in your Club Car golf cart that controls its speed. And with just a simple adjustment, you can unlock the full potential of your ride and enjoy a faster and smoother ride.
Trust me, once you make this Club Car Governor Adjustment, you’ll never want to go back to your slow and sluggish golf cart again.
Club Car Governor Adjustment
Follow these general steps for your Club Car Governor Adjustment:
- Find the governor arm or cable: It is commonly found at the engine and linked to the throttle cable.
- Take out the cable from the governor arm: Do this by removing a clip or cotter pin and slipping the cable off the arm.
- Unfasten the arm’s bolt: This bolt holds the governor’s arm to enable you to move the arm and adjust the governor.
- Turn on the engine and leave it to run: It should run at a low speed.
- Turn the governor arm clockwise: This will increase the speed.
- Check the speed: You can do this with a tachometer.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 till the desired speed is attained: This will depend on the specific model of the cart
- Fasten the governor’s arm: You can do this by tightening the bolt.
- Fasten the cable: The cable on the governor’s arm should be tightened with a clip or cutter pin.
- Test the car: Check if it is running at the desired speed.
If you are having issues with your cart’s accelerator, check out this guide on Club Car Accelerator Adjustment.
Tools and Materials Needed for Club Car Governor Adjustment
The following tools and materials are needed for Club Car Governor Adjustment:
- Adjustable Wrench or pliers
- Metric socket set
- Hand gloves
- Tachometer
- Club car service manual
Preparing the Cart for Governor Adjustment
The following precautions need to be taken to ensure safety when making Club Car Governor Adjustment:
- Station the car on a level surface and take out the key from the ignition.
- Find and disconnect the battery’s negative cable to ensure that no power is in the cart while you work on it.
- Remove every obstacle around the cart that is likely to cause injury.
- Wear the appropriate safety gear.
- Secure every loose clothing and long hair to prevent them from being caught in any moving parts.
If you want a bypass for your golf cart, check out this article on Club Car Speed Sensor Bypass.
What Are the Signs that The Governor Needs to Be Adjusted on A Club Car?
The signs that the governor needs to be adjusted on a Club Car are:
- The engine revs too high or too low.
- The engine stalls.
- The engine runs rough.
- The engine surges.
- The engine starts but dies immediately.
- The engine lacks power.
- The engine runs too slow.
- The engine runs too hot.
Troubleshooting Common Issues when Making Club Car Governor Adjustment
I already have an entire guide on Troubleshooting Club Car Golf Cart but, if you require one specifically for Governor, read on.
These are the Troubleshooting & fixing steps if you are having issue when Making Club Car Governor Adjustment:
1. The Engine Revs too High or too Low
If the engine revs too high, the governor arm may be adjusted too close to the throttle cable or the throttle cable may be too tight.
If the engine revs too low, the governor arm may be adjusted too far away from the throttle cable or the throttle cable may be too loose.
How to Fix
- Check the governor arm, cable or linkages for any looseness or damage.
- Properly adjust the governor’s arm and tighten the cable.
2. The Engine Stalls When the Accelerator is Released
If the engine stalls, the governor arm may be adjusted too far away from the throttle cable.
How to Fix
- Check if there is any loose connection to the governor arm or any damaged cable.
- If everything is firmly held in place, then the carburetor may need to be cleaned or adjusted.
3. Engine Bogs Down or Lacks Power
A dirty air filter may cause the engine to slow down.
How to Fix
- Check the air filter for dirt. Dirt in the air filter causes the engine not to breathe correctly and lack power.
- If the air filter is clean, try adjusting the carburetor.
4. Engine Runs Rough or Misfires
A dirty or worn-out spark club may cause the engine to misfire.
How to Fix
- Ensure the spark club is clean and properly gapped. If it is dirty or worn out, replace it.
- If the spark club is clean and in good condition, try adjusting the carburetor.
5. Engine Surges
A leakage in the vacuum may cause surging.
How to Fix
- Check for vacuum leaks and ensure the governor arm is appropriately adjusted.
6. Engine Starts but Dies Immediately
If the engine starts but dies immediately, the carburetor may not be providing enough fuel to the engine.
How to Fix
- Check the air filter, fuel pump, and spark club, and make adjustments where necessary.
7. Engine Lacks Power
If the engine lacks power, the carburetor may need to be cleaned or adjusted.
How to Fix
- Ensure the air filter is clean and the spark plug operates appropriately.
- Check the governor arm and make the necessary adjustment.
8. Engine Runs too Slow
If the engine runs too slow, the governor arm may be adjusted too far away from the throttle cable.
How to Fix
- Make sure the governor arm is not binding.
- Check the throttle cable and make the necessary adjustment.
If you own a Club Car Onward, check out this article on Club Car Onward Speed Upgrade.
9. Engine Runs too Hot
If the engine runs too hot, the cooling system may not be functioning properly.
How to Fix
- Check the radiator, hoses, and water pump for any leaks or blockages.
- Check the air filter and replace if necessary.
10. Engine Dies When Driving up Hills
A faulty fuel pump may cause this.
How to Fix
- Adjust the governor arm and ensure that the fuel pump functions properly.
Club Car Governor Diagram
This is the Club Car Governor Diagram:
1996 Club Car DS Governor Adjustment
Follow these easy steps for 1996 Club Car DS Governor Adjustment:
- Find the governor arm connected to the throttle cable and the governor lever.
- Find the governor spring connected to the governor arm and the engine.
- Loosen the bolt that fastens the governor spring to the governor arm.
- Move the governor’s arm back and forth to adjust its setting.
- Tighten the bolt once the desired governor setting has been achieved.
Club Car Precedent Governor Adjustment
To adjust your Club Car Precedent governor do the following:
- Find the governor arm beside the engine.
- Unfasten the bolt that connects the governor arm to the engine using a wrench.
- Move the governor arm in the direction you want the cart to go faster.
- Tighten the bolt once the desired position has been achieved.
- Test the cart to ensure the governor has been adjusted properly.
Where is the Governor on A Club Car Golf Cart?
The governor on a club car golf cart is located near the drive belt, either on the engine or the rear axle.
Can an improperly adjusted governor cause damage to my Club Car engine?
Yes, an improperly adjusted governor can cause damage to the engine or cause it to perform poorly.
Conclusion
The club car governor is an essential component of the club car; therefore, knowing how to adjust and fix likely problems that may arise is an added advantage for the user.
This article serves as a guideline for your Club Car Governor Adjustment, to help make your user experience enjoyable.
