How to Remove a Stuck Club Car Golf Cart Motor

Why is my Club Car motor stuck?

Your Club Car motor may be stuck due to a stuck armature on the spline. The motor may also be stuck on the input shaft.

 

• Stuck armature on spline:

To solve this problem, apply a few coats of WD-40 or PB Blaster around the spline and spline coupler and let it stay overnight. Shake, pull and tap on the armature a few times the next day until it comes off.

1. The other option is to remove the rear tires and axle from the cart. Remove the brake drum.
2. Fit everything back again.
3. Now raise the cart slightly and drop on a hard surface until the armature slides off.
4. You may need to do this a few times before the armature comes off.

 

• Motor stuck on input shaft:

1. You’ll have to remove the rear end of the cart followed by the wheels and the tires.
2. Take the brake drum off and put it back in the inverted position.
3. The lug nuts must also be loosened to the extent that they just hold the brake drum on to the axle.
4. Get help from someone to lift the rear end by a few feet and drop it over the drum on to a concrete surface. Depending on how tightly the motor is stuck, you might have to repeat this step.
5. The motor will drop off when the rear end touches the ground.

Keeping the brake drum in position is crucial. This position will prevent the wheel studs from getting damaged during the dropping process.

 

Club Car motor is stuck on the input shaft

You can follow the steps given below to release a Club Car motor that is stuck on the input shaft.

1. Remove the rear end from the golf cart.
2. Remove the tires and wheels.
3. Move the lug nuts on the studs of the passenger side of the cart backward by a few threads.
4. Position the cart so that the rear end of the passenger side is upward. This will make the armature hang out.
5. Apply a lot of PB Blaster, heat or both at the point where the shaft makes contact with the armature. When applying heat, try to keep it away from the armature shaft as much as you can.
6. Raise the armature by about a foot length and slam it downwards. You may have to do this a few times to get the motor to fall off.

Alternatively, the following steps can also help to release a stuck motor. Some of the steps are the same as given above.

1. Remove the rear end from the golf cart.
2. Remove the tires and wheels.
3. Remove the brake drum and turn it backward.
4. Adjust the lug nuts so that they are just tight enough to keep the drum on to the axle.
5. Get someone to help you with raising the rear end by about three to four feet and drop it on to a hard surface over the inverted brake drum. The motor will usually come off when it hits the hard surface. In rare cases, you’ll have to do this step a couple of times.

 

Club Car armature is stuck on spline

You can try the steps given here to remove an armature that is stuck on to the spline.

1. Spray some WD-40 over the spline coupler and spline a few times. Allow it to rest overnight. Shake, pull and tap the armature. You can consider requesting someone to do the tapping while you do the shaking and pulling.

You may also consider using PB Blaster in place of WD-40 as it has better penetrating properties.

Also, remember to lay your hands on an old brake drum and turn it backward or remove the lug studs so that the studs remain free of damage.

2. Remove the rear tires and axle from the cart. Flip the brake drum and put it on backward. Raise the rear of the cart and drop it on to a hard surface. You might have to do this a few times.

 

How to remove a stuck Club Car DS motor

You can try any of the methods given below to remove a stuck Club Car DS motor.

 

Method 1

1. Take off the rear end from the golf cart.
2. Apply some PB Blaster over the spline and armature.
3. Remove the lug studs so that they don’t get damaged. Alternatively, you can adjust the lug nuts so that they are just tight enough to keep the drum on to the axle.
4. Turn over the brake drum so that it’s back-to-front.
5. Drop it on a hard surface a few times. This will eventually release the stuck motor.

 

Method 2

1. Keep a ratchet strap surrounding the motor but avoid tightening it.
2. Loop a second ratchet strap below the first one under both the sides of the motor.
3. Tighten the first strap around the motor as much as you can.
4. Connect a third ratchet strap to the strap below the motor and pawl the motor off.

 

Club Car Precedent motor removal

You can remove the motor from your Club Car Precedent by following any of the options given below.

• You can remove a motor that is not seized to the splines by sliding the same off from the splined shaft. It can be done via the access panel present in the bagwell without hitting the shaft.
• Use a jack and lift the golf cart on the right axle side. Slide the motor off and catch it as it reaches the end of the shaft. Remember to set the motor down lightly on the surface.
• Use a small standard screwdriver and pull out the middle pin of the fastener by about one-quarter of an inch. This will help you to remove the two connected part fasteners and slide out the motor. When replacing the motor, put the fastener in through the holes and press the middle pin inward.

In some earlier cart models, there is a fastener with a Phillips head screw. This screw is in the middle of the fastener. It might be worth removing this fastener and getting a new-style one installed.