These days, maintaining a fleet of golf carts and utility
vehicles is more likely to be a matter of topping up battery cells than checking
spark plugs and mixing fuel and oil. The vast majority of golf carts sold in
the past decade or so has been electric. Electric golf carts, goes the
traditional wisdom, are cheaper to maintain, easier to manage and less trouble
in the long run than the models powered by small gas engines.
Despite the popularity of electric golf carts, however, most
pros agree that there are some jobs that require the power of a good gas
engine. It’s not unusual for most course fleets to include at least a few gas
golf carts that have been converted to utility vehicles for hauling and other
purposes. What do you do when the motor on one of those starts to go?
It used to be easy to replace those with a used utility or
golf cart when the engine started to go – but not anymore. Used and rebuilt
gas-powered golf carts are rare – and replacing them with a new gas-powered
cart could run you between $12,000 and $20,000.
The solution is simple. Don’t replace – repower. The
decision to repower a utility vehicle that you currently own rather than
replacing it with a new vehicle makes sound sense in a number of ways.
1. By repowering a vehicle that you own, you extend the
useful life of that vehicle or piece of equipment. There’s no need to scrap a
perfectly good piece of equipment that just needs a bit of a boost in the
engine department.
2. Repowering a vehicle with a new motor can
expand its usefulness. You can turn an old golf cart into an all-purpose hauler
or plow by fitting it with a more powerful engine.
3. You get a new warranty for your new upgraded engine.
Depending on the dealer, you may find a Kohler engine repower kit that contains
all you need to upgrade and includes a two-year warranty, or a Honda small
engine to replace one that’s on its last legs, with a warranty for parts for up
to two years.
4. A repower Kohler engine or other small engine could save
you money on fuel, especially if you upgrade to a cleaner burning fuel. And it
will certainly be kinder to the environment.
5. Speaking of kinder to the environment, check your state’s
grants and proposals web site if you’re considering replacing old motor
equipment. Many states offer substantial incentives if you choose to
repower a high-emissions piece of equipment with a lower-emissions engine. The
same holds true if you choose to refit an engine with after-market parts to
reduce its emissions. In some cases, you can even apply for a reimbursement
grant that will pay for a repower engine or the refit parts, along with any
parts needed to fit the new engine into your tractor or utility vehicle.
6. If your new repower engine does need repair, it will be
far easier to get parts for a current engine than for an older model. Spare
parts support is yet another reason to upgrade your engine with a repower.
Repowering is also an excellent way to update your
greens-keeping equipment. Little has changed in the business end of mowers,
rakers and other turfcare equipment. Why replace a piece of equipment that’s in
virtually excellent condition when a repower kit will upgrade it and keep it
running in tiptop shape for years to come? Kohler makes repower kits for Toro,
Jacobsen, Club Car and Cushman turf care equipment. Each kit comes with
everything you need to drop a new engine into your trusted machine and update
it to perfect working order.
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