Gas cart not used for 12 months

[markusb741]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:

[villagetinker]

IMHO, I would contact one of the golf cart mobile repair services (Like Todd Casey) and have them look over the cart. At a minimum, an oil change, check tire pressure, check belts, and have battery tested. After a short test drive to test brakes, I would also test all lights, turn signals, etc.

[markusb741]

Thanks villagetinker, do you think gas should be drained and replaced? Also, do you have a phone number for Todd Casey?

[dewilson58]

Yes, drain the gas.


Todd: Phone (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk01zRJhsahdQejfUBprGmYA1o-YRTA:1614779403823&q=todd+casey+golf+cart+repair+phone&ludocid=17566865969266610911&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH7ISGopTvAhUhsTEKHZ34BOEQ6BMwF3oECB4QA g): (352) 256-2068 (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=todd+casey+golf+cart+repair#)

[tophcfa]

Drain the gas if it has ethanol, gas without ethanol should be OK.

[Malsua]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:

I would probably get the oil changed but it depends on how recently it'd been serviced. If it was done only a few "cart hours" ago, I probably wouldn't.

Is the battery flat? It may be.

That said, you could always just fill up the gas tank with some fresh, Hold the pedal down until the engine starts but the cart doesn't move. Do that for a bit to get some oil splashed around. After that, run it around at low RPM for a bit, then resume normal use.

Engines are a lot tougher than most people think and some of the most abused engines are lawn mowers and golf carts. These things last year and years with terrible maintenance. If you keep up on regular maintenance, a cart that sits for a while isn't going to need a complete do-over just because it sat.

[Topspinmo]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:


What year? And what type gas in it? How old battery?

Here what I would do as suggested from others. First I’d pull the dip stick check conditions of oil. If it’s black and gooey? I’d change it. If You put ethanol blend gas in last time You filled it up? I would drain it. Now if it’s fuel injection model After fresh gas and oil should be good to go.

If carburetor you will probably need to run additive in the fresh gas, if it starts and runs? Naturally you would want to check tire pressure, inspect battery look for corrosion at terminals, check water level if not maintenance free. You may need to charge the battery and load test it to see if it’s still good. Or you can just try to start it, run to charge battery.

[thevillages2013]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:

JUST TRY IT! If it starts then you know you have a darn good battery after sitting for a year. Make sure the tires are inflated properly (they may bump a little after sitting in that position) and drive it a couple miles but never getting very far from your house in case it leaves you walking.

[mike1946]

I have a Yamaha G16 circa 2000...I rain bird from the UK - I was given some very useful tips on storage of this type - firstly give the gas tank a good dose of Sea Foam gas stabilizer and run the cart a few miles to make sure the stabilizer has reached all parts.
Secondly Jack up the cart and put it on axle stands so that all wheels are off the ground (this stops the tyres 'flatting' i.e. getting a flat spot where they are in contact with the ground) - I bought 4 x 3 ton axle stands from the accessory store at the Market of Marion for very reasonable $$$ - you will also probably need a hydraulic floor jack - buy from the same place.
Thirdly with the cart jacked up look under the seat and locate the feed from the gas tank to the engine - on mine it's just a rubber pipe with a spring clip on it - take the pipe off - now run the engine until it runs out of gas - you have now emptied the carburretter and this stops it getting all gummy as the gas evaporates during storage. Put the pipe back on - you will never remember to do it when you come back in a year.
Finally purchase a 300 milliamp 'float charger' Wal Mart do them cheap fit that to the battery - a float charger lets the battery go down to about 12.6 v and then cuts in and charges til it reaches about 13.9v at a low level charge - this continuous cycle should keep the battery in good order.
The above takes about half an hour or so and has saved me so many $$$ over the years I have been doing it !!
Good Luck

[Markusb]

Thanks everyone that responded, very good information. When I get down 3/22, my first order of business is getting the cart in tip top shape.

[Two Bills]

'Rain birds.'
Love it.
Wife and I have spent our first winter in UK for 25 years.
Forgot how much rain we get here, plus the b****y cold.
Both got webbed feet now!

[tjlee500]

The best thing to do before you leave cartfo a long time:

1. Put a canister of Gas Stabalizer and follow directions to add to gas. This helps the gas remain in a good state

2. Invest in a trickle charger. This type of charger just keeps the battery charged and turns off and on when needed,

I leave cart for 3-4 months and it starts up in a minute or 2 after gas get back into lines as engine tuns over

[pgettinger01]

Check the tire pressure about 25 PSI. Add a cleaner to the gas tank like Seafoam 1 ounce per gallon of gas. Hopefully the tires do not have permanent flat spots.

[coconutmama]

In addition to the great advice, expect your tires to give a bumpy ride until the flat spots on them smooth out, with use, after sitting on the garage floor so long.

[Donvan]

Drain gas and put fresh gas in. Should be good

[Nick B]

If it starts in put in fresh gas and ride.

[willieboy2110]

always use gas stabeilizer

[Dgodin]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:
Definitly check Tire pressure. For reasons I don't understand tire pressure is hard to maintain in Florida. I check my bicycle pressure once a week and usually have to fill 5 to 10 lbs. I check my motorcycle, car, and golf cart monthly and all need to be "topped off". Im very glad I brought my air compressor down with me when we moved here.

[Drivertodd1]

If the gas is Ethanol free, just add 1 to 2 oz. of Seafoam per gallon of gas to the fuel and drive it. Once the seafoam is in the lines and carb or injectors , it will be fine. Top it off with new gas ASAP.
Make sure your tires are at proper pressure. If there is no oil or fluid on the ground below the cart , the oil should be fine for a test drive.

[Topspinmo]

IMO I would be more concerned about oil. Now if owner just changed it before put it in storage then oil good (whats odds of that??) But, if owner hadn’t changed the oil and it got lot of hours/miles on it I would change it ( it needs changed anyway) Clean proper level oil IMO most important keep engine internal moving parts clean, cool, and lubricated.

[Topspinmo]

Definitly check Tire pressure. For reasons I don't understand tire pressure is hard to maintain in Florida. I check my bicycle pressure once a week and usually have to fill 5 to 10 lbs. I check my motorcycle, car, and golf cart monthly and all need to be "topped off". Im very glad I brought my air compressor down with me when we moved here.

Tires will loose 1 to 2 pounds month due to temperature and humidity changes, unless you have nitrogen filled tires. As you know and found out you have to check tire pressure one month and do look around before drive off, never know when might pick up nail and cause slow leak?

[Curtisbwp]

If you do not use STABIL in your gas it may gum up your carburetor and orher gas line areas

[Steve Mosher]

Our Yamaha gas cart hasn't been used for 12 mos.
Is it safe to drive and is there any recommended maintenance required before using it?
:bigbow:
There should be no issue. The battery will need to be charged or it may have become dead. In the future, always use a gas stabilizer if the cart is not going to be used for a month or more.

[Scbang]

I have 2014 Yamaha that was left in the garage for 13 mo due to covid. I left it with the battery disconnected. Yesterday, I reconnected the battery and turn on the key and it started right away like it was never left alone.. ALL SYSTEMS GO!

[dadoiron]

Dust it off

[mrf6969]

If you run ethanol free fuel (as you should) then no fuel additives are necessary because there will be no separation that take place. You also will not have to worry about fuel system corrosion that comes from ethanol moisture absorption. Pay the little extra and do not run ethanol in your golf cart. Weather you realize it or not it is worth it.
Most of the lawn care companies here in TV run ethanol free fuel as their livelihood depends on it.
You may have to trickle charge your battery and this all depends on battery age and condition. Air your tires up as they will be low. You are good to go.

[Catalina36]

Gasoline loose its quality within 2 weeks. Therefore I will be using a Engineered Fuel for 4 stroke engines called "Tru Fuel" has a shelf life and good in your fuel tank for 2 years. This fuel has no ethanol which is the cause of gummy carburetors and fuel injectors. This fuel be purchased in Home Depot and Lowes. Make certain you purchase the "4 stroke fuel". Back home I use this fuel in my small 4 stroke outboard motors when I lay them up for the winter. Before the end of the season I stop using gasoline and switch over to tru-fuel the outboard motors actually run better on this fuel. Before I return up north I will let my golf cart gas tank run down, then I will put a gallon of tru-fuel in the tank. Some Villagers recommended leaving a trickle battery charger on the battery while you are gone to maintain the battery voltage???? Not sure if that is safe to leave a battery charger unattended for several months?????

[Scbang]

I would not leave the charger connected but make sure to fully charge the battery and then disconnect before leaving it.

[mrf6969]

Gasoline loose its quality within 2 weeks. Therefore I will be using a Engineered Fuel for 4 stroke engines called "Tru Fuel" has a shelf life and good in your fuel tank for 2 years. This fuel has no ethanol which is the cause of gummy carburetors and fuel injectors. This fuel be purchased in Home Depot and Lowes. Make certain you purchase the "4 stroke fuel". Back home I use this fuel in my small 4 stroke outboard motors when I lay them up for the winter. Before the end of the season I stop using gasoline and switch over to tru-fuel the outboard motors actually run better on this fuel. Before I return up north I will let my golf cart gas tank run down, then I will put a gallon of tru-fuel in the tank. Some Villagers recommended leaving a trickle battery charger on the battery while you are gone to maintain the battery voltage???? Not sure if that is safe to leave a battery charger unattended for
several months?????
Wow pricey stuff at $40.00 a gallon.

[Topspinmo]

I have 2014 Yamaha that was left in the garage for 13 mo due to covid. I left it with the battery disconnected. Yesterday, I reconnected the battery and turn on the key and it started right away like it was never left alone.. ALL SYSTEMS GO!


Fuel injected? IMO That’s why? Me, I would of at minimum charged the battery, checked tire pressure and checked condition of oil before driving off? But, that me.

[Topspinmo]

Wow pricey stuff at $40.00 a gallon.

40 dollars gallon, I would of just left the tank empty.

[nn0wheremann]

Thanks villagetinker, do you think gas should be drained and replaced? Also, do you have a phone number for Todd Casey?
Get some Start Your Engine from Ace Hardware. Next time, put Sta-bil in the tank before you go.

[Bay Kid]

I added Sta-bil and premium gas 1 1/2 years ago. Drove 150 miles before filling w/fresh gas. No problem.