FAQ | TIPS

WHY A MOTORIZED CART?

Q. Why motorized walking golf carts?

A. We all watch the golf pros on television with their caddies carrying their clubs for them. LIke a walk in the park as they stroll down the middle of the fairways, we can only imagine that feeling. Now you can easily walk along with your clubs carried by your own personal caddy and stroll the fairways like the pros.

Q. How does your cart work in powered manual mode ?

A. The cart can be powered up in manual mode and set it's variable speed from 1.6mph to 6mph. You would walk along with the cart and steer it manually by moving the handle left and right. The speed is controlled by the speed adjustment wheel on the handle. To stop the cart in powered manual mode you'll press the red button to apply the magnetic braking function.

To start the cart in powered manual mode make sure that the On/Off safety buttons are On and the red mode button is in it's Up position. Adjust the speed adjustment wheel for minimum. Simply release the "GO" button and the cart will start up smoothing and quietly. Adjust the cart to your walking speed with the speed adjustment wheel.

WHY ARE PRICES SO LOW ?

Q. I see pricing anywhere from $700 to $2000 for walking golf carts. Why are CaddyBug carts priced so low ?

A. Our philosophy is to provide the best cart in the world and make them very affordable for the average golfer. We promote walking the course and getting golfers out of riding carts. Our prices are low because we do not sell retail or through alternate websites that add markups to the price. We know that our products are superior and that word of mouth will drive our sales.

YOUR CUSTOMERS?

Q. Where are you customers located?

A. We have customers all over the United States, including Hawaii. Please refer to our Customer Map HERE.

HUB MOTORS

Q. What are hub motors?

A. It simply means, the motor is inside the wheel, in fact, the wheel is the motor.

Q. Are they better than conventional motors?

A. In this application yes, both more efficient and more reliable.

Q. Are Hub Motors better on steep uphill and down hills?

A. Here's a quote from a competitors FAQ: "On steep uphill slopes we recommend that you use manual operation. However, you may like to try either zigzagging up the hill or directing the cart to a lesser gradient."

CaddyBug carts have enough power to drive straight up the steepest slope that you'll find on a golf course.

And going downhill this competitor states: "On steep slopes downhill ensure that you keep full control of the cart. In the most difficult of conditions it is best to hold the handle and walk it down in manual mode."

CaddyBug carts will maintain it's set speed and will brake the cart going downhill.

Q. Why are they more reliable?

A. Because there are no moving parts to go wrong, no electric motor brushes to wear out, no clutch to slip over time, and no transmission to fail.

Q. Why is hub motor reliability guaranteed?

A. Because the hub motor factory has the highest level of quality control. And, with no moving parts there is nothing to wear out.

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Q. Why don't other electric cart manufacturers use hub motors?

A. Because they are more expensive than conventional motors.

Q. How can CaddyBug USA afford to use hub motors and still be competitive?

A. Because our factory makes our hub motors and we do not have to buy from outside manufacturers.

Q. You say the hub motor has no gearbox, how do you control the cart?

A. It is controlled electronically via the ECU [electronic control unit].

Q. Is there a mechanical brake to hold it on hills?

A. Not a mechanical brake but an electronic brake. With the power on and the cart stopped the hub motor magnets provide a braking function.

Q. What are the benefits of this?

A. There are no mechanical parts to wear out.

Q. What are the disadvantages of hub motors?

A. We have not found any, please let us know !

Q. What if the battery runs down?

A. Simply turn off the power button and the wheels will turn freely just as any push/pull cart.

Q. Will the cart maintain a straight path down the fairway?

A. With any rigid framed vehicle there will be more pressure and hence more rolling friction on one drive wheel. This will cause a slight turning of the vehicle usually towards the uphill side. It becomes very natural and intuitive to steer the cart with very little thought or effort.

Q. How quiet are your CaddyBug carts?

A. You will not find a quieter cart on the market. The only moving mechanical parts are the hub motor and front wheel bearings and they are totally sealed and utterly silent.

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CART FRAME

Q. Is the frame strong enough to avoid bending over time?

A. The frame is high strength reinforced (extra channeling inside) aluminum tubing with high quality technical welds. The frame is practically impossible to bend or brake.

Q. How easy is it to fold and unfold the cart?

A. The cart folds up very easily and the large front wheels come off simply with thumb screws. It makes a very small package. Also there is no assembly required, just charge up the battery and GO !.

Q. Describe typical operations of the MANUAL control?

A. Both On/Off buttons on the side of the handle pressed forward (On)

The red button is in it's UP position

The speed thumb wheel is turned to minimum (fully towards you)

Push the cart 6-12 inches and the motor's magnetic drives will start the cart moving on it's own.

Then walk along with your cart and control the speed with the speed wheel.

To stop the cart, press down the red button and this stops the motors and puts it in braking mode or press one of the On/Off buttons to the Off position and the cart will be in Free Wheel mode. Free Wheel mode means there is no electricity to the motors and they can turn very easily.

Q. Will the cart run away and never be seen again ?

A. Yes... the cart can run away and never been seen again. Please keep the cart under your control at all times !

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MAIN BATTERY

Q. How do I carry the battery?

A. Please use the carrying handle. Never ever lift up the battery by it's cord. This will pull out the terminal connectors.

Q. My cart will not start?

A. (1) Check to make sure that both green on/off buttons are pressed down towards the front of the cart. (2) Check the battery... unzip the battery pack and check the fuse and make sure that all four wires are connected. The short black wire connects to the ourside Red terminal. The longer black wire connects to the outside Black terminal. The Red wire with Fuse Block connects to the two inner Red and Black terminals.

Q. The Red Light will not come on when charging ?

A. Unzip the battery cover (both sides) and tug gently on each wire to make sure that the wires are secure to their connector. Then make sure that the wires are plugged in tightly. Unplug the battery and wait a few minutes and then plug back in. If you've had the battery for more than a year then the battery could be failing. Does it work on the cart and seem to be fully charged? If so, then the charger could be failing.

Q. What type of battery is used on the cart?

A. There are two sealed lead acid rechargeable, highly efficient, leak proof and high cycling life batteries. Click here for full specs

Q. How do I plug in the battery to the cart?

A. Unlike some carts with huge ugly "alligator clips" our batteries have a simple connector that plugs into the cart frame.

Q. How many holes of golf should I be able to play?

A. The number of holes would be on average 27 holes. This is dependent upon how hilly is the course, how heavy is your golf bag, and how old is the battery. As the battery ages you will get fewer holes (see next question). Never hold onto the cart and let it pull you up the hill. This puts a heavy strain on the hub motors and on the battery.

Q. What is the life expectancy of the battery ?

A. Sealed lead acid batteries are subject to extreme conditions on and off a golf course. Many variables contribute to the life of a set of batteries. Conditions such as: hot temperatures (on the course and in the trunk of a car), neglect - not charging immediately after use, improper charging - not letting it complete a full charge, etc.
We are seeing customers get anywhere from eight months to a year and a half before noticing that their cart won't go a full 18 holes.

Q. What is proper care and usage?

A. Always remember to recharge the battery as soon as possible after a round of golf. After the charger's green light comes on unplug the charger from the battery. It's fine to leave it plugged in overnight. If the red light does not go out after an overnight charge then unplug immediately. Take care not to drop or mishandle the battery. There is no problem turning the battery on it's side or even upside down. Leaving the battery in a hot automobile trunk will degrade and discharge the battery.

Q. Where do I go if I need a new battery?

A. You can order online (see Spares) on our website or please call our Service Department:
(888 884-2284).

Q. What does the battery warranty cover ?

A. The warranty is one year for both the battery and the charger. This covers any manufacturing defects like loose or broken terminals. Any misuse: dropping the battery, failing to charge properly, storing in a hot environment will all void the battery warranty. Due to the many variables that determine the life of a battery our warranty does not specify life expectancy.

Q. Is there a fuse for the battery?

A. Yes, inside the battery's fabric case is an automotive type fuse. The GreenFly battery has a full size spade type fuse. Please carry a spare. View Photo

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TIPS

Q. My cart won't go!

A. First check the green on/ off switches. These are easily switched off by mistake. We had one case where a driver club head had actually hit the red button and switched it into stop/braking mode.

Q. I tipped over my cart, what now?

A. The very first thing is to unplug the battery. If the cart has actually fallen from a height then be very careful that the battery is not damaged and possibly leaking. Do not attempt to pickup a leaking battery! If the cart has simply tipped over then unplug the battery and remove it from the cart. Then pick up the cart. Unzip the battery bag (each side) and check the battery wiring. Put the battery back onto the cart's frame and plug it in and test.

In a rare case the cart may tip over sideways on a concrete cart path and could fall on the handle. This may cause damage to one of the handles's on/off switches and this will have to be replaced. Be careful to not run into curbs or large objects that could cause the cart to tip over sideways.

Q. How do I clean my cart?

A. A damp rag or compressed air hose is best. Never (NEVER!!) use a hose with running water to clean your cart. If it gets rained on then just wipe off the excess water. The handle and the area around the hub motor yoke (where the motors attach) are the most sensitive to excess water. The hub motors are sealed against normal golf course moisture and are maintenance free. (We did have one cart run into a lake and was fully submerged. One hub motor and it's electronics module were damaged and had to be replaced.)

Q. What adjustments can I make (what are those springs over the motors)?

A. The springs return the wheels to a straight position after manually turning the cart. You do not have to adjust the spring tension. The rod that goes through the springs adjust the wheels for straight line travel. If you notice that your cart is always veering off the to the right or left you can turn this inner rod and this will align the wheels.

When standing behind the cart and you turn the rod towards you, this will make the cart go more to the left. Away from you to make it turn more to the right. This can be turned by hand by holding the locked nuts on the end of the springs.

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