How to Adjust, Remove, Bypass a Golf Cart Governor (STEPS) | Golf Storage Ideas (2024)

How Does a Golf Cart Governor Work?

A golf cart governor is a mechanical device that helps in controlling the maximum speed of the cart when it moves on flat ground. This device prevents the engine RPMs from increasing beyond the recommended specifications.

The governor on a golf cart can be adjusted easily by loosening the tension on its springs using a wrench or screwdriver to get the golf cart going at a relatively faster speed.

In some cases, the adjustment can be done by turning the cable nut that connects the cable to the throttle lever in the counter-clockwise direction. This type of governor is often found in 2-cycle golf carts.

Top Speed of a Golf Cart Without Having a Governor

The top speed of an EZGO golf cart is usually 19.9mph and the average speed is 14mph to 15mph. With governor adjustment, the EZGO cart can go faster by 5 to 10mph.

In other words, the 15mph speed can be raised to 22mph with the adjustment. It usually takes only five minutes to get the adjustment done.

How to Remove a Golf Cart Governor

It doesn’t take much time or skill to remove a golf cart governor. With some basic mechanical expertise and general-purpose tools, you can do this yourself. The process is more or less the same in all golf carts.

Items needed

• Wrench
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Regular screwdriver

Procedure

1. Remove the cable connection from the carburetor. This is usually a thin cable that can be pulled out easily. If it doesn’t come out, you can use the Phillips head or the regular screwdriver.
2. Now, remove the other end of the cable connected to the governor. The governor is often housed on top of the engine.
3. Locate the gas pedal that is fitted to the governor and remove the connection.
4. Re-route the gas pedal to the carburetor.
5. Remove the bolt present on the shaft of the gas pedal.
6. Slide the shaft upwards so that the gas pedal has more play.
7. Tighten the bolt and start the golf cart.

You may have to do steps 6 and 7 a few times before you get the desired speed for the golf cart. To check if you’ve achieved the desired speed, it’s recommended that you go at full speed around a golf course of known length. It must be noted that the above steps apply only to gas golf carts. There is no governor in an electric golf cart.

How to Adjust an EZGO Golf Cart Governor

Most EZGO golf carts have four-stroke engines. However, there are a few carts with other types of engines. The governor adjustment process is different for both types of engines.

Items needed

• A crescent wrench
• A screwdriver that has interchangeable bits
• A set of Torx screwdriver bits
• A couple of channel locks

Adjusting the 4-stroke engine

1. Locate the governor arm of the golf cart. This is mounted above the rear axle housing and under the cart. Depending on the cart model, there may be a protection plate above the governor.
2. Locate the governor spring in the engine of the cart next to the governor arm. This spring is adjustable with a threaded rod running through it and is mounted on a bracket.
3. Raise the seat and take off the cushions covering the engine. In newer model carts, you may have to remove the seat screws for raising the seat.
4. Remove the screws present behind the seat on the black plastic cover as well.
5. Locate the thick cable connected to the gas pedal and follow it to trace its connection at the other end. This is the governor and is generally a spring around a metal rod.
6. Loosen the smaller nut and tighten the bigger nut on the threaded rod at the same time. The loosening will alter the length of the spring.
7. Tighten the smaller nut once again after you’ve achieved the desired speed. This will keep the spring in position.
8. Ride the cart at full speed over a course of known length. This will ensure that the governor controls the speed of the cart within factory specifications.
9. Fasten the black plastic cover and put the seat back in place.

Take care when tightening the nut. The more you tighten, the faster your cart will go. Start with just a quarter turn.

It’s worth noting that the cart may need more replacement parts and repairs with an adjusted governor. Also, check the specifications of the cart for the maximum governed speed permissible.

Adjusting other engines

1. Remove the plastic cover of the engine as well as the seat. In some cases, the seat may have screws that need unscrewing. If not, it can be just popped up.
2. Check out where the clutch pedal and line of the cart are located.
3. Locate the small metal rod present near the clutch with a cable attached to it. This cable size determines the amount of fuel flow into the engine.
4. Loosen the nut fitted on the cable. This will gradually increase the length of the cable. As the length increases, the speed of the cart will increase accordingly.
5. Tighten the nut when the cart has achieved the desired speed.

In modern all-electric golf carts, the spring and cable are often not visible. This can make the adjustment process quite challenging. It’s advisable to seek professional assistance for governor adjustment in such cases.

You must keep a couple of things in mind when a governor adjustment is made to your golf cart.

• The bolts and nuts must always be turned slowly and tested after each turn.
• When you adjust the governor without going to an authorized service agent, you may run the risk of forfeiting the warranty of the cart.

How to Bypass a Golf Cart Governor

There are instances when golf cart owners want to bypass the governor in their carts. Here are some ways to do this using a few basic tools.

Spring flip

This is an easy way to bypass the golf cart governor and is supported by new model Yamaha golf carts that have a different setup from the G1 cart. This process involves removing the threaded rod and 10mm nut from the governor.

1. Disconnect the throttle cable that is present in front of the governor arm.
2. Push the spring downward and before the governor arm.
3. Hook the spring back in its original position. This is typically above the cable attachment point.
4. Reconnect the throttle cable. There is no need to install the threaded rod once again.

It must be noted that that the above-mentioned spring flip method must not be carried out on a drive featuring a team axle. Doing so will result in losing the function of the governor and a new input shaft will have to be installed.

You can bypass the governor connection in an EZGO or Yamaha G1 golf cart as given below.

1. Remove the cable connecting the carburetor and the governor.
2. Disconnect the connection between the gas pedal and the governor.

Connect the gas pedal directly to the carburetor opening. Make sure that the carburetor opens fully when the pedal is pressed and closes completely when the pedal is released to avoid backfiring. At times, the bolt on the shaft housing the gas pedal will have to be removed to pull the gas pedal and turn it in the direction of the notch in the shaft.

The throttle cable coming from the gas pedal generates a response to the spring-loaded linkage. This linkage is counteracted by the governor in the golf cart.

If you want to bypass the governor, disconnect and reconnect the throttle cable once again without the intervening linkage. Ensure that the return spring is secured properly.

Check to see if there is a governor plate between the engine and the carburetor. If there is such a plate, remove the plate along with its shaft. Close the shaft holes with screws of appropriate size. You can also make use of an epoxy like Marine-Tex sealant to close the holes.

In a John Deere Gator golf cart, the governor is equipped with two governor arms. The bypassing can be done by carrying out a zip-tie action on both the governor arms.

Yamaha G1 Governor Adjustment

The following methods show you how to adjust the governor on your Yamaha G1 golf cart.

Method 1

1. Locate the bolt that is fixed to a spring bracket present on the transaxle/rear end housing. The bolt comes with a throttle linkage hooking.
2. Remove the bolt and take off the jam nut.
3. Put the bolt back and turn it inward in small steps. Do a test ride after each step until you get the desired speed. You can also replace the bolt with a longer one if needed.

Method 2

This involves bypassing the governor and can be done in three ways.

1. Take off the bracket, drill a D shaped hole and put the bracket back in place.
2. Zip-tie, vice-grip or clamp the other side of the spring on to the bracket using small vice-grips. However, make sure that the hose is clear during the throttling process when you do this.
3. Disconnect the governor and connect the throttle cable directly to the carburetor.

Yamaha G2 Governor Adjustment

The following methods show you how to adjust the governor on your Yamaha G2 golf cart.

Method 1

1. Locate the lever present above the transaxle. This lever houses a 10mm nut.
2. Tighten the nut or move it inwards as much as you want based on the desired speed using a 1/4″ drive ratchet with a 10mm deep socket.

Remember that running the cart at top speed can lessen the life of the throttle cable.

Method 2

This involves bypassing the governor and can be done in two ways.

1. Drill out the governor arm and put a spring on it to stop the arm from flipping.
2. Remove the cable from the carburetor to the governor followed by disconnecting the throttle cable from the governor and connecting it directly to the carburetor. However, this option may sometimes cause the throttle cable to break due to pressure on it at high speed.

Method 3

Wrap a zip-tie around the governor arm bolt and pull it as tight as possible. This stimulates the same effect of tightening the locknut.

Yamaha G16 Governor Adjustment

The following methods show you how to adjust the governor on your Club Car G16 golf cart.

Method 1

Turn the 10mm nut inward until you get the desired speed. It might also be a good idea to get a speed spring installed.

Method 2

This method is to remove the governor so that it’s wide open without realignment of throttle cables.

1. Loosen the 10mm nut if it has been tightened.
2. Take off the plastic black cover that is present at the back.
3. Remove the bracket that is fitted on the shaft.
4. Drill out the governor using a 5/16 drill bit.
5. Put the bracket back and tighten it so that it remains in place.

Yamaha G29 Governor Adjustment

The following steps show you how to adjust the governor on your Yamaha G29 golf cart.

1. Remove the rear inspection panel from the golf cart. The spring accelerated governor is right below this panel.
2. Use a 10mm wrench and tighten the nut a little by moving it in to expose the threaded rod a little more. You may want to wear a glove when you do this.
3. Take the cart for a test drive to check for the desired speed.

Avoid over-tightening the nut to keep off problems such as oil getting into the muffler and carburetor because of the high speed.

EZGO RXV Governor Adjustment

The following methods show you how to adjust the governor on your EzyGO RXV golf cart.

Method 1

1. Remove the throttle cable from the bracket.
2. Loosen the 10mm nut up to the point where the engine will start and idle when the pedal is pushed.
3. Loosen the nut that connects the governor to the shaft as much as possible.
4. Position the throttle cable against idle and the governor against its stop.
5. Tighten the 10mm nut.
6. Hook the cable back in position.

Method 2

Compress or tighten the foot throttle cable spring using a wrench to gain some extra speed. Take care not to over-rev the motor as this affects its life.

Harley Davidson 1973-1975 Golf Cart Governor Adjustment

The following steps show you how to adjust the governor on your Harley Davidson golf cart.

1. Determine the kind of governor that is used in your golf cart.
2. Locate the spring on the differential or carburetor that helps in changing the cart speed by adjusting its tension.
3. Increase the length of the cable that is fitted on to the body of the throttle and clutch of the two-stroke engine. This can be increased by loosening the cable nut until the governor stops functioning when the gas pedal is pressed.
4. Bypass the spark regulator by disconnecting the wires that come from the governor. Splice the ends and wrap them with electrical tape if the governor is distinct from the ignition system.

If the governor is a part of the ignition system, make a substitution with a signal ignition switch.

Keep in mind that this step works only for electronically controlled governors.

Club Car DS/Precedent Governor Adjustment

The following methods show you how to adjust the governor on your Club Car DS or Precedent golf cart.

Method 1

Locate the governor above the gearbox and loosen or add slack to the spring by backing off the spring tension. This makes the cart go at a slow speed.

Method 2

1. Loosen the nut attached to the governor arm with a 7/16” wrench to turn the shaft.
2. Push the governor arm to the back of the cart and grasp it with your hand.
3. Turn the governor shaft in the counter-clockwise direction until it cannot be turned further.
4. Retighten the nut and let go off your hold on the governor arm.
5. This method also helps to slow down the cart.