Golf cart Starter/Generator in a Vehicle

Brain farting…
Has anyone adapted golf cart generator to a vehicle. I’d imagine space issues in a multi-carbed engine would be a good reason.
Yes I realize those change direction to allow both starting and charging. The starting rotation would have to be eliminated.

 

I used to sell and service EZ-GO golf karts. Why would you want to? The max I ever saw them put out is about 25 amps checked with a VAT machine.

 

I agree. I can't think of an engine which would easily and reliably start with a vee belt drive.
Although I do remember a dude that came out of a coin op laundry, dropped his clean clothes in the back, grabbed a 3/8 racket, extension and socket and hand cranked his VW bus to life using the gen nut.

 

Not to be used to start an engine but just as a charger.
Most original 59-63 12 volt ford generators are in the 30 amp range. I’d imagine something like this could be doable.

 

But could it take the rpm?

 

Good point.
Could the bearings also take the belt torque??

 

I once had an Italian Arona diesel engine in a yacht that had a Dynastarter. It didn't put out much power but spun the little diesel over with ease through a V belt.
I think you would be disappointed. There are plenty of very small reasonable output alternators out there.

 

Interesting info….
I’d imagine the tricky part is to get it to start charging below 3000 rpm.

fyi.
Generator function

• Switches at a certain engine RPM:
  Once the engine is running, the starter/generator unit switches to its generating function. One specific example shows this happens when the starter/generator is running above 3000 RPM, which corresponds to a specific engine RPM.
• Higher speeds for charging:
  For the generator to be effective at charging the battery, it needs to be spinning at high RPMs, sometimes up to 8,000 RPM or more depending on the model and pulley size.
• Continuous operation:
  The generator runs at a high speed as long as the engine is running to provide a continuous charge to the battery.

 

No plans to use one but what caught my eye was the similarity of how close they look to a 12 volt 1960’s ford generator.

 

They usually have a ball bearing like a gm alternator on the pulley end. Some had only bronze bushings on the brush end though.

 

About the high rpm. My guess is it would be rpm at the starter/generator vs engine rpm? Think about it, Big crank v pulley???