Here’s the link to SFGEM’s clapped out ride:
BTW, how did you post the streaming video in the thread? I tried to repost the link just for simplicity, but nothing worked…
Pulling the motor is usually not a difficult job If you’ve never done it before, give yourself a couple hours so you don’t bumblefvck it and break shyt.
I don’t have the time right now to write something up, but f you are going to pull the motor post your intent in this thread about a day, or at least a few hours, before and PM that you posted here so at least I can give you some tips about the gotchas.
Not having a compressor is easily solvable.
- Do you have a shop vac with an exhaust port you can plug the hose into and use the crevice tool as a blowgun?
- Hit up an office supply store for a couple cans of “compressed air”.
- Get a cheap 12v compressor that comes with a nozzle for blowing stuff off.
- Bribe a homeless (should be easy to find in SF) to blow, suck or lick it all out.
- etc
It could also be worn teeth on the input shaft comping out of the diff. Look head on down the input shaft and see if the teeth are worn to appear lopsided, Like one side is more flat than the other, both upward sides of the triangle started out with the same angle. Also, look at the teeth edges close to the diff, look to see if part of the teeth that was not inserted into the collet on the motor is noticeably taller than the section that was.
Anytime you pull the motor, you should replace the shaft bumper. Get the real GEM / Polaris one, which has a smooth outer edge, The ones with the knobs/“teeth” that stick up on the outer edge are for a different setup on golf carts and are much softer. They last about 20-50 miles in a gem.
Before you pull the motor, you can also try getting the front end up on jackstands, use a block of wood or the jack to raise the a-arm of one side so it’s kind of at the heigh it would be while driving, block or hold the other wheel from rotating and find a friend and have them press down gently on the accelerator. You could have a bad or worn u-joint in a half-shaft..