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Re: remakeing the car

 

I have some info at:



A Curtis controller with at least 400 amps should be OK. Usually a
Curtis 1209, but you might be able to use one of the upgraded 1205
controllers from Golftech:



We tried an upgraded 1204 from Golftech. The performance was adequate
but it would go into thermal cutback if pushed too hard/too long.

SAH

--- In C-Car@..., infoman101@a... wrote:
I have a Comuta car I want to update the controler in it. but I
have
no idea where to start.
the car is not runing now.
my goul is to have it runing by this spring.
any ideas would be helpfull


remakeing the car

 

I have a Comuta car I want to update the controler in it. but I have
no idea where to start.
the car is not runing now.
my goul is to have it runing by this spring.
any ideas would be helpfull


Re: Year of Manufacture?

Tim Dunning
 

Hi Don,

I don't know how to decode the VIN either, but I have a 1981 (according
to the title) Comuta-Car with VIN 1111B1C20BS000860. Perhaps if you
can get a few more samples a pattern will emerge.

Good Luck,

Tim

Hi to all, and Happy New Year.

December was a quiet month for the C-group must have been the cold
weather. Even in Florida very cold for our thin blood. It's been a
nice week end I just finished recovering my bench seat. Even with
four of these cars I don't have one good set of seats. Now I have
something comfortable to sit on while I'm trying to unravel the
wiring mess under the dash. The main reason for this message is to
find out if anyone out there knows how to tell what year a Comutacar
was manufactured. I don't have Titles for any of these cars. They all
have VIN numbers, and was wondering is it encoded in the VIN #????
Will have some pictures to send soon. Thanks for any help.

Don Morin


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Re: Citicar motor

Mike Chancey
 

<anthonyluiz@...> wrote:

Has anybody taken apart their citicar GE 3.5hp motor? I got my
Citicar with almost dead batteries and a jerking at low speed.....

I had my GE 3.5 apart several times and there wasn't any sort of ring with
set screws on the armature or comm. I would recomend you find a GOOD motor
repair shop, and have yours checked over. It sounds like yours needs some
professional assistance. The shop that did mine did contract work for the
railroads, and knew DC motors inside and out. As I recall it ran about $300
for them to go through it, but afterwords it felt like it had twice the
power.


Thanks,

Mike Chancey,
'88 Civic EV
Kansas City, Missouri
EV List Photo Album at:
My Electric Car at:
Mid-America EAA chapter at:
Join the EV List at:


Citicar motor

 

Has anybody taken apart their citicar GE 3.5hp motor? I got my
Citicar with almost dead batteries and a jerking at low speed. After
battery replacment the motor started to smell and the jerking got much
more noticeable. After removing the motor and opening it up we found
that the motor brush holder was bad and the commutator was in bad need
of turning, and the commutator plates have different resistance
readings between adjoining plates. After looking it over,it looks like
there was at one time a ring of some sort that put pressure on the
wires where they attach to the commutator via some set screws or
something, I think this would explain the resistance difference. On
all of the outer wires there is a small dent that looks like there was
a bolt that pushed on it at one time. After looking around and calling
GE I still have not found any info.Does anyone know if there is a ring
of some kind missing. Does anyone have some knowledge or an assembly
drawing of this motor? Can anybody help me? Any info at all would be
helpful and very much appreciated.... want to drive my car again!

Anthony


Re: Citicar/Comutacar Tire Source

 

The 155 will be too big and will rub. The largest diameter tire that
you might get away with is the 145/80R12. The Guardsman 145/80R12
from Sears is about $20 each.

The first 12" radials on the Comuta-car where 125R12. Even the
145/80R12 would be over 3/4" wider and almost 1.5" taller.

SAH

--- In C-Car@..., techman@h... wrote:
I was visiting my local K-mart over the weekend and noticed they
carried Goodyear Club metric radials. They had the 155/80R12 size
(21.7" diameter) in stock and were sale priced at $21.99 ea. The
tread pattern on these looked pretty decent too. A picture and
specs
are available on Goodyear's web site (www.goodyear.com). This
might
be a good fit for the C-cars that have the 12" rims.


Citicar/Comutacar Tire Source

 

I was visiting my local K-mart over the weekend and noticed they
carried Goodyear Club metric radials. They had the 155/80R12 size
(21.7" diameter) in stock and were sale priced at $21.99 ea. The
tread pattern on these looked pretty decent too. A picture and specs
are available on Goodyear's web site (www.goodyear.com). This might
be a good fit for the C-cars that have the 12" rims.


Year of Manufacture?

 

Hi to all, and Happy New Year.

December was a quiet month for the C-group must have been the cold
weather. Even in Florida very cold for our thin blood. It's been a
nice week end I just finished recovering my bench seat. Even with
four of these cars I don't have one good set of seats. Now I have
something comfortable to sit on while I'm trying to unravel the
wiring mess under the dash. The main reason for this message is to
find out if anyone out there knows how to tell what year a Comutacar
was manufactured. I don't have Titles for any of these cars. They all
have VIN numbers, and was wondering is it encoded in the VIN #????
Will have some pictures to send soon. Thanks for any help.

Don Morin


10" Wheels

 

Hi,
Sorry this has taken so long to answer, but I had the information about the 10" tires and wheels at my office. When I tried trailer
tires I found that the four hole spacing was slightly off (close enough for a trailer I guess) since they were metric and very close to
the inch units of our wheels. This made the car thump slightly, I suppose it was my luck to get metric substitutes.
Anyway, my local tire dealer took them back and got me the 10" rims and Goodyear Double Eagle radials--which cost alot.
I have since found a golfcart place that sells them at a much better price. It is Santiago Golf Car Supply in Orange, CA. Phone is
714-633-9089 or www.santiagogolf.com.
There are other suppliers of these types of tires after all, we are driving glorified golf carts now.

Good luck,
Tom Gocze


Re: wheels

Tech Man
 

Wow, 10" rims on a C-Car. Based on the rim size, I am assuming that you are
running bias-ply tires and not radials on these rims. I guess compared to
wobbly trailer tires that almost any type of alternative would be better but
my intent is to maximize range and speed which is hindered with wide,
bias-ply tires. I also want to have decent handling. The only combination
that I have been able to come up with are 12" rims with 145/80R12 tires
since these are the smallest diameter radial that is commonly available (at
least in the US).
I have been looking at purchasing 12" rims from Northern Tools (part # 1221
@ $14.99ea.). Northern also has another 12" rim (part # 12212 @$14.99 ea.).
The difference between the two is that the later is listed as "high-speed"
and it looks somewhat different. It also weighs 12lbs compared to 11lbs for
the standard wheel. Both rims are stated as having a 4 X 4" bolt pattern
which is what the C-Car requires. Could you tell me where you got the rims
that you tried? If they were from Northern, I will look for a different
source.

-----Original Message-----
From: gocze@... [SMTP:gocze@...]
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 4:21 PM
To: C-Car@...
Subject: [C-Car] wheels

I tried some trailer tires and found that some of the rims are metric
instead of english units (inches)
and they were slightly off. This caused a wobble that was not too much fun
to drive with. Then tried 10" golf cart
rims and they improved the ride markedly. The tradeoff was a slower
vehicle and lower ground clearance. Haven't dragged on
anything yet. The car feels alot less like a deathtrap over 35 with these
new wheels and tires.
I increased the operating voltage to 72 volts and this combination makes
my '80 C-car a nice ride.
Tom Gocze




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wheels

 

I tried some trailer tires and found that some of the rims are metric instead of english units (inches)
and they were slightly off. This caused a wobble that was not too much fun to drive with. Then tried 10" golf cart
rims and they improved the ride markedly. The tradeoff was a slower vehicle and lower ground clearance. Haven't dragged on
anything yet. The car feels alot less like a deathtrap over 35 with these new wheels and tires.
I increased the operating voltage to 72 volts and this combination makes my '80 C-car a nice ride.
Tom Gocze


Re: Comutacar Tire Replacement

 

--- In C-Car@..., Tech Man <techman@h...> wrote:
Hello to All,

I would be curious to know if anyone has replaced the stock 13"
rims on the
Comutacar and replaced them with 12" rims in order to utilize 12"
radials
(i.e. 145/80R12) which are readily available. If you have made
this
conversion, where did you get the rim with the proper bolt pattern
and
offset? Also, does anyone know the wheel offset on the 13" rims?
Thank
you.
All Citicars and some Comuta-cars used 12" x 4" wide rims with no
offset. Some Comuta-cars used 13" x 4.5" wide rims with 1/4" offset
back from center. The 12" wheels came stock with 480x12 trailer tires
and later with 125R12 radials. The 135/80R13 tires that came on the
Comuta-cars were larger and rubbed under some conditions. The 145R12
tires will work just as well.

Any standard 12" 4 bolt trailer wheel will work. They almost all are
4" wide with no offset. For wheels see:



Also, see my info on C-car wheels and tires:



SAH


Comutacar Tire Replacement

Tech Man
 

Hello to All,

I would be curious to know if anyone has replaced the stock 13" rims on the
Comutacar and replaced them with 12" rims in order to utilize 12" radials
(i.e. 145/80R12) which are readily available. If you have made this
conversion, where did you get the rim with the proper bolt pattern and
offset? Also, does anyone know the wheel offset on the 13" rims? Thank
you.


Re: Citicar battery holddowns

Mike Chancey
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Royce,
?
Yes Cititcars had battery tie downs.? There was a square metal plate, about 6" on each side with a single long bolt through it that secured the center four batteries.? The two on ach side were scured by two bolts between each pair of batteries, that went through a plastic double angle piece, that looked like two pieces of angle iorn welded back to back.? On my Citi the plastic bits had broken, so I made my own from steel.? For bolts I was able to find long enough universal ones at NAPA.? I hope the quick picture below helps.
?
Thanks,
Mike Chancey,
'88 Civic EV
Kansas City, Missouri
EV List Photo Album at:
My Electric Car at:
Mid-America EAA chapter at:
Citicar/Comutacar egroup at:
Join the EV List at:
?
?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Royce Chow KF6PEO" <rufus@...>
To: <C-Car@...>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2000 1:49 AM
Subject: [C-Car] Citicar battery holddowns

> I just installed the batteries in my citicar, and there is no sign of
> any holddown method. I see some holes in the bottom, but they look
> more like drains than mounting points. Did citicars originally have
> battery holddowns, and if so, where did they mount?
>
> Royce Chow
> 197? Citicar, sitting at a happy 67.8 volts
>
>
> -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
> eLerts
> It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
>

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
C-Car-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>


Citicar battery holddowns

 

I just installed the batteries in my citicar, and there is no sign of
any holddown method. I see some holes in the bottom, but they look
more like drains than mounting points. Did citicars originally have
battery holddowns, and if so, where did they mount?

Royce Chow
197? Citicar, sitting at a happy 67.8 volts


Shocks & Master Cylinder

 

Mike,
In response to your question as to what year my Comutacars are
I will be honest I really don't know. This I can tell you is that all
four of these cars were used by Miami Prison Guards. I was told they
hated the cars, and did everything to to break them. They hit the
speed bumps so hard that it bent leaf springs. Now I don't know if
there is a place that the year is stamped on these vehicles, or coded
in the VIN #? When I finished sand blasting the rear end I found the
#4-25-80 in the casing, but don't know if that was the date the rear
end was built, or the car. If any one knows where to find the date
I'd like to know. Had the Sheriff Dept. run a VIN # Check, and
nothing came up.

Also to answer the question about the shocks travel if I remember
correctly they were very close around 1/2" difference. It was the
best match NAPA could come up with.

I'll send you the Original Master cylinder # when I pull the one
out of the other car.

Don


Last year for C-Cars?

Mike Chancey
 

Hi folks,

Does anyone know when the last Comutacar was made? I can't recall if it was
'80, '81, or '82. I know the first Citicars were made in '74, but when did
it all end?

Thanks,

Mike Chancey,
'88 Civic EV
Kansas City, Missouri
EV List Photo Album at:
My Electric Car at:
Mid-America EAA chapter at:
Citicar/Comutacar egroup at:
Join the EV List at:


Re: Part Numbers

Mike Chancey
 

Hi Folks,

Well, the begining of the parts interchange is up at:



It isn't much yet, but if we all share our info, it can become something
very useful.

Thanks,

Mike Chancey,
'88 Civic EV
Kansas City, Missouri
EV List Photo Album at:
My Electric Car at:
Mid-America EAA chapter at:
Citicar/Comutacar egroup at:
Join the EV List at:


Re: Part Numbers

Mike Chancey
 

Hi Don,

What year C-Car do you have? I want to get the year for the master cylinder
and shock interchange list. That sounds like the same shock I used on my
Citicar. I drilled out the lower loop to 1/2" and replaced the lower shock
mount with a 1/2" bolt. As I recall they did not have the same compressed
length as the original Gabriels, but they did not bottom out.

FWIW, I am an ex-NAPA parts counterman, and still have access to the
catalogs and parts information, (they would like to hire me back).

Thanks,

Mike Chancey

----- Original Message -----
From: <belltronic@...>
To: <C-Car@...>
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 4:42 PM
Subject: [C-Car] Part Numbers


Hi Guy's,
I think the Parts Data base is great. As I said before I have
just finished the bottom end of the car. I bleed the brakes today,
and have a strong full pedal. There was a problem getting all the air
out of a system that has been almost totally replaced. I had to
design a pressure feeder plate for the master cylinder, and it worked
great.
It bleed the system in 15 min. a done deal....
Everything below was replace except the brake shoes, wheel cylinders,
and cylinder cups. The cups were in good shape so I reused them.
These Bendix wheel cylinders I have had no luck so far finding, or
crossing for replacement. Now that I have explained where I am here is
a list of part numbers that I did find so I hope this will help.

I will start by saying that my business is right next to a NAPA Auto
Parts store. Could you ask for anything better! These guy's find this
project interesting, and have been bending over to help me find parts
for this little car.

One of the first things I had to replace was the Shocks. The one's
that were on this Comutarcar were Gabriel Shocks, and didn't cross.
NAPA did cross this shocks travel to a Monroe. The NAPA part # is
20721. Now there is one small problem with this shock, and that is
the bottom end of the shock has a mounting hole smaller then the
Gabriel. I solved this problem by turning the bolt down on my Lathe
from 5/8" to around 7/16". You make the choice for yourself if this
is what you want to do.......it worked for me.

The Master cylinder is a rebuilt NAPA Pt. # 10-1373 cost @ $26.00.
The only difference is the reservoir cover on this unit bolts down.
I find this easier to remove then the spring retainer.

Brake lines and such are not a problem, but if you want part #
let me know I'll send # that I used.

Don






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C-Car-unsubscribe@...




Part Numbers

 

Hi Guy's,
I think the Parts Data base is great. As I said before I have
just finished the bottom end of the car. I bleed the brakes today,
and have a strong full pedal. There was a problem getting all the air
out of a system that has been almost totally replaced. I had to
design a pressure feeder plate for the master cylinder, and it worked
great.
It bleed the system in 15 min. a done deal....
Everything below was replace except the brake shoes, wheel cylinders,
and cylinder cups. The cups were in good shape so I reused them.
These Bendix wheel cylinders I have had no luck so far finding, or
crossing for replacement. Now that I have explained where I am here is
a list of part numbers that I did find so I hope this will help.

I will start by saying that my business is right next to a NAPA Auto
Parts store. Could you ask for anything better! These guy's find this
project interesting, and have been bending over to help me find parts
for this little car.

One of the first things I had to replace was the Shocks. The one's
that were on this Comutarcar were Gabriel Shocks, and didn't cross.
NAPA did cross this shocks travel to a Monroe. The NAPA part # is
20721. Now there is one small problem with this shock, and that is
the bottom end of the shock has a mounting hole smaller then the
Gabriel. I solved this problem by turning the bolt down on my Lathe
from 5/8" to around 7/16". You make the choice for yourself if this
is what you want to do.......it worked for me.

The Master cylinder is a rebuilt NAPA Pt. # 10-1373 cost @ $26.00.
The only difference is the reservoir cover on this unit bolts down.
I find this easier to remove then the spring retainer.

Brake lines and such are not a problem, but if you want part #
let me know I'll send # that I used.

Don