2004 Club Car rough start forward/reverse

[parkmanaa]

Bought a 2004 Precedent Carryall 2 a few months ago. Immediately noticed when lever was in reverse golf cart would wait until engine reved well past idle, then lurch backward. The situation now is almost as bad with forward. Also, at times, with engine running, lever won't go into forward or reverse, but if you kill the engine it shifts either way freely.
Engine doesn't seem to be idling too fast.

Any experience on this or how it could be corrected?

[golfcartg]

To diagnose the problem, we'll need to start by ruling out potential issues through a process of elimination. The first step is to check the shifter linkage to see if it’s causing the problem. Carefully disconnect the shifter linkage at the rear of the cart, which allows you to manually shift the cart into both forward and reverse. If the cart shifts smoothly and without delay when doing this, it suggests that the issue is likely related to the linkage itself rather than internal gears.

If the problem persists even after manually shifting, it could indicate an issue with the internal gears inside the rear end. Potential problems might include worn or damaged gears, a malfunctioning shift fork, or issues with the clutch mechanism that could cause the cart to lurch or delay engagement, especially when switching directions.

On the other hand, if the issue is resolved when manually shifting, it points to a problem with the shifter linkage. This could be due to misalignment, wear in the linkage components, or even a loose or stretched cable that isn't properly engaging the gears when you use the shifter. Over time, these parts can wear out, leading to the kind of difficulty in shifting and delayed engagement you’re experiencing. If you have any questions feel free to ask!