Section 16 - Unitized Transaxle; General Information - Club Car FE350 2005 Maintenance Service Supplement

SECTION 16 – UNITIZED TRANSAXLE
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DANGER
• See General Warning, Section 10, Page 10-1.
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WARNING
• See General Warning, Section 10, Page 10-1.

GENERAL INFORMATION

All gasoline-powered Club Car vehicles manufactured since the beginning of the 1997 model year are
equipped with heavy-duty, fully-synchronized Unitized Transaxles. The unitized transaxle utilizes fully-syn-
chronized internal gearing to change vehicle direction. Because the unitized transaxle is used to reverse vehi-
cle direction, the engine, drive clutch, belt, and driven clutch rotate in the same direction; therefore, the engine
and clutches are not subjected to reversing loads. This reduces maintenance requirements on the engine and
clutches. With the unitized transaxle, power is transferred from the engine through the drive clutch, the drive
belt, the driven clutch, and then through the unitized transaxle to the wheels.
Shifter Lever
A shifter lever, connected to a shifter arm, is used to change the gears to one of three shift positions: FOR-
WARD (F), NEUTRAL (N), or REVERSE (R) (Figure 16-1, Page 16-2). Bring the vehicle to a complete stop
before changing FORWARD or REVERSE direction.
Neutral Lockout
The pedal-start FE350 vehicle has a neutral lockout circuit that prevents a driver from starting the vehicle in
NEUTRAL. If the vehicle is started in FORWARD or REVERSE and then shifted to NEUTRAL, the engine will
stop running.
The key-start FE350 vehicle will start in NEUTRAL; however, if the accelerator pedal is pressed while the For-
ward/Reverse handle is in the NEUTRAL position, the engine will stop running.
For the convenience of the trained technician, there is a neutral lockout cam (yellow knob) located on the back
of the Forward/Reverse shifter, inside the engine compartment. If the neutral lockout cam is pulled out approx-
imately 3/8 inch (10 mm) and then rotated one-half turn until it snaps into place, the cam will be in the SER-
VICE (MAINTENANCE) position:
• Pedal-Start vehicles: When the cam is in the SERVICE (MAINTENANCE) position, it will allow the
technician to run the engine in NEUTRAL for certain maintenance procedures. With the cam in this
position, the vehicle will not operate if the Forward/Reverse handle is placed in either the FORWARD
or REVERSE position.
• Key-Start vehicles: When the cam is in the SERVICE (MAINTENANCE) position, it will allow the tech-
nician to run the vehicle in FORWARD, REVERSE or NEUTRAL for certain maintenance and/or repair
functions; however, if the Forward/Reverse handle is in either FORWARD or REVERSE and the accel-
erator is pressed, the engine will stop running.
To put the cam back into the OPERATE position, pull the cam out approximately 3/8 inch (10 mm) and rotate
it one-half turn until it snaps into place.
2005 FE350 Gasoline Vehicle Maintenance and Service Supplement
16
Page 16-1