In a throw away society it may seem an uphill battle to try to educate consumers on the value of repairing instead of purchasing something entirely new. However, in the field of gas powered small engine this is a point of both good economics and practicality. It’s also an idea whose time has come around once more.
In times past it was easy to find men tinkering under the hood of their vehicles adjusting belts, carburetors, spark plugs and any of a number of other engine parts in an effort to extend the life and usefulness of their vehicle.
With the advent of home repair and vehicle repair television and radio shows the idea of taking something well-used and making it useful again has suddenly become en vogue once more.
The movement today is called Repowering and it is a method of reintroducing the notion that remanufactured and rebuilt small engines are a cost effective way to add life to gas powered vehicles.
Companies like Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Cushman and Honda are all willing participants in the supply of small repowered gas engines for use in extending the life of things like utility vehicles and golf carts.
While it may be true that many country clubs have decided an electric cart is a better fit for their needs and less labor intensive the truth is a gas powered cart is a sturdier long term solution to the rigorous demands of most golf courses.
It may be important to note that a new gas powered golf cart can cost as much as $20,000 while repower kits for gas powered golf carts can be purchased for as little as $1,500. It’s true, you might suffer a little down time, but for savings of potentially thousands of dollars, the inconvenience may well be worth it.
Several companies specialize in repowered small engines for use in golf cart applications. Engines from such companies as Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Honda and Cushman are all included in these repowered small engine kits.
The basics design of a golf cart is relatively simple so repowering them simply makes sense. According to the Engine Repower Council, “Rebuilt engines get better gas mileage than a worn engine, and emit fewer pollutants. Engine repowering also saves the tremendous amount of energy used in processing discarded engines and vehicles.”
In the long run, a golf cart with more power, fewer emissions and a cost that still remains below that of a new electric unit may be a solution that is hard to ignore.
Let me reemphasize…
In the end, a repower solution is a means of bringing common sense solutions to the issues affecting your golf course. It remains an environmentally friendly way to manage both your ongoing needs as well as reducing the short term need for additional disposal of a metal waste product.
What car enthusiasts have known for some time is that they can bring new life to aging vehicles by repowering them. The same can be true for those who deal with small engines.
In the business of managing an aspect of a golf course the primary directive seems to be taking care of the bottom line. The use of repowering can provide significant long term savings to your course while providing a means of demonstrating effective ingenuity, common sense, and cost effective solutions to your board of directors.
Benefit Recap:
Take the time to investigate the possibilities and you may come to the conclusion that the best reason to repower is because it’s one of the few things that just make sense.
-Ben Anton, 2006
http://www.repowerspecialists.com/onan-engine.htm