MGI Zip Navigator AT -Operation

ajlacombe · February 28, 2022

Something happened to me yesterday that I thought others should know about so they can avoid it.

We had about a 2 hour frost delay and when we went outside my display on the Zip Navigator was dark and I lifted the battery handle and lowered it and the display would not light - I figured the battery had somehow gotten drained and was dead. I put the cart into freewheel mode and it seemed ok, but as the round wore on, the wheel hub would not spin independently of the axle and I was turning the electric motors which made it very difficult to move the thing - about 2-3 times harder than a regular push cart. This was a very hilly course and it was killing me.

After 16 holes, I finally was able to separate the wheel from the axle and the only thing I could do was to spit on the axle and this helped to get me finished. I put the battery on the charger when I got home and it immediately showed it was charged. After seeing that I figured the cart went into a sleep mode. I contacted MGI and yes after 30 minutes of inactivity the cart does go to sleep - pushing a remote button will NOT wake it up. In order to wake it up you have to press and hold the left and center buttons on the handle for 4 seconds and it will reawaken.

A friend of mine told me he just removes the battery and puts it back on and that wakes it up. Believe me you do not want to push that thing with stick axles too - I am going to make sure I regularly clean the axles just in case I need to free wheel ever again 🙂

SilenceX · February 28, 2022

MGI also recommends removing the wheels and applying a small amount of Vaseline to the axel stubs “monthly” except when I contacted them about a clicking sound they told me “monthly” actually means “every 5-7 rounds.” So if you’re using it near-daily, it should be a weekly routine.

Skaffa77 · February 28, 2022

thanks for the heads up. Removing the battery and putting it back on would have been my first step...like restarting a computer when it's struggling.

Skaffa77 · February 28, 2022

1 hour ago, SilenceX said:

MGI also recommends removing the wheels and applying a small amount of Vaseline to the axel stubs “monthly” except when I contacted them about a clicking sound they told me “monthly” actually means “every 5-7 rounds.” So if you’re using it near-daily, it should be a weekly routine.

Vaseline? Wouldn't that attract dust/dirt and cause more issues?

SilenceX · March 1, 2022

20 hours ago, Skaffa77 said:

Vaseline? Wouldn't that attract dust/dirt and cause more issues?

One would think, but they specifically say a petroleum jelly (and even used the brand name Vaseline in the reply to me). My guess is a silicon type lubricant just doesn’t last long enough so you’d be having to reapply near daily. I think the issue is more to due with a lack of grease than it is to do with debris in there so the trade off is worth it?

See section 10.2 for wheel maintenance: https://www.motogolf.com/pdfdocs/MGIG_0804H-ZIP-NAV-User-Manuals-Updates-FEB-18-WEB.pdf