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The most common "frequently asked questions" are answered here. If you have additional questions, or are in need of further information, please contact us. A customer service specialist would be happy to assist you in providing all the information you need to make your Gem Car upgrade decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How far can I travel on a full charge with a Ride-4-Fun 7.5HP performance motor?
- How will handling be affected with tire & wheel packages?
- Is it difficult to install Ride-4-Fun full view doors?
- How will bigger tires effect performance?
- Can a stock Gem Car be programmed to travel 35MPH?
- Should I considering gearing to obtain more speed?
- When should I consider re-programming?
- Can I use stock fenders with Ride-4-Fun tire & wheel packages?
- How are Gem Car motors rated?
- Can I buy a replacement motor from Chrysler?
- How difficult is it to install a Ride-4-Fun motor?
- How can my Gem Car be reprogrammed?
- Why is the Ride-4-Fun 7.5 HP motor better than the stock motor?
- Can I reprogram my 05' Gem?
- Is it difficult to install the Ride-4-Fun "Durabracket" and Utility box?
How far can I travel on a full charge with a 7.5HP performance motor?
On a single charge, a Gem Car will operate anywhere from 25-30 miles, depending on the driving habits, road conditions, and charging procedures. The same factors hold true and will determine, your range with a 7.5HP motor installed in your Gem car.
Without any reprogramming, your 7.5HP Gem car will experience faster acceleration, more power uphill and top-end enhancements with current controller settings. Under these conditions the same amount of battery power is delivered to the 7.5HP motor as a stock motor. Because the 7.5HP is more efficient than a stock motor it is able to produce more power with the same programmed delivery of battery power, resulting in an overall slightly higher mileage range than a stock configuration.
However, to get the most top-end performance from your 7.5HP Gem, you will need reprogramming. Modifying your controller, through reprogramming, allows more battery power to be delivered to your 7.5HP which can generate higher RPM's through its higher horsepower output. This additional battery power delivered at higher speeds can affect your range by up to 20%. Once again, your results will vary depending on how you operate your vehicle. If you are planning on operating your Gem at top-end speeds for extended periods, you will experience some decrease in range. In this case we recommend you use 20% for planning and you'll be very satisfied with the range of your more powerful Gem.
The 7.5HP has been designed and tested to take more power input than a stock motor and therefore proper reprogramming will not affect its reliability. For this reason we include free reprogramming with the purchase of a new motor. When reprogramming a stock motor, extreme caution should be used. The stock motor is not designed to handle an increase in power input and it is quite easy to "cook" a stock motor.
How will handling be affected with tire & wheel packages?
The tire/wheel packages will substantially improve handling, while completely transforming the look of your Gem Car into a mean street machine. Ride-4-Fun packages have tires that are engineered as automobile tires, and are designed to provide car-like performance. They are also wider than stock tires and that difference adds to the performance handling, particularly at the higher speeds obtained with the 7.5HP motor.
The 14" wheel and 16" wheel packages handle so well you'll feel like you're in a road-hugging sports car. Golf cart - like handling is replaced with sports car performance which is important for everyday comfort, handling and safety. This performance is critical as you consider other modifications that will increase speed.
Is it difficult to install full view doors?
On the average it takes our customers about an hour to install a set of Full View Ride-4-Fun Doors. The doors are installed with regular hand tools, and our kit supplies everything else you'll need.
Many of our customers also take advantage of our technical support. They may call to discuss the installation prior to starting, and are comforted by the fact that we are only a phone call away should any questions arise.
How will bigger tires effect performance?
Taller tires, as available in our tire & wheel packages, are a great way to increase top end performance with up to a 5 MPH increase in speed. If you looking for a reliable, moderate speed increase with the addition of superior handling and great looks, a tire & wheel package is the way to go.
For real top end performance and increased reliability - add the 7.5HP motor for a package that works well in all conditions and will dramatically transform your Gem.
Can a stock Gem Car be programmed to travel 35MPH?
Yes, but beware! In our test Gems we had them clocked at 35MPH with gearing and radical reprogramming. However this performance was short lived!
Radical reprogramming and or gearing will destroy your Gem Car. The motor and the controller CAN NOT take the increased load, higher temperatures, and increased RPMs. If reprogramming to achieve ultimate gem car performance sounds too good to be true, that's because it is not true.
To achieve reliable, everyday, 30MPH plus cruising speeds, you must have more motor. A motor that can deliver higher horsepower, higher RPM and can run all day at higher temps. The stock motor, regardless of how it is programmed, can not operate reliably under highly reprogrammed conditions.
Should I consider gearing to obtain more speed?
At Ride-4-Fun there has never yet been a situation where a customer's driving needs necessitated a gear change. Most customers are looking to achieve reliable speed improvements with increased power and acceleration. Gear changes will never accomplish this. The reality is that gear swaps reduce power, decrease acceleration and will destroy Gem Car drive line components.
Gear changes are designed to increase your gear ratio and will increase axel speed at a given motor RPM. The increase in ratio, will put more load on the motor and controller to spin the axels faster at any given RPM. Load on these components is greatly increased when taking off from a start, maintaining a cruising speed, and especially when you encounter any uphill grades. The other adverse effect of substantially increasing axel speed is that the transaxle was not designed to handle the new axel speeds. In every gear change test we performed, it was only a matter of time before the increase axel speed caused axel seal failure which ultimately destroyed the transaxle. In some cases we were able to ruin a perfectly good Gem Car in 2-3 weeks under normal driving conditions.
The proper way to achieve the desired results of gearing is through a tire & wheel change. You will get the same results without the cost or difficult installation of gear set for close to the same amount of money. Ride-4-Fun entry level tire & rim packages will provide increased speed without increasing axel speeds, and will also provide good looks and enhanced handling which you will need at higher speeds.
When should I consider re-programming?
Re-programming should be considered when consulting with a Gem Car performance specialist in conjunction with other performance modifications. Your Gem Car was built to operate as a system, and all the components have been designed to operate under certain specifications. Once you change the operating characteristics of one component, others will be affected, very likely reducing reliability and safety.
Reprogramming is not a "one size fits all" modification, and certainly not something that you can purchase as an equipment rental over the Internet and expect reliable or desired results.
We generally recommend reprogramming in conjunction with the installation of a high performance motor. The 7.5HP motor is built to take the increased loads and higher RPMs resulting from reprogramming. The stock motor is not built to handle radical or even moderate reprogramming, and it is highly recommended that you speak with a performance specialist before considering reprogramming a stock motor. The Ride-4-Fun specialists are always available to discuss your Gem driving needs.
Can I use stock fenders with tire & wheel packages?
Yes, you can use stock fenders with all Ride-4-Fun tire & wheel packages - even with our big off-road tire package. In some cases, minor adjustments to the fender bracket will have to be performed. When ordering or considering a tire & wheel package, please speak with our product specialists who can let you know if you will need to make any adjustments. The Ride-4-Fun specialists are always available to discuss your Gem driving needs.
Can I buy a replacement motor from Chrysler?
Absolutely. You can always purchase a stock 5HP motor from your Gem car dealer or the discontinued 5.5HP motor. However, you should consider upgrading to 7.5HP if you have burnt out your stock motor. Stock motors are designed to operate under specific driving conditions and provide reliability when used within this guidelines. If you have cooked a stock motor, chances are you need a stronger motor - one that will run at higher RPMs, handle increased loads, and withstand the heat. Replacing a cooked stock motor with another stock motor will usually result in eventual replacement failure for the same reason the original motor failed.
For less money than a stock motor, Ride-4-Fun can provide you with a 7.5HP high performance direct replacement that will outperform a stock motor in reliability, acceleration, higher RPMs and the ability to withstand the harshest environments.
How difficult is it to install a new motor?
Motors are swapped with simple hand tools and the procedure can be completed in 20 minutes. The Ride-4-Fun motor is a direct replacement and will bolt-in exactly the same way in which a stock motor is installed. In the 2005 models, the position of the motor in the 2005 Gems makes the installation even easier.
A Ride-4-Fun specialists is always available by phone to assist with any installation questions and to discuss your Gem driving needs. Please feel free to give us a call.
How can my Gem Car be reprogrammed?
Reprogramming must be performed with an understanding of your driving needs. A Ride-4-Fun product specialist will work with you to reprogram your controller to meet your specific requirements. We will never perform programming with false promises, or institute changes that affect reliability. Our product specialists will work with you to assist in removal of your controller so it can be sent to us for custom reprogramming. We don't believe in do-it-yourself programming - we have seen too many "fried" motors and controllers.
If you are looking to achieve 35MPH on a stock Gem through reprogramming - stop now. You are heading down a dangerous road of false expectations and costly repairs. The Ride-4-Fun specialists are always available to discuss your Gem driving needs. Please feel free to give us a call.
Yes, Ride-4-Fun has been testing it's 2005 reprogramming systems for months and we have begun 2005 reprogramming services for our customers. The 2005 Gems use a different controller interface thus making the old reprogramming systems obsolete on these new Gems. Ride-4-Fun has made the investments in developing and testing new reprogramming equipment and we are ready to serve our 2005 Gem Car customers.
Is it difficult to install the "Durabracket" and Utility box?
The "Durabracket" system can be installed with normal hand tools in approximately 30 minutes. It bolts directly to existing mounts and is fitted directly to the Gem Car frame for unmatched strength. The Ride-4-Fun specialists are always available to discuss your Gem driving needs. Please feel free to give us a call or to send us an e-mail.
Why is the Ride-4-Fun 7.5 HP motor better than the stock motor?
Electric motors have many ratings - not just HP. For comparative ratings you must use the rating of "X" hp for "X" amount of time. The stock Gem 5 hp motor has a H insulation which is good but, only rates out at 5 hp under a 30 minute load. The Ride-4-Fun motor generates 7.5 hp for 60 minutes, so it will generally handle 50% more load for twice the amount of time. It is capable of running at temperatures of 358°, where in our testing we have "fried" the Stock G.E. motor at 185°. In addition it has a rated rpm of 4950 and will hold up to 6000 rpm where the stock motor is only rated at 4100 rpm.
The Ride-4-Fun specialists are always available to discuss your Gem driving needs. Please feel free to give us a call or to send us an e-mail. 631-544-9572, ride4fun@optonline.net
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