Pargo Year and Model Lookup

     The Pargo golf car came in a 3 wheel model and later in a 4 wheel model. The early 3 wheel model had a tiller style steering system similar to the later Harley 3 Wheel cars. Then came a steering wheel later followed with a 4 wheel model which always had a steering wheel.

The brake systems changed over the years as well. The early models had a Band Brake that wrapped around a drum just to the driver side of the motor. It was cable activated. These systems are no longer available but the metal band can be relined by a clutch & brake relining shop. A replacement cable is history. Later, Pargo had a disk brake style system with a thick metal rotor that the disk pads pressed against to create a stopping action. These pads are still available but the rotor is not. Later still the Pargo had a wheel brake system that used Bendix brake shoes and a stamped metal drum. These are still available. The latter two systems were rod activated and replacement parts can be fashioned from threaded rod found at most hardware stores, if needed.

The most significant difference amongst the various models was the speed control switch(es). Very early cars had a very small rotary type switch that mounted under the floorboard just in front of the accelerator pedal. These are gone. Later, a similar, but larger, switch was employed in the same location. It sits inside a metal electrical junction box (also used in home wiring). This switch turned the car on and controlled the 3 speeds that the car could provide. These cars had 7 solenoids each; 2 for forward, 2 for reverse, plus 3 more-one for each of the 3 speeds.

Later still came the Mayo jar speed control (as I call it). This model had 8 solenoids (a fourth speed was added) and a funny looking plastic jar that protected 4 small roller-arm microswitches that were employed to control the 4 speeds of the car. A little round disk behind the microswitches was connected to the accelerator pedal and as it rotated it sequentially closed or opened the small switches which in turn engerized or de-engerized its respective speed solenoid. Click on Larger Picture at the bottom of this section for a look see at this marvel.

Use this information to learn more about your car.  Once you have determined the different characteristics of your car, locating parts and accessories will become much easier.

Service Notes: If the car is jumpy in the first speed and you have a 7 solenoid system, then your accelerator switch has probably failed. If the car has an 8 solenoid array then one of the small diodes between the small terminals of the solenoids may have failed. This assumes that the solenoids and microswitches test out to be OK.