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Offline glenlivet

The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« on: October 16, 2019, 12:28:17 PM »
I heard of another well meaning new ORV buyer who was not given a rundown at point of sale, on how the CVT works and how to preserve it, and they ruined their first belt within days.
 I'll offer this bit of lore that I have long thought dealers should always tell the buyer of an ORV who is new to the game:
You must not treat the CVT equipped quad or SXS the way you do an automatic transmission equipped car.
There are two main categories of belt drive machines and they are 'wet' clutch and 'dry' clutch. On differing models CF Moto offers both. The wet clutch has a centrifugal clutch in oil, and the dry clutch uses the belt itself for a clutch. These clutch systems are what allow you to idle while in gear and are meant to permit you to reach the minimum speed in order for the drive to lock up.
In the case of the dry clutch, when you are idling the belt is loose as the drive clutch plates are separated  enough that it does not engage the belt. When you rev it up when in any gear, the clutch closes on the belt and starts to drive the machine. Once you reach the speed that all parts are going the same speed the slip has stopped and we call this 'lockup'. In the machine with a wet clutch the belt is always tight and it's the wet clutch shoes that slip to get you moving.

In either type, wet clutch and dry, until you are going fast enough in the range you have chosen for 'lock up' to occur, the CVT's take off and slow speed mechanism is slipping.
It's made to do this, but the more you minimize the amount of slip necessary to get underway, the longer your parts are going to last. Time spent at less than say 5-7 MPH in low range or 10-14 MPH in high range is slipping time. (I don't know the exact speeds for your machine but it's the principal I'm getting at).
One thing to certainly never do is to hold yourself on a grade using the throttle. (I have seen this!) If you leave it in gear on an uphill holding it with the throttle instead of the brake then you would be happily smoking a burned out spot onto your drive belt. Then when it goes thumpeta thumpeta thumpeta as you ride along after that, you'll know why. :)
Similarly you don't want to go very slow while in high gear, for what should now be obvious reasons.
We become accustomed to doing the things I mentioned above in our cars, where you can creep along in a traffic jam or sit on a hill holding with the gas pedal and do this all day and nothing is harmed, all that happens is oil getting pushed around. Not the same with a belt driven quad or SXS, When you creep, something is wearing.
A new ORV buyer is being given a disservice if the seller or shop does not go over this with them.
For a nation to believe it can tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and believing he can raise himself by pulling on the handle - Winston Churchill

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Offline Ponytail

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2019, 07:38:51 PM »
Good information. Most of my rides are slow because of the terrain.

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Offline Ponytail

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2019, 07:54:44 AM »
This is good information. Maybe it should be moved to the general section. I’m sure I’m not the only one that don’t look at the information center very much. Just a thought.

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Offline Chris1212

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2020, 09:54:45 AM »
Is there a way to adjust how low RPM has to be for the dry clutch to engage?

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Offline Skogsvarelse

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2020, 06:53:50 AM »
heavier weights in the primary or a softer spring in the primary. Don't know wich of them are the best way to do it.

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Offline rlc

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2020, 09:19:13 AM »
My demo guy went through all of this and more before I loaded the 800 onto my trailer.  My salesman told us that they run in 4X4 high on hills, uphill roads, anywhere your engine is in a pretty good pull at low speeds because it will help save your belt.
2019 Z8 Trail - SuperATV Flip Windshield - UniFlow Air Filter - Rayco Door Inserts - Custom Rear Cargo Rack - Custom air intake (fuel side) -

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Offline tinbarreiro

Re: The belt CVT, not a car type automatic.
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2020, 10:20:53 PM »
Hey glenlivet thanks for the info and since you know so much can I please have a crash course on how to operate my brand new 2020 CFORCE 450L.  I don't event know what kind of clutch is in my machine.  My sales guy didn't give me any instructions at all and since I am new to the brand and the sport any help would be greatly appreciate to help to make my new toy last in good condition.