Clutch or CVT issue. High rpm to start moving.

[Chicken Sandwich]

I received a basket case 6150 ASM blue lightning a few months back. I rebuild the engine and got it installed today. I’m running a few heat cycles on it to break it in. I didn’t have the cylinder covers so I watch the temp. Well I took it out for a short spin around the yard and it seemed to have to rev high to get moving. I don’t know the exact RPM but it was high and didn’t seem smooth. I didn’t take it to full throttle yet so I don’t know top end yet. I can tell you the previous owner has 6 gram sliders in the CVT. I just ran with them since they looked ok. I’m going to replace them with 14 grams but I started to think. Could it be the clutch? It’s not slipping just delayed engagement. The belt looked fine but I didn’t take the clutch apart. I’m not even sure if he changed the springs. Does this seem like a clutch issue? I don’t want to keep tearing it apart. Has anyone had this issue?

 

[Hellion]

Hmm. CVT/TCs can be tailored to certain engagement revs, but I don't know anything about this machine. It could be designed that way or the previous owner altered it. I'd like to know the RPM that it engages at and then compare to maybe a video, factory specs or something.

 

[panchothedog]

I have no idea what a " 6150 ASM " is. Do you really expect people to know from that description? What I do know is that heavier weights in Driver will lower the engagement rpm. Weaker springs will also have the same effect. Together they can change engagement rpm substantially. Previous owner may have tweaked it a bit. Maybe too much. Sounds like you're on the right track. Buy both springs and weights and experiment with it. You should be able to get it where you want it.

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

My mistake. 6150 American sports works blue lightning. I did forget to mention when it does engage it hits pretty hard. What I was wondering does the clutch engages first then the CVT once at speed? . I don’t know what it feel like with lighter versus heavier weights or a when clutch has been changed. I was trying to narrow it down. I’ll try and get a video put together.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Please tell us what it is. Get a picture of the engine, the "clutch" and the "CVT". If you want answers, we need to know what you're working with.

 

[panchothedog]

The driver part of of the CVT actually is a clutch. As it spins centrifugal force moves the weights which cause the clutch to start to engage. Heavier weights move sooner than light ones. What you describe as " when it engages it hits pretty hard " is how one that's been modified reacts. Drive a stick shift car. Let the clutch out rapidly at 1500 rpm. Now do it at 3000 rpm. Same difference. You speak as though the clutch and the CVT are separate from each other. The CVT consists of a driver ( the clutch bolted to the output shaft of the engine ) and the driven, the other clutch usually with a sprocket attached to it.

 

[panchothedog]

As I described in post #3, heavier weights will cause it to engage at a lower rpm.
I suppose you could also say it would be smoother. People ( myself included ) modify the clutches to engage at a higher rpm to get stronger acceleration.
Take the kart and open it up all the way. You might just be pleasantly surprised.
Driving it around waiting for a clutch to engage ( when it's not going to until you put your foot into it and hold it there) certainly isn't any fun. Maybe it will push you back in your seat and pull really hard. That's the fun part.