CVT vs Centrifugal Clutch

[Squiddy202]

I was recently debating changing the gearing on my kart. Someone mentioned using a CVT and it seemed like a good idea. I have ~7hp, and I can only do like 14 on a 200lb kart. I really only want to get up to around 25mph. Can you even really (easily ish) convert from centrifugal to torque converter? How much would a good (budget) one cost? I don’t need high performance as previously mentioned. Would it increase my speed to use one? Are they adjustable? Any thoughts?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Hey Hellion! Where's the 3 girls with the signs?

Squidward, cvts are the way. CCs are for little tire road/racing karts.

A cheap 30 series will do just fine. Just get a quality belt.

:que Denny:

 

[Squiddy202]

Hey Hellion! Where's the 3 girls with the signs?

Squidward, cvts are the way. CCs are for little tire road/racing karts.

A cheap 30 series will do just fine. Just get a quality belt.

:que Denny:

What do you mean 30 series? I’m new to this, can you give me a good link? Also, would just getting a CVT increase my speed/be adjustable?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Not trying to be mean but I gave you a fishing pole.
Put those words into the magic search bar on the library in your hand.

Tons of info. Watch some videos.

Post pics of your kart. We can better answer your questions that way.

What is the tire size. What tooth count are your sprockets?

 

[Squiddy202]

Well, I do kinda deserve that, I am at school so I can’t measure the tires or count that sprockets yet. I do have pics on my phone tho. Not of the actual clutch assembly sadly. I think the rear tires are 18 inch. Are most converters a standard size? How do I know if the one I get will fit? I don’t see anything on listings. I could also go for just the pulleys. Then I need to figure out belt size. For context that is a Murray explorer.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Cvts come in a bunch of sizes. Look at comet clutch.com or what ever it is.
You want a "30 series "

I think I see your issue.
Show a pick of the other side of the engine area. I think I see V belt pully on the other side. Those don't work well on gokarts. That and the gear ratio could be your speed limiting.

Now go back to school and pay attention.

 

[Squiddy202]

So, I found one that claims to work with Murray explorers on gopowersports. The reason I am asking about this is because someone said screwing with the ratios would be bad on a centrifugal clutch. I also am wondering if the cvt would replace the chain drive in the second pic.
P.S. I’m in study hall.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

You got one of them funny belt to jack shaft deals... Should make it easier to go to a CVT as long as there is clearence

 

[Squiddy202]

Alright so I have almost everything figured out thanks to y’all’s help. However, I heard somewhere that messing with gear ratios on a centrifugal clutch is a bad idea. It was in an unrelated forum I made asking about governors. If I get a CVT would that make my kart faster or not. I know this depends on specs, but how would I figure that out. White trash mentioned my belt, and my gear ratio could be limiting speed. If I change my belt to something other than a CVT what should I change it to? Finally, would I still need to change gears with a CVT to gain speed (noticeably)? I go about 14mph now, and I want to get to around 25mph. I cannot count sprocket teeth yet, (in study hall) but the wheels are 18 inches.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

No its stock. Like WTR said (I didnt see at first) it has a V belt on the shaft side. They wear out easily and slip/kinda expand. Thats probably where youve lost some speed. That GPS CVT should give you a little more accel and top speed.

If you do your research, you can get that kit for less than half the price by buying the parts yourself from ebay or somewhere cheap.

I very much, dislike GPS. If you have a problem with anything you get from them, youre on your own. That guy dont gaf!

 

[JimD]

I would wait until he gives some more picture of the side of the engine with the clutch on it now. There isn't a lot of room on that kart to put a t/c.

Who is the manufacturer of the go kart? Is there any name on it? Carter brothers used a belt drive but the rear of their kart didn't look like that one and I don't see the plate they had on the left rear.

Some more pictures are what this crowd wants.

 

[Squiddy202]

No its stock. Like WTR said (I didnt see at first) it has a V belt on the shaft side. They wear out easily and slip/kinda expand. Thats probably where youve lost some speed. That GPS CVT should give you a little more accel and top speed.

If you do your research, you can get that kit for less than half the price by buying the parts yourself from ebay or somewhere cheap.

I very much, dislike GPS. If you have a problem with anything you get from them, youre on your own. That guy dont gaf!

Thanks for warning me about gps!

 

[Squiddy202]

I would wait until he gives some more picture of the side of the engine with the clutch on it now. There isn't a lot of room on that kart to put a t/c.

Who is the manufacturer of the go kart? Is there any name on it? Carter brothers used a belt drive but the rear of their kart didn't look like that one and I don't see the plate they had on the left rear.

Some more pictures are what this crowd wants.

It is a Murray explorer, here are more pics:

 

[Edwin Spangler]

That thing is BEGGING for a CVT!

Looks like you only need the driver, driven, and belt. Of course you need the proper hardware.

Get a comet belt. I dont even like the "rotary" brand. The real cheap ones are literal garbage, melted down into something that resembles a belt.

Look at all the dimensions from that GPS kit, and price the items yourself. Just, yea, Comet belt.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I also have a feeling that after the swap to CVT, that axle sprocket is going to be much bigger than needed, leaving a ton of speed on the table.

-But thats between you and the old man.

 

[Hellion]

HORY SHET, it's a belt clutch! Neat how these things keep popping up. At first it sort of appears to be a Bubba job, a fella trying to fix a TC that exploded but using a fixed pulley and a belt off his Ford truck, but no it's a real bona-fide kart drive transmission. On the exploded parts views (Carter Brothers for example) it looks like a CVT/TC/Torq-A-Verter.

I guess he needs a 20 Series TC..?

I'm about to merge all these threads into one MEGA THREAD for Squiddy's kart. He has photos in his Introduction thread, but who can keep up?

 

[JimD]

The belt you have on there should be a BX33. The reason for the "X" in the letter means it is a cogged belt with teeth on the underside of the belt to help turn tight radius and have less slip. Yes, the kart will take a t/c fairly easy but there are other options and that is what you asked about and this learned group of experts certainly can give advice and best of all, it is free. You are the one that must evaluate it and put a pencil to it to see which fits your budget.

To go faster with what you have right now you can buy a slightly larger sprocket on the jackshaft. Adding two (2) more teeth than it has right now will make you go faster BUT you also have to buy a longer length of chain. This is the cheapest way to go faster.

 

[JimD]

Squiddy- Was at that plant many times and yes we provided the clutches used but the one on the kart is the china knock off. We also provided the series 20 t/c. Does your kart have the rack and pinion steering???

 

[Squiddy202]

Squiddy- Was at that plant many times and yes we provided the clutches used but the one on the kart is the china knock off. We also provided the series 20 t/c. Does your kart have the rack and pinion steering???

No rack, it I don’t know what to call it. Two arms come to a ball joint that moves on another arm connected to the steering column.

 

[Squiddy202]

HORY SHET, it's a belt clutch! Neat how these things keep popping up. At first it sort of appears to be a Bubba job, a fella trying to fix a TC that exploded but using a fixed pulley and a belt off his Ford truck, but no it's a real bona-fide kart drive transmission. On the exploded parts views (Carter Brothers for example) it looks like a CVT/TC/Torq-A-Verter.

I guess he needs a 20 Series TC..?

I'm about to merge all these threads into one MEGA THREAD for Squiddy's kart. He has photos in his Introduction thread, but who can keep up?

Oooh is it bad that I am making these separate threads?