Trailmaster Cheetah 8 assembly

[Whitetrashrocker]

There's a reson we have been hounding you about that belt.

Just out of curiosity? Whats the tooth counts on the sprockets? Both of em.

 

[Denny]

You’ll see the difference between a yak grease and rice fiber belt and a rubber and Kevlar belt.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

Just trying to understand what this means. I'm interpreting it as I'll see the quality difference when the comet belts arrive?

Yes sir. I literally mean, youll see the difference. I should have said, Youll see it.

 

[panchothedog]

Whelp, burnt through the second belt. The first looked mostly spot less when I pulled it off (just left a good amount of debris on the pulleys). This one got completely destroyed. Have a couple comet belts arriving today that I ordered from the suggestions here.

The belt quality doesn't actually look that bad to me, but maybe I'm missing something. If it does seem decent quality, makes me worried might need to be one kid at a time.
View attachment 163470View attachment 163471View attachment 163472

One kid at a time. Are you kidding. My Son and his heavy ( that's being polite ) wife jump in one of mine to go looking for their daughter if she's been out of their sight for 5 minutes all the time. I'm talking about 400 + lbs. NO NEGATIVE belt ware. Alignment of the two clutches should be spot on from the factory. BUT just in case, show us a picture of your clutches from above and a little behind with the belt removed. That the two inner sheeves are dead on equal is really important on this style converter.

 

[Hellion]

That’s amazing longevity from a factory new kart and its supplied belt. It’s enough for someone to think “Welp, that’s just how it is. You have to replace the belt every day” and then “I’m putting this thing up for sale and getting something better.”

Maybe it’s designed to sell belts? It’s a scam.

 

[bcort]

Had a chance to work on the CVT. It took a lot of brake cleaner and then some acetone but finally got it completely clean.

The comet belt does seem to be significantly better quality, but it also is slightly smaller in circumference.



I also think I had some misalignment. Didn't grab a picture, but with everything right, the clutch side was sticking out more. There is was a spacer between the flat side of the clutch and the engine. After making sure the correct wouldn't hit any bolts, I took it off. Appointment seemed spot on.


After struggling to get the belt on for a little bit, I got it in place.

Started the engine in the mid point between forward and reverse (their is no dedicated neutral but this doesn't engage either).

Let it warm up for probably two minutes as I watched the belt. Using the throttle lever, revved it a few times. Seemed ok.

Put the kart in forward, kart tries to drive and engine stalls. Put the kart in reverse, go tries to drive, engine stalls. I'm not sure if the belt needs some more time to flex or take its shape, or the belt is just too tight. It is the correct belt for the measurements.

Also noticed that after all that (probably 5 or so minutes of the engine running), it seems to have some debris on the clutch. Is this normal?

 

[bcort]

There's a reson we have been hounding you about that belt.

Just out of curiosity? Whats the tooth counts on the sprockets? Both of em.

Zero? I don't see a sprocket on either side. There's definitely not any on the clutch side. I didn't take the drive pulley fully apart but I don't see any teeth anywhere.

Edit: you mean where the chain is from the reverse gear box and the axle. I'm an idiot. I'll have to look another time.

 

[Denny]

You may need to step up to the next size bigger belt.

 

[panchothedog]

That little bit of belt dust in your picture is normal. Jack the back of the kart up so the wheels are off the ground and run it for a few minutes working the throttle up and down so the clutches go through their normal movement. This will stretch the belt a little and hopefully you're good to go. Your driver looks more like a juggernaut than a standard 30 series. The best way to install a new belt with this type of driver is with the driver and the driven laying flat on the ground, place the belt around them, then pick them up together ( keeping the belt in place ) and slide them onto their respective shafts simultaneously. You have to have both key ways lined up and some grease on the shafts ( which you should have anyway ) but it's not hard to do. I am a weak old man, and have done it several times.

 

[panchothedog]

The illustration in post #17 is of a standard 30 series driver. It comes apart, and so replacing the belt is much easier. I don't believe that yours does. If it is a juggernaut, or something similar ( a few different brand names, same clutch ) it is COMPLETELY different inside than that posted by WTR in #17.

 

[bcort]

The illustration in post #17 is of a standard 30 series driver. It comes apart, and so replacing the belt is much easier. I don't believe that yours does. If it is a juggernaut, or something similar ( a few different brand names, same clutch ) it is COMPLETELY different inside than that posted by WTR in #17.

You are correct that it's different.

Looks pretty much like this with the springs and rollers.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

Ive never seen that much debris after just a few minutes and Ive never had build up on the sheave itself. Looks like an alignment issue still.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Ill second denny. If that belt is tight the next size up might be needed. A little loose is better than a little tight.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

The illustration in post #17 is of a standard 30 series driver. It comes apart, and so replacing the belt is much easier. I don't believe that yours does. If it is a juggernaut, or something similar ( a few different brand names, same clutch ) it is COMPLETELY different inside than that posted by WTR in #17.

That pic came from the link he provided.
I was just pointing out the note about the washers.

In any case they are just to space things out properly.

Different CVT so that pic is irrelevant.
Use washers as spacers as need for proper belt alignment.

 

[Hellion]

You may need to step up to the next size bigger belt.

FYI, there is a Comet Belt List in the top of this thread. Denny is right. I mean, you very well could need a longer belt, manufacturing variations and such. Get edumacated (on belts)!

Comet Industries

https://www.cometclutches.com/ A manufacturer of: Centrifugal clutches Torque converters Brakes Belts Disregard most of what I have posted here, except for the Belt List as it covers them all. It pales in comparison to what EC Carburetors has on their site. Grab the PDF files while you can...

www.diygokarts.com

 

[panchothedog]

You are correct that it's different.

Looks pretty much like this with the springs and rollers.

View attachment 163529

Picture isn't real good (hand is in the way ) but that looks a lot like the juggernaut driver sold by Go Power Sports. I have one and it works well, but for serviceability and tuning for different engagement speeds, I prefer the standard 30 driver. I realize you are just trying to get the darn thing to perform reliably. If stretching the belt ( by running it ) doesn't help, then buy the next larger size. The belt you mention in post #14'
203589 ( the most common size ). The next step up is 203590. Just a scosch bigger.

 

[bcort]

You guys are correct it appears to be the juggernaut.

I've been messaging with go power sports, where I got the go kart from. Besides an annoying auto reply I seem to get back every email, they've been relatively helpful.

Their rep said 673 is the correct belt and is sending me one. The kart came with two Chinese 715 belts and is still experiencing a launch and stall when put into gear. I don't have a lot of faith the 673 belt will change that condition.

I have a comet 203590 on the way, but it looks like it will be a few more days until it arrives.

Other than that, I'm guessing I would be looking at adjusting the idling screw. I have a tach, so will have to look up what a normal idle is (1300-1400 RPM?) and what is currently at.

 

[bcort]

So no pictures but my update...

The 715 belt that came with has been working pretty well. Or, at least not getting torn apart quickly.

Swapped in the 673 that GPS sent just for the heck of it, and I'm not sure I feel any difference. After a handful of hours, it seems to be about the same performance as the others.

The kart has settled down on idle with the shifter in drive. After starting I still have to have full choke when going into forward before apply throttle and pushing the choke in to go forward, or it'll stall. I tach'ed the engine and was at 1300-1350. Without looking at a spec, that felt fine.

After the engine and belt have been run for a few minutes, it hangs out at idle without moving much better.

Overall, probably won't do anything else on the belt front. I have a couple comet belts as spares (past the return window). If they don't work, I'll get more 673's or maybe try 669s again.

Both kids have been driving the kart and loving it. Get home from work, and it's almost a routine to do 10-20 min driving the go kart around the yard. The 4 year old (almost 5) can steer and accelerate. The 3 year old stretches to apply gas and gets help steering.

Overall, it actually exceeded my goals (yard kart I could fit in and the kids could drive it be close to driving by next year).

Will get the phone to do some GPS speed timing just to see what we're going in the near future.

So.. if I wanted to upgrade the engine exhaust/intake/anything else, where do I start? The evening is described as
Engine type 4-stroke, single cylinder, air cooled, Horizontal OHV Engine
Displacement 208cc, 7.5HP
Max HP 7.5hp/3600rpm
Max torque 8 lb ft/2800rpm

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Thats awesome that the kids are enjoying it.

On your having to choke issue.
Either your carb is dirty, or the jets are just way too lean.
Im gonna lean towards being dirty still.
There's tiny air passages that need to work or you get the issue your facing.