So, how does CVT work?

[Neil955i]

If, like me, you grew up with geared motorcycles with chain or shaft final drive and you want to know a bit more about your scooters transmission, then you'll find this of interest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWqlfDZnmQ&feature=youtu.be

[Iahawk]

it is a brilliantly simple, effective design. I'm curious as to how far back our current scooter cvt design was perfected?  I don't recall the scooters / mopeds of my youth (late 70's, early 80's) using this system. I'm thinking 1980 Honda Express, etc.

[Kansas kymco]

The 1911 Zenith Gadua 6hp motorcycle was first to use a cvt.  The CVT was invented in 1879 by Milton Reeves for saw mills. From (Wikipedia).

Modern CVT a 1974 Rokon RT340 was fitted with a snowmobile CVT.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Like Love, CVT's should remain a mystery.
I've changed belts & stuff - but I always keep my eyes closed.

Stig

[scooterfan]

I am not sure about maintenance costs on bigger scooters, but on the Agility 125’s maintenance costs on the CVT system is definitaly cheaper than lubricating and replacing chains and sprockets on a motorcycle.
That’s one thing I really like about CVT systems - compared to chains and sprockets on motorcycles the CVT systems need far less maintenance.

[Neil955i]

Like Love, CVT's should remain a mystery.
I've changed belts & stuff - but I always keep my eyes closed.

Stig

And with the lights turned off?   

[stuo]

The dude who invented the CVT deserves our eternal gratitude, along with Charles Kettering, who  invented the electric starter.

[Kansas kymco]

The dude who invented the CVT deserves our eternal gratitude, along with Charles Kettering, who  invented the electric starter.

You must not of seen my post, Milton Reeves in 1879 for saw mills according to Wikipedia

[scooterfan]

I can just imagine what a task it was to get it work properly.
Before I retired my task at work was to get the “clever guys” plans work in real life. Almost all those plans worked perfectly on paper - the real trick was to make it work in a practical way in real life. Some of those clever plans only worked on paper - it was a complete failure in real life.

[Kansas kymco]

My favorite is the guy who invented A/C Willis Carrier.

[Iahawk]

i was looking at some old Honda scooter info last night and saw where it made mention of a rubber drive belt and 'automatic transmission' in '81 and '82 on certain 50cc models (vs the chain drive, single speed transmissions of earlier years)

[stuo]

Thanks, KK, for slapping me awake...and more thanks for researching the inventor of the CVT. I doubt such an elegantly simple design will be improved upon after all these years. Sliders over rollers  maybe? Now if they can make a belt that lasts 100,000 miles....