CVT Full Suspension CVT

Guys- it looks like the whole thing swings on that pivot pin below, as it is pulled by a lever and the swinging action does the ratio changes as each belt get re-positioned on the sheaves.
So this system would require a clutch / idler to tighten the first belt off the engine, then a gear selector lever to swing the varidrive and change ratios.

I have an in-expensive lawn tractor with this system and I like it.
With the clutch depressed, the primary drive belt is loose (you are at a standstill) and as you let it out- it engages and all the way out the vari-drive goes into hi ratio.
Push down some and the tractor slows as long as you hold down the petal at that position.
I am sure this could be adapted to a bike but it would need a separate clutch lever and ratio selector.
 
You have everything right. The one in the picture is a lawn tractor setup.It has its own tension spring. But I think you could use a centrifugel clutch with a sping loaded tensioner on one belt. With the belts changing one up and one down to the opiset I think it would be about 6:1 ratio good speed range......Curt
 
Just so I got the concept right!

I could cut those easy, out of aluminum if the castings were close, wood would be effortless but made easier on a lathe.

Maple would be the stuff! What area are you from Curtis? You must be up North?

Balance would be the issue! Tensioner seems to be able to be placed anywhere.
 
Almost dead center of Minnesota Brainerd. Right now it looks like a work of art with all the snow on the trees and power lines,like right out of a Christmas card.
My boy is a machinest and he said aluminum and a hard sleve in the center for slid. Want some Maple to try I could send some?
I don't think balance would be that in portant, the one in the pic. is stamped steel. Just like the pullys in a CVT,in fact they would work to about the right size. I will be doing one but not for a while to much other things, but doing a little at a time. So go ahead and give it a try....Curt
 
Thinking If you use wood best to cross laminate thin strips with the grain 90 degrees to each other,just like plywood. There would be no worping...........curt
 
Just a backyard engineers thought from a backyard engineer.....would it be easier to cut two pulleys in half? One would be reattached in reverse and used as the sliding section. (clearance a key and open the ID slightly so it would slide smoothly) The other two halves would be locked to a keyed shaft at the correct spacing with the reattached portion between them. The center section could almost be JB welded as the operating tension would tend to force the halves together and the key would prevent rotation.

As I said, just a thought.
 
Tensioning could be done the same way, driver cut in half.....one side locked down and the other half being pushed towards it with a spring and collar. Kind of like a redneck Salisbury clutch.
 
Just a backyard engineers thought from a backyard engineer.....would it be easier to cut two pulleys in half? One would be reattached in reverse and used as the sliding section. (clearance a key and open the ID slightly so it would slide smoothly) The other two halves would be locked to a keyed shaft at the correct spacing with the reattached portion between them. The center section could almost be JB welded as the operating tension would tend to force the halves together and the key would prevent rotation.

As I said, just a thought.

Thats what I was going to do. No need for key set screws should be enough. what has to be done is get bearings to fit in the ends of the pullys so the hole unit spins on a shaft that would be mounted to the pivit arm.
Me jack of all trades and master of none,backyard engineer also......Curt
 
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