chain vs belt drive bb conv

Hellrazin5

I am building a 1982-1985 ez-go marathon industrial series cart. I've chosen the harbor freight v-twin 670cc for the motor. with a 1' shaft. engine idles at 1800 rpm. I found a HD clutch on vegas carts website. 14tooth clutch that engages at 2300-7000 rpm. priced at $69.99 for this clutch. and I'd have to do a 92 tooth sprocket in the rear. My question is, what is the down side of doing this chain/clutch setup. VS a belt drive setup?

ps. in the future I will put in newer rear axle for reverse or I believe I saw a comet gear box I can fab in for reverse option.

BGW

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Shepard

The belt drive is really a CVT or constant velocity transmission. Vary's the gear ratio low to high according to demand and engine rpm.

The centrifugal clutch engages at a given rpm and the gear ratio is fixed. It offers no change according to demand so when your going up hill the engine rpm will slow and fall out of its power range. A centrifugal clutch does not slip after it engages. Works best in a light weight machine.

The CVT is your best option for a work vehicle as the centrifugal clutch is a high wear item.

Hellrazin5

Thank you. Good point, I didn't think about that.

sho305

You really need a CVT, it works way better. Some have used the comet 40 or 44 but the full size is best 7.5" diameter or more iirc that golf carts use other than the CC 1" I would not recommend that but would be much better than a gokart clutch with one gear.

Hellrazin5

Thank you for the advice, Any certain pulley I should use for the rear? I believe it is still the factory rear axle that does not have reverse. I will switch in near future if I can find a deal on one. or can fab up a transmission box.

sho305

The CVT has ratios for around 3:1 to .9:1, that is like 1-4th gear in a car, its a whole transmission. Its way better than clutch and one gear. If you can try to get the stock clutches they would be better than nothing, though you can use a different primary on the engine like a 94c or one from another cart or one for a 1" shaft the the 780 vegas sells. Though it depends on if you use the gen to start it like stock or not, then you need a pulley on or behind the primary clutch. Long as they take the same belt most all carts are 1 3/16 wide cvt belt only club car is 1" wide. You usually have to use the secondary the cart axle uses so it will fit the shaft.