CVT/clutch question

Jamus

I have been thinking of building a vehicle similar to a cart but using spare pars I have laying around. My question is if a CVT will operate properly on its side? I am thinking I can add the drive/driven pulleys off a golf car onto a vertical shaft lawnmower engine and transaxle. I think under throttle the spring and plates will hold the belt properly, but what about at idle. Before putting too much thought into it, I'll ask those who know more.

BGW

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Flintrock

That's a good question. My initial thought is that it would work, inertia is inertia. Might have a problem at idle because gravity would pull the belt down, and it would hang low and be vulnerable to things hitting it.

Jamus

The hanging low part wouldn't be a problem. The plan was to run chain drive off one side of the transaxle to a jackshaft, then to a center shaft and run small car CV shafts and independent suspension for the rear. My other option was a centrifugal clutch and multi-gear transaxle, but again I don't know how a centrifugal clutch would work with letting off to switch gears since it is automatic. Maybe an electric clutch. But with the CVT I wouldn't need more than a single forward and reverse gear. Just brainstorming though, I like to build things even if it's in my mind.

DOOmsman

The cvt before a multi gear transmission would
be almost impossible to tune.

Jamus

I was thinking CVT+single speed, OR multi-speed+centrifugal clutch. If you combined the CVT and multi-speed transaxle I imagine you would have to select your gear before even taking off. Why would it be impossible to tune though?

DOOmsman

The spring rates, weights helix angles are all
based on the load. Changing the gear ratio
will change the load and affect the shift pattern.
The cvt system is a lot more than a centrifugal clutch.

BigBlockMan

To answer the original question, Yes it will work laying down.

Jamus

Thanks for the info guys, I'm learning in leaps and bounds. I had a vague idea of the operations of a CVT but didn't think about the spring pressures and loads combined with a multi-geared transaxle. I guess that's why there have never been any multi-speed golf carts.

So it might work with a single speed transaxle. I just thought up another possible problem though. On a golf cart both drive and driven pulleys are mounted to shafts on the same side, in my idea they would be mounted opposed. To be clear, on the cart they both mount from the driver's side of the car(usually). On this contraption, one would be mounted from above, and one from below. Not sure if it would matter, but it is one more difference in the applications.

AirJunky

Rib33024 posted this a month or so ago. If the clutch will function, seems like a lifted cart is possible.

Rib says:

Jamus

Thanks for the link. I may have to get out my electronic crayons and draw up a picture for my idea like that one. The last post from that thread seems to asnwer my question about the opposed pulleys also.

I guess I could flip the transaxle over though, so it's pulley was on the bottom like the engine pulley would be. Also I was calling them plates but the proper term is sheaves. Helps if I use the proper terminology.