CVT Slip???

Posts: 196

Sorry if this is a lame question, but is it common for a CVT to slip with a sort of grinding noise? Last night I was hauling some extra weight in the buggy, and when I tried to climb a hill, the CVT made a slight grinding (like sandpaper on metal) and never spun the tires. I know I need some upgrades...but I am totally unfamilar with the CVT/dual shaft drive thing...

Thanks in advance.

Posts: 1387

There are two places the CVT can slip:

1. Between pulleys and belt
2. Between clutch pads and bell

It sounds like your clutch was slipping. Did you have any odor associated with the noise?

Since you have shaft drive, you are limited to roller and spring mods to keep your buggy in lower gears longer. You will need to address this before you wear through the clutch. Removing the CVT cover will tell you if the clutch was slipping since the bell will be blued.

Posts: 196

Thanks Peter

Posts: 1611

Yep! Sounds like the pads on your clutch are nearing the end of their life too. Take off the CVT cover and start the engine. Look to see if it's blue and see if the bell housing spins "true" , no wobble. then check the height of the pads. They should be about as thick as a nickel or better. If not, you should replace the clutch and/or Bell.
We have a "how-to" video that will show you how it all works and how to replace it.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Posts: 196

Thanks, but this cart has MAYBE 50 miles on it...

Posts: 1387

You need to pull the CVT cover to see what is going on. Also, you should run the buggy on jack stands to make sure the CVT is operating correctly. Perhaps it was never assembled correctly?

Posts: 989

Posts: 196

It's definitely the clutch...I'm avoiding the inevitable...I know I need to pull the CVT apart...only happens under heavy load. The CVT gets SUPER hot too...