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CityGirl a/k/a FlirtyGirl · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject: CVT transmission

Can someone explain to me, in SIMPLE LAYMAN TERMS, how exactly a CVT transmission works? I have looked it up and found a lot of information, and it makes sense for a short amount of time, but then it all starts sounding like greek to me!!

So, anyone???

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"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -- MARCEL PROUST

Divilish · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 5

MaritimeGuy · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 31

I'm no mechanic but I think the easiest way to look at it is by picturing the gears on your ten speed. As you move the chain from the small chain ring at the back to the large chain ring it gets easier to peddle. So when going slow or climbing a hill you have the chain on the large ring. As you pick up speed you move the chain to a progessively smaller chain ring at the back (otherwise you'd end up peddling like a bat out of hell).

A CVT is the same idea only there are not distinct positions for the chain, it's a continuous smooth progression. I believe in the case of a CVT rather than a chain it's a belt that as you go faster slides down to the small end. (I warned you I'm no mechanic). This means there's no brief stop and start action you get when accelerating with a typical automatic or manual transmission that needs to pause for a second as it changes gears. My understanding is they're quite economical on gas.

CityGirl a/k/a FlirtyGirl · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:13 am Post subject:

Oh, it is quite economical on gas! And the mechanic tells me that CVTs have less moving parts, break down less, and are easier to work on than other transmissions, so in the long run they cost less money to run and they cost less money to repair, if needed. They just feel really strange when you are first taking off (I thought something was wrong with the car and, I really do not handle car trouble well, so I of course took it back to the dealership and had it checked out - nothing wrong - just need to get used to the CVT is all). Then they tried to explain to me how the CVT worked, but WHEW! Did I get confused with that explanation!! Although he did tell me that it does not have any gears (that is where he lost me, because he then proceeded to talk about when the car "changed gears" after he'd just told me it didn't have any).

Thanks guys! Your explanations (and pictures) really did help! I think I actually understand now. Instead of actually having gears, the belt (which I think is metal), can move up and down the cone, therefore actually having an unlimited amount of "gears" or I guess maybe "gear ratios" would be better, therefore, saving gas because you are exactly where you need to be according to what speed you are going. Right?
_________________
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -- MARCEL PROUST

MaritimeGuy · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 31

Yes that's my understanding of it.