How A CVT Works by TEAM Industries.mov

TEAM has received a lot of requests to explain how a CVT works, here is a good video showing the basics of CVT. In the future we will be posting more videos explaining some of our innovations to the basic design. Take a look and let us know what you think.

[Tarototh]

Other videos show abstract diagrams but this one gives me actual visuals of the workings, in real time. This video in 30 seconds explained better than the 5 other math-laden and flowchart soaked videos I watched prior.

[sbmw]

What's crazy is this technology is from the 1920's! The factory equipment was driven by belts attached to cones on a connecting rod in the ceiling. The belt would move on the cones to vary torque and speed. Pretty phenomenal how we take old technology and apply it in new ways!

[kurtcpi]

This is the best video showing and explaining how these CVTs work. It's worth noting that although new to domestic automobiles, this is relatively "ancient" technology. It has been used on farm equipment for decades, and if you can find a Popular Mechanics from the 1960s, there'll probably be an ad in the back for a "minibike" that has this setup. In fairness, those older setups usually had a separate clutch to totally disengage the drive from the driven side. On industrial equipment it was likely an idler for the belt. On the minibikes it was probably a centrifugal clutch. In most cases, the torque/rpm could be tweaked by adjusting or swapping the fly weights.

[davidsirmons]

Someone finally showing the real thing working! Kudos!

[richarddixon]

Nice informative and easy to understand video. Good job guys.

BTW I have a Honda Silverwing Megascooter that is 600cc and makes 50 hp. So far it has been 14, 000 trouble free miles. The Kevlar belt CVT in it produces great acceleration and also 52 mpg. Honda did a super job of matching it to the engine. It gives an instant downshift when ever you call for power and smoothly upshifts for cruising.

Kevlar and rubber belt CVT transmissions are reliable up to around 100 hp. Above that requires a steel belt and computer hydraulic control.

[wendellstroup]

45 years ago I had a mini bike with a "torque converted" which was a basic version of these, loved it

[rickpugh]

I am a youth snowmobile safety course instructor in New York State and commend you highly in this video. I hope you have no objections to my using this in my classroom instruction on the theory and operation of a snowmobile drive train. It is, by far, the best video I've seen on the basic function of a CVT system! Only too bad you didn't have the arrangement as we find on an actual snowmobile - drive clutch on the left and driven clutch on the right; so that it is what the kids would actually see under the cowl of their own snowmobile. I will merely explain during my tutorial of the actual difference.

[thebentley]

This is what my Honda elite 49cc moped had. The stock internal gear ration was 12:1. The clutch turned 12 revolutions to 1 revolution of the rear wheel. I changed it to 8.4:1. I then put a Polini Corsa 72cc cylinder, head, & piston. I changed the the carburetor from the original 10mm to a Oko 28mm, & bigger intake. I took off the two stroke oiler, & started premixing. I also put an after market dio pipe. I also bought an aftermarket polini clutch, with stiffer springs & lighter weights. The stock honda elite 49cc moped could do around 34 mph, with the restrictive devices removes from the muffler & airbox. After I installed all the after market parts it could go 76 mph, with 8.4:1 gearing & I could still climb hills. A friend of mine had the same setup but 7:1 gearing & could do 84 mph, but could not climb hills very well. With the after market polini clutch with stiffer springs & lighter weights I had a midrange rpm stall & could easily ride wheelies. I had friends that had 125cc engines that where stroked, with big bore's. They get get close to a 100 mph. This was all when I first moved here to Oahu in 1999. In 2000 I bought my Honda Elite 50 brand new & built it up myself. My moped was stolen from the Waialua Library by a meth addict named K who worked for the Sharks Cove park. I even helped him fix his moped & gave him free parts. This is how the local ice heads repay you. Peace & Love to all the honest hard working men & women in the world.

[markmessa]

> "CVT are cost effective and maintenance is relatively easier."
It would be interesting if you could provide more evidences to support this statement.

[bobdole]

I am a fan of older technology myself; however, it is nice to see engineers stepping out and designing new technologies for the common people who use their car to get from A to B. There are plenty of other cars with standard and automatic transmissions around still. 

[technetium]

I only recently found this video, and had been wondering how a CVT worked for some time. This video is good at explaining it.
Some notes: a) I would have expected a CVT to be computerized rather than using an entirely mechanical system to determine ratio. b) What I didn't get about CVTs specifically, prior to this, was how the pulleys changed size, as I didn't even think of the idea of the belt being gripped by the sides like that. It seems like something that wouldn't be able to handle the load of a 100+ horsepower car engine, but apparently it does. (Though judging by some comments below, it doesn't handle it for as long as a normal automatic or manual transmission.)

[juketurbo]

Have a 2012 Nissan Juke cvt awd.modified the car with Injen intercooler piping. Turbo Smart dual port Bov . Injen cat delete exhaust system .Injen CaI.Up rev tune done by a Nissan tuner. Stock had 165 hp at the wheels . 12 lbs max boost, stock .Now . 20lbs max boost.235 hp at the wheels. The cvt works great .Also  stock the car is limited to 127 mph .they changed the limit and mine is now 145 mph limited. Also added the 13" big brake kit. If I use manual mde and shift up and down  myself The biggest improvement in the car comes from 45 mph upward. Daily driving in the city I leave it in normal mode. the car remembers my driving habits .So if I  I  put it in sport mode and say let off of the gas quickly, or slowing down for a light on a small grade it will downshift itself to use the engine for braking .

[DownhillAllTheWay]

I had a Volvo 343 in the 1970's, which worked this way, but also had a vacuum-powered diaphragm that enabled it to shift down, equivalent to the kick-down that other automatics use, for example, for passing other vehicles. The kick-down was actioned by a switch under the accelerator pedal, or by a manually operated switch to gear-down for running against compression when descending a steep slope. The system worked OK, though I now prefer a manual, gear-based transmission. In general, I find that mechanisms that try to think or me usually fall short in some circumstances. Automatic transmission probably comes about closest to a truly successful A.I, though there are still times when you want to rev the engine and drop the clutch aggressively.

[graemecooper]

Thanks for the great video explanation. I had to watch carefully to see exactly how it works but now I get it! Great piece of engineering and it seems quite basic [in principle and operation]. Cheers.

[Rosk]

Very well made and informative video. It's almost impossible to explain without that live footage... Thanks

[TheScopezCinema]

I have a 2013 Honda Accord ex-l that uses a CVT and it works fantastic and perfectly fine. It has a amazing response time with no issues at all. To be honest I could say I wouldn't drive a car that isn't a CVT after driving one.

[metak]

Not to mention the great acceleration and great fuel efficiency!! I have an audi one of a few with the cvt. Smoothest transmission I've ever had!! 90k miles and smooth as silk.

[geoff-katerhodes]

I had this on a mini bike as a kid - only my dad called it a torque converter for some reason. I believe they were common on snowmobiles. My Subaru Forrester has a cvt and it is decent.

[msgcheckout]

what I cannot understand is how a fan belt can move a big car along so fast! amazing!

[paengjones]

Interesting to go back to this video and seeing how far CVTs have come.