Variator Nut SIZE

[triker98304]

I need to know the size and metric thread for the nut that holds on the variator on an icebear trike 150-9. Any one know the size and thread pitch???/
The performance variator idler bushing froze and blew up the new performance variator I installed about 25 miles ago. The nut belt and parts ended up in the woods somewhere So I have to get a new one HELP.
Thanks Triker98304

[als01seville]

Triker98304,
I got a couple of spares from: www.buggypartsnw.com/home?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=254&category_id=26
Alleyoop

[triker98304]

Thanks Alleyoop,
I will contact them tomorrow.
Long Story about the disappearing parts. I installed the performance variator, sliders and clutch. Put about 25 miles on them. Had the cover off to adjust the sliders if necessary. And the idler bushing froze. Everything went flying. The new belt sliders, however I did find two broken sliders. The performance variator blew up. What can you say...I ordered a new set and debating on the slider weight. What are you using? 12 gram??? After the install I noticed that I lost about 15 mph, probably the variator jamming. Well to rebuild another day.
Thanks again Triker98304

[als01seville]

Triker98304,
What Performance Variator DID you have? I have the Prodigy Variator and I have tried all kinds of weights in there. I have tried Rollers-10-12 grams, Sliders 11-13s. I settled on 12G Dr. Pulley Sliders.

Buggyspartsmw.com if you order them today you should get them by Saturday. He ships out the stuff right away.
Alleyoop

[triker98304]

I purchased the performance variator from Scrappydog Scooters. I was similar to the Dr Pulley according to the information given. I also put in the 1500 clutch spring. Any ideas why I lost so many MPH ? Unless the variator was bad to begin with. The idler bushing was very tight on the shaft and I hesitated to leave it there. Hindsight I should not have left it on the Trike. Oh well live and learn. Any suggestions for the next time when the parts get here?
Thanks Have a great day.
Triker98304

[als01seville]

Triker98304,
Did you get the Performance Variator for $79.95. I ordered it thinking well for that price why not try it. Well I lost mph as well and took it off and put back my Prodigy Variator. I emailed him and we had a serious discussion about that Variator. Needless to say its in the box good for at least a spare but I would not call that a Performance Variator. The only good thing is the Variator is the same size as the Fan Plate 115mm. Spend another $15.00 and get a Dr. Pulley or a Prodigy.
My .02 cents on that Variator.
Alleyoop

[triker98304]

Thanks for the reply Alleyoop,
I ordered a "performance muffler and header pipe from the above mentioned supplier and of course it would not fit so I returned it. So they owed me for the pipe and muffler. Since i could not get the correct pipe and muffler I opted for getting the lost parts from the variator disaster. The parts got here today the variator looks different. This one has markings on it. Looks like the maker is KOSO High Speed CAM. It has larger/longer splines where the variator slides back and forth. The sliders are ForExtreme 11 Gram.
Hope this works. When you installed the 1500RPM Spring on your clutch were you able to squeeze the belt and the clutch compress very easy? At first I could not get the belt on. The next attempt I ate my Wheaties and the belt basically fell on the clutch and around the variator. That sound weired but not good. But something had to be wrong or it would not have let loose... Any ideas??? The variator nut from Buggies NW should be here tomorrow so I will be putting it back together ASAP and riding again. Wish me luck. Any words of wisdom will be appreciated.
Triker98304

[als01seville]

Triker,
I don't understand what you mean by "The Belt Basically Fell On the Clutch and Around the Variator" do you mean that the Clutch Plates seperated and the belt went down into the Clutch Pulley and then the belt had enough length to get over the Variator Fan Plate.

Now that the belt is on is the belt at the Top of the Clutch Pulley and at the Bottom of the Variator Face Plates? If it is, Is the belt nice and TIGHT or Loosey Goosey.
Alleyoop

[triker98304]

Alleyoop
You got it...That is how the belt went on so easy.
Triker98304

[triker98304]

Here is the response I got asking about the DR PULLEY Variator.

The transmissions on these vehicles cannot give more power (or by extension, top speed) in and of themselves. When modifying your transmission, you're actually tuning the power you already have to one use or another by shifting where the RPM power band lies. In a nutshell, you're either tuning for top end at the expense of low end, or vice versa, and the middle ground gives an unsatisfactory amount of both - which is the reason you're wanting to mod it in the first place!


The only true way to get more power out of your system is to alter the air/fuel system of the vehicle: air intake, carburetor (or not, if your system uses EFI), cylinder head, big bore kit, and exhaust. Altering any one (or preferably more) of these will increase the overall amount of power the engine is capable of producing and then you can tune the transmission as you see fit. The good news is: it really works. The bad news is: it isn't always inexpensive, but it's less expensive than a bigger scooter!


To answer your question, the Dr Pulley variator has the potential to give you more top end, but it's no guarantee right out the box. The variator is larger than the stock one in diameter, and therefore a slightly larger than stock belt can ride up farther on the ramp and give you potentially more top speed than a stock variator. The key is the slightly larger in circumference belt that is longer so that you can take advantage of the extra variator real estate.


A secondary consideration is the slider weights, as you've discovered. Lighter weights shift the RPM power range to the low end, at the expense of the top speed (regardless of whether they're roller or sliders, they affect the transmission in a similar fashion). Heavier weights will shift the power curve to the top end, at the expense of low end grunt, acceleration, and power when under load. Keep in mind that heavier weights do not necessarily equal higher speeds.


One of the reasons that lighter weights do not give higher top speeds is because their lighter mass (weight) does not allow them to overcome through centrifugal force the spring tension of the main large clutch spring pressure placed on the belt. Your clutch main spring is constantly working against the slider/roller weights to prevent them from "shifting" into higher gear ratios. If the spring tension is higher than the centrifugal outward force, then the belt will never extend all the way out on the variator and you lose top speed (you'll probably have great low end takeoff speed, though!)


Heavier weights can overcome the spring tension and allow the belt to ride all the way up on the variator, giving you the full variator range to work with, and therefore the highest potential speed the transmission will allow. The problem is that it will try to "shift" you very quickly to a higher gear, kind of like starting a stick shift car in 2nd gear from a dead stop and trying to climb a hill: it may get going but it won't be fast and the vehicle won't like it much!


By modding the air/fuel system and giving the engine more overall power, you're gaining true power than can be used in a balanced CVT system for both low end and top speed. Transmission mods alone will generally only net you a couple of mph at most and often require a sacrifice in other ways. Engine mods give power at all levels and sacrifice nothing aside from the cost of the mod.


Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.


Regards,

Michael Baird
Owner - Buggy Parts NW


Thank you Michael Baird for the information.

Guess I need a bigger engine
Triker98304

[als01seville]

Well I will have to disagree on some of what was said. I and another dawg have the Prodigy Variator and they work just great. And mind you my Trike weighs 353lbs and the other Dawg his Trike is 50lbs heavier than mine at 393lbs I believe. I am running with 12g Dr. Pulley Sliders and it has very good pull and gets up to speed very quickly. The belt climbs up to less than 1/8 from the edge of the Varaitor. Your trike is Under 300lbs I think yours goes for around 293 or lbs so yours should move out smarter than our heavier ones.

Granted to get more HP you have to hit the engine, but putting on a Free Flow filter and feeding it more gas is not going to do squat unless you also put on a Free Flow Muffler otherwise all your going to do is waste gas.
Alleyoop