correct varriator roller installation

[bigjeff]

I read on a forum (can't remember which one) that there is a wrong and a correct way the rollers were to be installed in the variator. One end of the roller shows the inner metal ring the other is coated in the plastic type material. I think it was that the plastic covered end of the roller needed to face to the right. Is that right, or left? haha or is it all BS?

[ravensguildassasin]

well it makes since to me that it would go one way like stated. when the centrifugal force pulls on the roller it also pulls it in the rotational since as well. so it would go with out to much reasoning that the covered side of the roller would need to be the side that is going to make contact with the variator based on the rotation of the cvt system. with all that being said using some simple mechanical reasoning you should be able to deture which way they will go based on rotational mass. i have never had the variator apart so i cant say which direction based on right or left denotions. but i can say that if you are looking at the pulley on the scooter then you would want the covered end facing the back tire on the top side of the pulley. if i'm wrong on how this works someone correct me. see really bad image below.

[bigjeff]

yeah my reasoning was similar - it does make sense BUT - I would like to see something more definite, like testing that proves it. The scooter maintenance manual or any product literature I have read on variators say nothing about this. Makes me wonder - because if it were a real concern you would think it would be mentioned in that literature. Hence the post.

[ravensguildassasin]

i think its more people think it makes a difference then anything else. but it does make a lot of since to me that you would want a material that will reduce friction on the contact side. i think the rollers will wear flat and need changed before the metal side contacting the ramp will ever be an issue, but that's just my opinion. weather it does or does not make a difference is your question and that i cant answer honestly.

[bigjeff]

thanks though - and nice drawing. That's the way
I see it too. Good job!

The plastic on one end and not the other MAY be a result of a manufacturing process. Don't know - just a guess.

[Fox]

I never heard of this or noticed this before in 6+ years of scooting. I just install the damn things whichever way they happen to be in my fingers. Jeez! Now I have to go and check out my roller collection to see if there's anything to this. Thanks a lot! ;D

[bigjeff]

haha just read it somewhere. Don't sweat it. Probably just one of those urban legend old wives tales etc.....but you never know. hahahaha

[Fox]

Hah hah! It's cool. I use Dr Pulley sliders so yiou can't revers e them but on customewrs scooters I never thought about it before. I think maybe it is an old wives tale. Maybe some guy got a batch of weights that had more plastic on one side than the other and made a conclusion. It's definitely worth investigation though. I'll get right on that after a few more beers. Maybe...

[bigjeff]

I've seen it on more than one forum after a Google search but NEVER from manufacturer documents. I looked at all my rollers (my whole two sets - since I am a scooter noob but an OLD aircraft mechanic - hehe) and the rollers DO have more plastic on one end. My thinks they are made that way - probably that is the way the mold is set up or they would tell you to install them just so if designed that way..... Right? I feel like I am on myth busters?

[90GTVert]

I looked at the sets I have around...



I already knew some rollers and sliders had more plastic on one side, though I never put any thought into placement. As Fox mentioned, sliders must go a certain way.



What ruins this argument for me is that on all of my rollers, whether one side shows more plastic or not, the plastic extends past the metal on both sides. Either way you install them, plastic should contact the variator, not metal.

[bigjeff]

yep - so it is probably just the way they make them. Myth busted...maybe. haha

So do you like the sliders more and if so why? (using law of physics in your argument) :sos:

[90GTVert]

I think the pile of sliders there should tell you if I like them or not. ;D I'm not smart enough to use the laws of physics in my argument. :lol:

One of the big reasons I've grown to like sliders is durability. These things take a beating. I have destroyed so much stuff in the CVT and I've chipped some sliders up, but they work just fine afterwards. Rollers are more likely to heat up and flat spot. The toughness alone is worth the extra money to me.

Here's something better than physics... video...

[Fox]

Well, looking at Brent's pics, it looks like they have more "plastic" on one side by design and even on the sliders the side with more plastic is on the "wear" side (I think) so I/we all just learned something new! As mentioned before, it makes sense.

Thanks bigjeff and thanks for the great pics Brent!

The sliders are better in that they last a helluva lot longer, they don't get flat spots cause they already have flat spots and they seem to "downshift" better when you are riding on level ground and you hit a hill. They're made of a Teflon type material that is slippery and tough.

[bigjeff]

awesome. When my rollers go bad - (they have zero miles on them) I will replace them with sliders. THANKS!

[Fox]

Keeping the CVT drive clean of belt dust on a regular basis is the key to longevity. I use an old paint brush to loosen it up and get the lions share off the case and the belt cover and then compressed air to blow the rest of the crud outta there. It doesn't have to sparkle. I do it every 1000 chinometers or so.