Safe HP on a CVT

siczy

Senior Member
First Name
Jordan
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Threads
19
Messages
85
Reaction score
38
Location
Ohio
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic Hatch Sport
Vehicle Showcase
1
I am looking at getting a PRL SRI and Vit's Ktuner setup. No other planned mods for performance. Just wondering how safe my CVT in my 18 Hatch Sport will be or if I am murdering it by adding power.
Sponsored

 

nvtive_b

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
243
Reaction score
146
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
23 Type R
Country flag
whats max safe torque?
they wont say that because then everyone can hold them reliable. plus it isnt a set number. its different for each car and how each driver has driven it. although i have seen people run 285 torque for some time now. just do some research and see what people are running. im sure it wont be able to hit 300 though
 


charleswrivers

Senior Member
First Name
Charles
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Threads
43
Messages
3,736
Reaction score
4,468
Location
Kingsland, GA
Vehicle(s)
'14 Odyssey, '94 300zx, 2001 F-150
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
I wonder if there'll be aftermarket parts for the CVT folks.

I've replaced belts, clutches, variators/weights, and springs in the CVT in my itty bitty GY6-clone powered buggy a bunch of times. This is the first time I've seen the inside of a Civic one and it's looks about the same. They make tougher pieces that make up the 'cones' on those and stronger belts, though those belts tend to be more brittle and less ductle and tough so if they go... they don't slip... they break.
 

cdepalma91

Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
16
Reaction score
2
Location
California
Vehicle(s)
Honda Civic EX-T 2017 CVT
Curious to know what number is safe max torque for the CVT as well, anyone know of any other threads that have reported this?
 

Myx

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Threads
79
Messages
2,166
Reaction score
2,042
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic EX (Hatchback/CVT)
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
I wonder if there'll be aftermarket parts for the CVT folks.

I've replaced belts, clutches, variators/weights, and springs in the CVT in my itty bitty GY6-clone powered buggy a bunch of times. This is the first time I've seen the inside of a Civic one and it's looks about the same. They make tougher pieces that make up the 'cones' on those and stronger belts, though those belts tend to be more brittle and less ductle and tough so if they go... they don't slip... they break.
This is an old thread, I know. I am particularly interested in what you said in bold. Who makes tougher pieces that make up the cones and stronger belts? I'm interested in this and would like to follow up on it, outside of this forum. Thanks!
 

charleswrivers

Senior Member
First Name
Charles
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Threads
43
Messages
3,736
Reaction score
4,468
Location
Kingsland, GA
Vehicle(s)
'14 Odyssey, '94 300zx, 2001 F-150
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
This is an old thread, I know. I am particularly interested in what you said in bold. Who makes tougher pieces that make up the cones and stronger belts? I'm interested in this and would like to follow up on it, outside of this forum. Thanks!
What I was talking about to was in reference to a GY6. Unfortunately I don't know of any aftermarket that exists for out CVTs. They really are simple contraptions, which is ashamed. A broken belt in a GY6 is a .5-1 hour fix that takes $10 and either a replacement gasket or tube of RTV to seal it (I just use RTV)... but in a car, it seems like it warrants replacing it outright which is crazy to me. I've modded the CVT a couple times with regard to springs/weights and effectively rebuilt it in about 1-2 hours when it ate a belt.

I don't know a lot about the specific materials... but I know belts themselves, they have corded rubber belts and Kevlar belts. I know rubber ones tend to shred and will slip but not wear the variator/clutch surface so much. The Kevlar provide a firmer less... well... rubber bandy power delivery and don't really slip under heavy load. They wear the cheaper aluminum parts most come with stock (they're pretty much all mass produced clones of a old Honda GY6 from Asia) and that aluminum gets worn. If the Kevlar belts breaks, it can be pretty dramatic. All I run is rubber belts in my GY6 powered buggy... and always keep a spare on hand. I'd rather break a rubber belt, or have it stretch and shred than have to replace a clutch or variator. If your question was related to GY6s... Buggymasters is the forum to check out and where I got my start when I got my current one for $300, not running but in seemingly new shape about 6 years ago. Other than the CVT, I've replaced it's cylinder, rings and swapped cams... and I still ride it out to fishing holes all the time. It beats walking... and I can still be like a kid in a grown up go kart.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Myx

Myx

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Threads
79
Messages
2,166
Reaction score
2,042
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic EX (Hatchback/CVT)
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
What I was talking about to was in reference to a GY6. Unfortunately I don't know of any aftermarket that exists for out CVTs. They really are simple contraptions, which is ashamed. A broken belt in a GY6 is a .5-1 hour fix that takes $10 and either a replacement gasket or tube of RTV to seal it (I just use RTV)... but in a car, it seems like it warrants replacing it outright which is crazy to me. I've modded the CVT a couple times with regard to springs/weights and effectively rebuilt it in about 1-2 hours when it ate a belt.

I don't know a lot about the specific materials... but I know belts themselves, they have corded rubber belts and Kevlar belts. I know rubber ones tend to shred and will slip but not wear the variator/clutch surface so much. The Kevlar provide a firmer less... well... rubber bandy power delivery and don't really slip under heavy load. They wear the cheaper aluminum parts most come with stock (they're pretty much all mass produced clones of a old Honda GY6 from Asia) and that aluminum gets worn. If the Kevlar belts breaks, it can be pretty dramatic. All I run is rubber belts in my GY6 powered buggy... and always keep a spare on hand. I'd rather break a rubber belt, or have it stretch and shred than have to replace a clutch or variator. If your question was related to GY6s... Buggymasters is the forum to check out and where I got my start when I got my current one for $300, not running but in seemingly new shape about 6 years ago. Other than the CVT, I've replaced it's cylinder, rings and swapped cams... and I still ride it out to fishing holes all the time. It beats walking... and I can still be like a kid in a grown up go kart.

Nah, my question was related directly to the Civic. When I previously had my 2015 Honda Fit CVT, I was talking to snowmobile and other manufactures that modified the CVTs on those and didn't have success with that. Thought you were on to something with the Civic CVT when I saw your post and wanted to continue from there. Thanks for the reply. :thumbsup:
 


Hollywoo0220

Customer Service oriented (most of the time) :-)
First Name
RJ
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Threads
5
Messages
744
Reaction score
524
Location
WA
Vehicle(s)
Dihatsu Charade, BMW, Various Hondas, Focus ST, and VW GTI
Country flag
I am looking at getting a PRL SRI and Vit's Ktuner setup. No other planned mods for performance. Just wondering how safe my CVT in my 18 Hatch Sport will be or if I am murdering it by adding power.
You will be fine with the Base Tunes.
If I remember correctly, Vit did mention that 230-240lb/ft was possibly the pushing point for the CVT. You won’t get there with the Base Maps on 91Oct.
I recently wrote some info for the CVT owners, take a read.
https://www.civicx.com/threads/power-metrics-limitations-for-1-5l-cvt-models.33545/#post-561052
 

Jazzek

Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2017
Threads
0
Messages
34
Reaction score
46
Location
Florida Panhandle
Vehicle(s)
2017 Civic Coupe EXT, 2003 Taco
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
You mean floor it from a dead stop?
I mean hold brake and gas to spool up stationary, then let go of brake to launch. Don't do that. Slamming gas off the line isn't doing you any favors but also won't melt anything.
 

gtman

Senior Member
First Name
Mitch
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Threads
328
Messages
16,672
Reaction score
24,356
Location
USA
Website
www.civicx.com
Vehicle(s)
2017 Cosmic Blue EX-L Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
2
Launching will help kill the CVT. The CVT/turbo isn't a standing start drag race champ but from a rolling start, especially tuned, it's fantastic.
Sponsored

 


 


Top