Tearing apart a CVT (lots of pics)

[Eggman]

Let's convince Daox of his next modification then. I'm thinking a Torsen unit would suffice. Apparently Mitsubishi has already used them in the Pajero and the Triton.

[Fummins]

I just stumbled upon a video showing a cvt teardown....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnN7lkHOCuE just gotta force the clutches out.

[Eggman]

Do you notice any particular wear pattern on the pulleys and/or belt?

[Fummins]

The only wear was on the one edge of the primary clutch. There are some light marks, no gouges though. I was expecting the primary to be spring loaded like a skidoo or at clutch but it just slides freely. You can open and close it easily. The secondary is tight with very light marks on it.

[Eggman]

Are those marks necessary for CVT operation, like some texture helps the belt do it's job?

I'm asking because I don't know much about CVTs.

[Fummins]

I'd guess they're not necessary. They look like wear marks and are only on the one edge. The other side looks smooth in comparison.

[MetroMPG]

Thanks for another informative thread!

(The diff chatter made me LOL.)

[tomrad]

Thanks for the nice write-up, Fummins. It puts my mind at ease with worrying about the strength of the parking pawl. I always use the parking brake, which is good, of course, but I'm also very cautious with automatics, taking good care of parking pawls. This one looks indestructible.
Although I've never actually had a broken one......I did shove a '69 Ford into park while moving at 5mph when I was 16. It survived, and I learned a little about how they work, that they ratchet to a stop.
Which leads me to wondering....as I know some cars have an interlock to prevent engaging the pawl while the car is in motion. Does Mirage have something like this?

[Fummins]

I've done the same thing with a beater to see what would happen. Years ago I bought a bronco with 40" tires that had the park pin broken already. So it can happen I guess. I don't think there is anything preventing you from putting the Mirage in park while moving, if there is it'd be at the shifter it self. I do know it won't let you drive with your foot on the gas and brake at the same time, it kills power and wont let it rev up.

[wellswebdesign]

I remember accidentally putting my 1999 Saturn in park while going about 5-10mph. It was right after I bought it, so sometime in 1999 or early 2000. It made a pretty horrendous noise. No permanent damage, at least none that showed up in the next 15 years and 160,000 miles of owning it.