How high should the belt ride on the variator?

[ChrisH821]

So I've been riding around on my SE50 swapped spree and I am getting about 35 on the speedo with a 2.75 tire. When I put the variator on I marked it with a sharpie to tell how high the belt goes, today I opened up the cover and it seems like there is a little more to be had, I'm not sure though.

P1010331.JPG (168.46 KiB) Viewed 5456 times

What do you seasoned variator tuners think?
I am using new stock SE50 rollers, unfortunately I don't have a tach.
Thanks

[martynkim]

That looks about right. Is that a stock variator?

[ChrisH821]

Yep, everything stock. My concern is that so many people claim to get 40+ on a stock SE50, this is in a spree which is a bit lighter so I should at least be able to match that speed. Maybe I shouldn't complain about it since it is already SO MUCH better than it was with the spree engine.

[Trafficjamz]

Yep, everything stock. My concern is that so many people claim to get 40+ on a stock SE50, this is in a spree which is a bit lighter so I should at least be able to match that speed. Maybe I shouldn't complain about it since it is already SO MUCH better than it was with the spree engine.

Take the plate off of the back of the variator.

You should see a tiny bit more top speed.

[Mystic]

Yep, everything stock. My concern is that so many people claim to get 40+ on a stock SE50, this is in a spree which is a bit lighter so I should at least be able to match that speed. Maybe I shouldn't complain about it since it is already SO MUCH better than it was with the spree engine.

Take the plate off of the back of the variator.

You should see a tiny bit more top speed.

+1

[Trafficjamz]

also.....are you using a stock se50 ramp plate or a different one?

[PimpinSpree]

After market variator and a new belt. A crappy old belt will lose some mph

[ChrisH821]

Thanks for all the replies!

I am running the stock ramp plate.

Take the plate off of the back of the variator.

You should see a tiny bit more top speed.

How does taking the back plate off help with this? I see this posted pretty much any time someone talks about a variator. Before I installed it I tried to determine why people say to do this but could not. Take a look at these pictures to understand my reasoning....

This is the furthest the ramp plate can possibly push the variator with the back plate on

VariPlate.JPG (156.84 KiB) Viewed 5420 times

We can see at that amount of "extension" (I don't think the rollers can even push it that far) that the variator is further than the slide, which it cannot be because of the drive pulley. I see no way that taking off the plate can increase variator travel. Maybe it is different on the AF16 than on the AF05E?

Vari1.JPG (94.84 KiB) Viewed 5420 times

I might be missing something though.

[Trafficjamz]

Maybe it is different on the AF16 than on the AF05E?

I might be missing something though.

Yeah the length of the drive boss is different.

[ChrisH821]

Ok that makes sense, thanks!

[Bear45-70]

Yep, everything stock. My concern is that so many people claim to get 40+ on a stock SE50, this is in a spree which is a bit lighter so I should at least be able to match that speed. Maybe I shouldn't complain about it since it is already SO MUCH better than it was with the spree engine.

Weight will have very little to do with top speed, wind resistance is the biggest factor, horsepower and overall gear ratio have a much larger influence.