Alternatives to Impact Wrench for variator?  By  paulgendek (Read 12,067 times)

I don't think that my 1986 Honda Elite was really meant to be worked on by the owner, especially with the CVT and the way it is mounted. There is a passenger pedal bracket that is welded to the steel frame and is not removable. This blocks taking off the CVT cover without the variator coming with it because there just isn't enough clearance. I had to use an impact wrench to change my belt just because I had to take the whole thing apart together. Just remember if you use an impact wrench, put the nut back on the threads by hand first before using the impact wrench to avoid stripping the threads.

Strap wrench. Same concept as taking an oil filter off a car. No need for an impact, just a breaker bar, socket, and strap wrench

A couple pieces of 1/4 or 3/16" X 1" strap steel - 17" for the long arm of the "Y" and
same material but 7" long for the short arm of the "Y" , a few holes with bolts & nuts
and VOILA!! a variator tool. If your variator just has fins but no holes to fit small
(6mm X 30mm) bolts, then cover the threads of the bolts with plastic tubing to act as
cushions to spread load and reduce the likelihood of scratching & cracking fins or the
drive line case.
www.stevenpaluch.com/Ruckus/variator_tool.jpg

When I use mine, I always have the long arm on the same side as the wrench handle.
So, for loosening - to the left. (with the long arm touching the ground) for tightening,
long arm of the tool and the wrench handle to the right. That way I can just stand on
the wrench handle letting my weight do the work if need be.

That is unless you have a variator like this bike here. Then you will most likely need a
specialized tool.
www.adrenalin-pedstop.co.uk/img/tutorials/4/2.jpg

BTW, a powered ratchet should be fine for REMOVAL of nuts, but it would be much more
sensible to use a properly set torque wrench when replacing nuts on your scooter to be
sure it does not get over tightened. There may come a time when you don't have the
benefit of a powered ratchet for removal. Torqued properly, it may still be difficult to
remove but not near impossible to the point of possibly causing damage.

At one time, I had made about 2 dozen of these tools and sold them to Honda Reflex 
owners... don't have any more left though... but they are so easy and cheap to make.
Free if you can find scrap steel like bed frame material. (that stuff is tough as heck and
hard to drill though.)

Are you going to get another HF emergency impact? I wound up ordering another one of those after my switch took a dump.

If you do use an impact wrench to put the variator or clutch nut back on you should use a torque limiter on the impact wrench matched to the specification of the nut and shaft. If you do not have the engine manual you can just go with the generic specification for the hardness spec of the shaft, thread pitch and diameter. The torque limiters once their set point is reached will just spin without driving the nut any tighter. A pair of mechanics gloves is recommended to get a good grip on the clutch bell or drive face to prevent the impacts from reaching the gears or connecting rod and damaging them.

Torque Limiter