Process for assembling belt for continuously variable transmission

A process for assembling a belt for a continuously variable transmission by assembling a large number of metal elements along a metal ring assembly comprised of a plurality of endless metal rings laminated one on another, said process comprising the steps of:

• preparing, as the metal elements, standard elements having a standard thickness t, first adjusting elements having a thickness larger than the standard thickness t by a predetermined value Δt, and second adjusting elements having a thickness smaller than the standard thickness t by the predetermined value Δt,
• assembling only the standard elements closely on the metal ring assembly, and defining, as an initial clearance αi, a clearance α generated between the rearwardmost and forwardmost ones of the standard elements, when the number of the standard elements assembled has reached a maximum,
• if the initial clearance ails smaller than approximately one half of said standard thickness t, combining a predetermined number of said first adjusting elements among said standard elements, thereby making the clearance α after completion of the assembling smaller than said predetermined value Δt, or
• if the initial clearance αi is equal to or larger than approximately one half of said standard thickness t, combining a predetermined number of said second adjusting elements among said standard elements, thereby making the clearance α after completion of the assembling smaller than said predetermined value Δt.