Modern Vespa

Greetings:

Ever seeking Slightly Faster performance I was inspired by someone in another thread to spring for the Torque Driver rear pulley sheave replacement they make for a number of scooter brands. The difference seems to be a much steeper cam angle cut into the hub compared to stock. The pulley came with the oil seals assembled onto the hub, contrary to the instructions which suggested swapping on the stock ones. They also referred to THREE little guide pins. There are four...

The "Instructions" also don't mention the little black plastic cone-shaped ring that came with the kit. I could see no part resembling it when I dismantled my clutch and rear pulley assembly. Incorrectly I presumed it was for a different scooter, because often a Malossi part number will fit multiple brands.

Incorrect, that is, until I tried to slide my new freshly-greased Malossi Torque driver onto the pulley hub. The lower seal slid right on, but the seal lip of top one "hangs up" on the polished steel hub cylinder. Resorting to Default Wheel-Muscle mode ensured it went on. However a short segment of the lip of the seal was inverted. That got me thinkin'. Yeah, the little plastic thing is a Guide. It slips over the threaded part of the pulley hub and allows the seal lips to slip onto the hub. Luckily the seal was undamaged and no grease smears outside its domain.

So all is well. I have yet to take a meaningful test ride, but first impressions down the street and back are that the transmission could now use some lighter weights. I felt the revs were lower with no change in variator load or springs. Will report more when I have details to share.

OK I have one of these still in the box for my 50. The black plastic seal guide - where did it come from? Is it in the box with the torque driver? I haven't looked yet. It would be great as I would like to rebuild the clutch pulley with some new pins & grease & seals but don't want to snag 'em on the threaded/shouldered nose and destroy them when installing.

edit: you answered my question as I was reading too fast. Do keep us posted on the results.

Still waiting to hear about that meaningful test ride. This is about the only mod I have never tried, so I am interested too.

Greetings:

Thanks for the comments. Honestly I'm not sure what I think. I didn't conduct a series of "before" timed accelerations with observations of the tachometer, so clueless about baseline.

It seems to have dropped the revs, a little, at city street cruising speed from what I remember. Also I do feel that it grabs revs faster when punching the throttle while at 20-30 MPH cruising speed. Runs up from 5K to 7200 almost instantly. Trouble is I don't know if it's "instantly-er" than before.

I can think of no downside, if that's any help. For sure the old assembly needed to be pulled apart for greasing anyway.

Thanks. I think I will give that mod a miss.

I presume this is your ET4 that you are talking about. I feel I need to buy a new scooter. I have run out of mods to make to my two GTS300 Supers, and want to take a HPE model for a test ride. Need a new toy to fiddle with.