Modern Vespa

Okay, this may be a dumb question but my LX150 is my first scooter so I don't know the answer.

How do you know it's time to replace the rollers or belt in your tranny? Is there a particular sound it makes or do you just get slippage?

I'd rather not just rely on maintenance schedules in case something goes wrong earlier. I also like knowing what to expect out of my machines and, as I have said, I have no experience with CVT transmissions.

Well, my GT200 is my first scoot also, and according to what I have read, I am hoping to get 8,000 before I need to change that stuff. However, I am at about the 4K mark and I plan on taking the cover off to inspect my belt this week to make sure there is no visible fraying or odd looking wear. The rule of thumb is sooner is better than later.

For my BV200, at 5,000 miles, I opened cover and checked the belt, variator, roller, they look new. For the belt when I took closer look, not diffent from new one. I do believe they will last long up to 8-10k miles.

I changed my belt early at 6000 miles and I regret it. The scoot doesnt have the power it had before the change. Recently pulled off the cover and the front pully had a black ridge from the replacement OEM belt, with that sanded down the power is somewhat back but not 100%.

Additional Question: So what if the pulleys have indentations from the belt, do I need to replace the pulleys? Is replacing the pulleys at the time of a belt change normal?

Manny

Okay, y'all are replacing based on mileage. What I'm wondering about is how can I tell if they wear out early? Is there a sound? A feel? Blue smoke and fire coming out from underneath?

As I understand it, you lose power and torque, if its fraying, look at the small round whole on side of the motor, if rubber pieces are hanging out, thats a bad sign.

Someone more qualified might be able to give you a better answer.

Manny


If no does, try jess.

You can lose top speed when your rollers are warn and become lighter.

You might start noticing a rattling sound, particularly on take off.

I left a set of rollers go way too long two winters ago and didn't notice because I wasn't counting the miles and never really rode fast for extended periods in the cold months. Then, on St. Patricks Day, the wife and I took a trip up to Baltimore for their parade. We took the highway on the way back and I was surprised to be having trouble holding 60 mph (and this was on a heavily kitted ET4).

Sure enough, my rollers were toast, some worn all the way down to their metal cores.

Hmm. My scoot rattles a bit on decel (never acceleration) right before the clutch disengages but only when the scoot is cold. It goes away after 1-2 miles. Could that be the rollers?

I lost my belt at just over 11,000 miles.

There was no evidence of it going.

Here is my story and the replacement:

GT200 CVT belt and rollers replacement.

Salty, Did you have ridges in the front pulley as well as the belt residue?


Manny

Yellow coloured 'fluff' coming from the transmission air vent. This is Kevlar 'candy floss'. You now have a few hundred miles left - saved my arse more than a few times by spotting this!

Well past its 'sell-by' then. Are you sure there was no Kevlar floss hanging out of the vents? Maybe you weren't looking for it, no problem.

Interestingly there are different replacement schedules in the manual for belts and for rollers. For the GTS rollers at about 6K miles, the belt at 10K miles if I remember correctly.
I think it is interesting that folks wait to do both at the same time.
It seems to me that running rollers too long would cause extra wear on the variator itself?

I tried to check my belt the other day... took all the bolts on the transmission cover out and got the air filter out of the way...

Couldn't get the cover off! Is there a trick to it? It hardly budged.

Can not answer belt yet but....
The roller I just had replaced at 4000 miles...
On acceleration from dead stop the scoot vibrated until 15 mph....
Mine were very flat in places...
Also just replace rear tire at same time...
4000 mile service, tire, rollers.. $330...
All hail Vespa Washington...

Oops, duplicate post somehow.

I did have some wear on the pullies, but not ridges. It was more an area of wear where I ridde most of the time WOT!
About an inch wide fairing into no wear at each side. Yes, I waited too long; even had the belt in the garage waiting for the replacement process.

No, I had not noticed any kevlar cotton candy at the vent, but maybe not looking for it.

I also had ordered the rollers, planning to replace them while I was in there.

Did you replace the pullies? How many miles did you have when the belt died?
Manny

I just replaced my belt at 6,500 miles. Had quite a bit of rattling noise before doing so. The bike now runs better than new. Loads of power and no rattling on acceleration.

There was a tech session at Amerivespa on Saturday. What we were told is to check the variator every 4000 miles. Inspect the belt for wear; cracks, fraying, and proper width. Replace if necessary.

It's common for the rollers to develop flat sides. This typically results in some vibration when accelerating from a stop. Just as 'got mine' described. I don't know if it's worth the trouble to weigh the rollers. I would think that if they wear and don't 'flat side' they would loose mass and degrade performance, but this wasn't mentioned in the tech session.

The drive pulley should be inspected for wear. It should have a flat smooth surface. It can develop a grove if driven at a constant speed for long periods of time.

That's pretty much all I can remember.

.

[quote="The drive pulley should be inspected for wear. It should have a flat smooth surface. It can develop a grove if driven at a constant speed for long periods of time.

That's pretty much all I can remember.

.[/quote]


Thanks my brotha.

(rhetorical).But if the pulleys needs to be replaced at lets say 5900 miles, should it be replaced by the owner or under warranty.

That's pretty much what I remember, too, except to add that that a worn belt will result in loss of top speed - 5 to 10 mph.

I have a 2004 ET4 and at about 6000 miles the top end power was very bad. Off the line power was good but it would not go over 45mph. Pulled it apart and the belt looked new but all of the rollers but one was flat on one side. Replaced the rollers and belt and it ran like new.............

For what it is worth my GTS has done it since day 1 and now I have 6500 miles on it. I posted the same question a while back and others stated the same.

Sounds like it is a normal thing,
Bob

Rollers with flat spots will jerk. With steady throttle on flat road you'll change speeds. Seems to get worse as engine warms.

My belt and rollers looked unused at 8,000 miles. I replaced rollers with Malossi to try them out. They all had 1/8" flat bands 4,000 miles later. I read sharply varying versions from many GT/GTS owners. I understood that I didn't have to worry about it until 12,000 miles.
After reading all these stories, I'd say, check in there at 8,000 miles to make sure all is well. That's also the perfect time to take out the Simple Green, etc., and clean it back to like new.

One positive comment: Once you have the handful of tools, working on the rollers and variator is quite easy and satisfying. After doing it once, it's really easy.
If you're feeling hesitant, take the time to figure it out and you'll be fully rewarded.

Yet another reason to avoid Malossi crap products.

I am experiencing a slight" jerking" at around 60 mph and have also lost some top end speed.
I replaced the stock variator with a Malossi one about 4500 miles ago.

I also travel at mostly highways speeds. Would a check of the rollers be prudent at this time?? From what I am reading in the is thread, is sorta seems that way.

Sounds like roller failure to me.

Malossi products don't seem to last as long as stock, although folks swear they perform better.

Think I am on the right track??

I have the stock variator still. I wonder if I should switch back though I do like the xtra torque off the line.

Caveat, I have not used Malossi products.

But I can say that to a man, all those I know personally that have done so have regretted it within 4,000 miles.