OP
@elementalist avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
 
Addicted
@elementalist avatar
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
UTC quote
...where's my power gone?!

I'm hoping Cheeky Thomas will turn up here and tell me "oh, that's normal it'll pick up in a couple hundred miles". Really hoping.

Basically, all the shuddering and low-rev roughness is gone, which is lovely, but there always was a lag in pickup from takeoff, which didn't improve the first few dozen stop-and-starts, but now has become a yawning chasm of nothingness

On yanking back the throttle at 0mph there is a maybe three or four second (!) crawl (going from 0 to 10mph) at just over 3000 revs before the revs kick up to 6000+ and a proper takeoff occurs. I'm gonna be pissing off a lot of drivers when I filter to the front at the lights and then do THAT on the green.

The master engine always was a late starter, but now it feels like I should get off and push alongside it for a bit every time I pull away

Any ideas, anyone? CT?

As I say, the smoothness is lovely, but if it is somehow the JCosta causing this lack of power, then it isn't worth the tradeoff.

P.S. At 5000 to 6500 revs (ish) the acceleration seems to have improved from the previously good mid-range, but top end doesn't seem to want to get up above 85 very easily anymore.
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Check you had the correct weights for the 400 - they are NOT the same as for the 500.
OP
@elementalist avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
 
Addicted
@elementalist avatar
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
Check you had the correct weights for the 400 - they are NOT the same as for the 500.
There were seperate kits for MP3 400 specified at the website I got it from, but I'll ring them tomorrow and double-check, ta.
@joe_bulva avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
2009 MP3 400ie RL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 84
Location: UK
 
Enthusiast
@joe_bulva avatar
2009 MP3 400ie RL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 84
Location: UK
UTC quote
Your weights are most probably the right ones. (23.5g) Weighed them just yesterday.

I posted EXACTLY same complain here: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic47908?highlight=

You might want to know that I experimented this whole weekend with J COSTA + Dr Pulley weights + Dr Pulley HiT clutch and will post my findings very soon.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Hmm... I spotted somewhere that the 400 weights should be 22.5g rather than the 500's 25.5g. That still seems slightly heavy to me considering the difference in max torque and max power revs between the two engines.
@joe_bulva avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
2009 MP3 400ie RL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 84
Location: UK
 
Enthusiast
@joe_bulva avatar
2009 MP3 400ie RL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 84
Location: UK
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
Hmm... I spotted somewhere that the 400 weights should be 22.5g rather than the 500's 25.5g. That still seems slightly heavy to me considering the difference in max torque and max power revs between the two engines.
You've probably seen it here:
https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic47919?highlight=

..but check the website of the UK importer http://www.sabreracingproducts.co.uk/var50/jc626fs.htm

"14 gliding rollers of 24 grams (jc16031024014m)"

My weights had been in the variator for almost 1000 miles so that could be that 0.5g difference and yes it's too heavy..
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
OK, first reaction would be to take out an opposing couple of weights.
@fuzzy avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
. . 2008 Blue MP3 400. . di Peluria Orso .... 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 ....... 2013 Honda NC700XD; 2017 Versys X300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6252
Location: South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fuzzy avatar
. . 2008 Blue MP3 400. . di Peluria Orso .... 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 ....... 2013 Honda NC700XD; 2017 Versys X300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6252
Location: South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
UTC quote
Matt at Scootertrap told me the 400 weights should be 22.5 grams, not tbe 23.5 you measured. You might want to check on the lighter weights before giving up on the J-Costa.
@chetwynder avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
Baart-less
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4499
Location: 56°58'34.49"N x 111°29'38.40"W
 
Ossessionato
@chetwynder avatar
Baart-less
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4499
Location: 56°58'34.49"N x 111°29'38.40"W
UTC quote
Fuzzy wrote:
Matt at Scootertrap told me the 400 weights should be 22.5 grams, not tbe 23.5 you measured.
Are those US or imperial grams? ROFL emoticon

Dave
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44237
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Not funny when someone has spent so much money on recommendation (from me as well).
OP
@elementalist avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
 
Addicted
@elementalist avatar
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
UTC quote
So can you buy lighter weights for the JCosta? I'll go web-search I guess Would be nice not to just discard the kit (and throw away £235).

Annoying that the kit is sold as a 'performance enhancement' specifically for the MP3 400 when that is not what happens! Don't the manufacturers test these things and think "Hmm - maybe folks will be a bit upset?".

*shrug* What do I know?... Not much *sigh* but learning (the hard way!).

Edit: Just read about someone removing a couple of weights on installation... no explanation why, but I assume to reduce the overall weight of the mechanism and increase revs. Just removing weights seems... wrong though?
OP
@elementalist avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
 
Addicted
@elementalist avatar
MP3 250 -> MP3 400 -> Gilera Fuoco -> SRV 850 -> Beverly 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 610
Location: Essex
UTC quote
Looks like you can't get lighter weights for the JCosta and can't get Dr. Pulley gear in the UK. Doh.

Maybe I'll try the taking-out-a-pair-of-weights trick.

EDIT: YOu can get lighter weights - a large variety of them and the UK JCosta guy is sending me some. Yay!
DoubleGood Design banner

Modern Vespa is the premier site for modern Vespa and Piaggio scooters. Vespa GTS300, GTS250, GTV, GT200, LX150, LXS, ET4, ET2, MP3, Fuoco, Elettrica and more.

Buy Me A Coffee
 

Shop on Amazon with Modern Vespa

Modern Vespa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com


All Content Copyright 2005-2024 by Modern Vespa.
All Rights Reserved.


[ Time: 0.0151s ][ Queries: 4 (0.0060s) ][ live ][ 318 ][ ThingOne ]