Modern Vespa

This mod is for the 400cc and 500cc Piaggio MASTER engine what you find on most European scooters like the Aprilia Atlantic, Aprilia Scarabeo, Gilera Nexus, Gilera Fuoco, Piaggio Beverly, Piaggio MP3, Piaggio X9, Peugeot Satelis, Malaguti Spidermax GT500
Malaguti Spidermax RS500 and lots more.

Take these


cut this away


...and you do not even need to remove the silver cover to do that, now you can check with a flashlight or just your fingers the state of the transmission belt and if the bearing of the anti-flapper wheel still spins freely.


complete post here:
http://malaguti-spidermax.blogspot.com/

What a very simple but hugely useful idea! Thanks for sharing!!!

Nice post and blog!
If they would only make it easier to measure the width of the belt without taking anything off...
Nah, Piaggio wouldn't make it THAT easy!

I know it's in the manual - but have you ever known anyone actually measure the belt width and know what to do with their measurement? I never have, and I never do! Just check for the first signs of cracks between the inner teeth - that's all that's required - though further down the line other signs will appear!

The belt width seems not too important to check, since it is not deteriorating too much during its life ( at least up until 35000 km - 22000 miles what mine has now).

My theory so far is that they deteriorate from fatigue and thermal problems. Mine is in a constant environment where it is in the 70 to max 100 the whole year long. So no freezing temperatures what could make it hard on the belt material and maybe form micro cracks and micro separation between the top and the working layer during the initial cold start phase.

About the belt:

The belt has a new width from 26.2 mm and a replace width from 25 mm.
Well, I measure more 26.4 mm


With 26 mm after 18000 km the belt is nearly new.


Checking for cracks and defects I noticed a few threads missing in parts of the belt.
These are the worst parts




The belt at 31000 km 26.3 mm wide


The belt at 31000 km with much more little cracks and the white thread is gone totally on one side while the other one is still in good shape.
Funny, but the width of the belt got wider the last 13000 km.


Every tooth has now stress cracks inside but the performance is still as new so I will keep on testing...

after finding this picture,

I know it does not matter if the outer thread is gone, it is more important to check the belt for signs of separations and your finger can do that through the service opening in a second.

Aprilia says to change the belt every 10K miles on the 500GT. I've heard some go as far as 15K miles before changing it. But your 22K miles and counting is music to my ears. My 500GT just broke 10K miles but it does have a Tow-Pac trike kit on it now too. Since the belts are anything but cheap, I'm glad to hear your experiences.

I don't think the width thing is that reliable. I was in the shop the other day with the Vespa mechanic. We measured a NEW belt and it wasn't above the replacement width -- out at the beginning.