. By rosiemoto (Read 11,520 times)

[rosiemoto]

I finally got around to getting some hose clamps, and I've put one on that hose that was missing it.

Yes, I think my valve cover has the chrome pipe... I remember it preventing me from taking off my valve cover; it was in the way of the bolt. I may have that foam filter like in the thread you linked, I gotta check that out because I was getting leaks there until I repositioned its hose clamp a few weeks ago. I'm guessing the process to clean that foam piece is soap+water, wait to dry, then dab a little engine oil on it, or not on that filter?

I'm still getting 54-59mph top speed depending on wind direction... tomorrow I'm going to put my old clutch back in to see if it'll go back to that consistent 61mph I used to get. To be honest I'm not sure I like the feel of the new clutch... it's 100% SMOOTH during the whole takeoff, but it feels WEAK though, almost like I need to help push the bike with my own legs off the line. My old clutch had a nice strong/grippy takeoff feeling... at least, when it didn't shake my bike like a maniac.

It's been a couple weeks or so since I changed my belt, but I'm now hearing chattering/slapping again at idle (1500rpm). It's definitely coming from the CVT area so I'm afraid if the new belt has also become loose like the previous one did? Will check if the belt feels stretched/loose before I swap out the clutch.

[Alleyoop]

What size belt are you putting on and what kind of belt. It should not be stretching with so little miles on it. If it is stretched out I would suspect it is a cheap belt. I have over 2000 miles on my belt and it takes a beating pulling 350lbs of trike plus my weight and I am not easy on my trike.

I do not believe the miles per hour has anything to do with your clutch. If a clutch has a problem it would mean it is slipping and with it being brand new I doubt it, I would more put the blame on the belt slipping. And since you say it is slapping around means it is stretched or the wrong size.
Alleyoop

[rosiemoto]

Both belts are Gates Powerlink 842-20-30. The previous one was the one I got from Amazon, and the one in now is the one from eBay. Both look just like the bottom one in this picture as far as markings, which indicates it as a fake... I don't know what to think. My STOCK belt says 842-20-30.

[Alleyoop]

To check if the belt is to big or stretched out to much Push down on the center of the belt if you can push it down with ease about 1 inch to much it should be nice and taught.
Have you tried a 835 20 30 belt? The 842 may be a little to long.

[rosiemoto]

When I replaced these 2 belts new, they start off nice and tight, then over a short time they get loose and flap at idle. Check the video I posted in the last page or 2 of how tight it starts out at. The one I just put in 2 weeks ago is now loose like the old one in the video was.

Well I put in the old clutch to see if my top speed would return, nope. I got the same top speed, so looks like it very well could be these belts. Also there was belt dust CAKED EVERYWHERE on the removal CVT cover.

I have only tried 842-20-30 belts since that's what came with my bike. However, I have upsized both the variator and variator FAN pulleys from stock, BOTH were 108mm, now 115mm, so could that be stretching these belts out? Or are these belts just simply fakes... anyway I ordered a regular 842-20-30 belt from ScrappyDogScooters, should be here in a week or so.

[rosiemoto]

Just got my belt. It seems to be the same belt as my stock one. This one measured exactly 20mm wide as it should be. The 2 Gates Powerlink belts I got before were both 19mm new... what's up with that? I'll keep them around them as emergency-only spares. Just got done cleaning out the CVT area of all the caked belt dust from that last Gates belt.

I haven't ridden with this new belt yet but first thing I noticed was at idle it sits noticeably lower/further in the clutch pulley, and seems like the revs will be lower at takeoff. Is that normal/fine? I revved it up a few times but the belt never returns to the top of the clutch like I got used to seeing with the old belts.

[cyborg]

That's nice and tight,,,it will stretch a little a climb higher

[rosiemoto]

Thanks. Sounds like maybe it'd be a good idea to break the new belt in easy and not go zooming around for a little while. How long do belts normally take to "break in?"

[rosiemoto]

Well the new chinese belt I put in hasn't changed any yet, and still tight. Been about 75 miles. I assume this is GOOD, but the problem is I gotta figure out why my clutch is engaging at such a low RPM now (stays and bogs around 3-3.5k during takeoff). Koso variator + 12 Dr Pulley sliders + 115mm variator fan. I still have my old clutch in and haven't sanded the pads yet so that could just simply be it. Don't feel like swapping all the springs to the new clutch yet.

My RPMs seem to be lowered at the top end, maybe too low? - 6.5k at 58 55mph WOT. Doesn't 157qmj engine give most power at 7k or so? I decided to put in the old variator fan and see if anything changes with the takeoff RPMs, and maybe it'll raise top end RPM a little. I did notice after changing from 108mm fan to 115mm fan, low speed RPMs dropped but not much else, so we'll see. I'll report back with my findings as always!

[Alleyoop]

Bogging is to much air not enough fuel being delivered to the motor, nothing to do with the clutch and variator. I suggest you adjust your carbs fuel ratio mixture and get it setup right. The motor will produce a little more power as well as a little more rpms out of it.

Print this out and follow the step by step procedure and take your time, 1/4 to much in either direction makes a big difference.
scooterdoc.proboards.com/thread/1499/4ts-carb-tuning

[rosiemoto]

Sorry I think I'm using the wrong word. It's not the engine bogging, just the RPMs are too low and it's not taking off in 1st gear, more like 2nd gear, so it's struggling and sounds like a lawnmower during takeoff. Oh and it takes off with very light throttle, so if I give it  a little gas with electric start it'll take off on me for example. This happened when my rollers were too heavy once before, but I don't think that's the case now. Here's an illustration of what I see:

[Alleyoop]

If the belt is down about 1/2 inch in the CLUTCH pulley I would say the belt is to short you may need a 845 20 30 belt which is about 1/4 of an inch longer than the 842.

[Alleyoop]

This is my CVT on my Trike if you can get the belt to fit close to the edge of the rear pulley with motor off and idling that is a good fitting belt.

[rosiemoto]

Wondering why this happened, since my stock belt is 842-20-30... could it be because I now have a performance variator (the Koso), so it needs the longer belt? So if yes, if I put the stock variator in it, the 842 would work perfect again I guess? Not that I want to, but just good to know.

Does a longer belt have any effects to top speed or RPM?

edit: yeah definitely isn't at the top like in your picture. Probably a half inch to an inch in.

[Alleyoop]

Longer belt may get you a few more mph by climbing higher on the variator.

Don't know if it is due to the variator or not unless you can post pictures on how the belt is sitting using both variators.