Good idea, I was actually wondering about that! I've been having my front tire at 30 psi cold, but the tirewall says 32 max. I feel it's a bit loose/hard at 32 but I'll definitely try topping it off to that and give it another couple runs. My rear is always at the max pressure of 33.
Only thing I can think about the shaft is a few months ago it had a "ring" and the drive boss had some burrs so I sandpapered those until it all spun freely again.
The belt as far as I know is the right length... it's nice and tight in there. Just put a new one in some days ago. Same brand as the old one I had that has been abused and stretched, and that one was able to get me 61mph consistently when it was new. This current belt I just put in was stuck bent in the strange shape it shipped in though, not sure if that matters... but it seems to be working fine. I did notice there's a difference though in the shape of the teeth on these Gates belts vs the stock belt. The stock belt has bigger teeth/grooves... I wonder if that makes it ride higher?
Did another 3 top speed runs just now at midnight. No wind, and much colder out... still can't top 58mph no matter how long I held it wide open. It's being STUBBORN. I tried feathering the throttle... didn't help. It did feel really fast 0-40, from the cold weather like you said, but top speed is still being limited somewhere. I'm pretty convinced that's the best I can get on this particular setup, so tomorrow hopefully I'll put in that new 115mm variator fan and give an update once I test ride. I hope this very simple DIY spanner works.
I notice whatever speed my bike decides to hit 7.1k rpm, it STOPS RIGHT THERE, always. When I had the old stock belt, it did 45mph at 7.1k rpm, and that's where it stopped too. I wonder why it won't rev past that?
I still feel it "jump up a gear" when I let off the throttle. New belt improved/lowered RPMs all around, but everything after ~43mph feels a little too light/belt not being pushed out all the way.
Just did a few top speed runs. Currently Koso variator + 107mm fan + 12g Dr Pulley sliders. Something's acting really weird... First 2 runs I BARELY made it to 57mph. Then about 15 seconds after the second run I was cruising 45mph, decided to pull it again, and it very quickly/easily got up to 61mph??? It then stayed there at 61mph @ 7.1k rpm until I let off. Then, on another ride I was going about 40mph, accelerated WOT, and it seemed to struggle to get to even 50mph. It WAS a little windy (12mph wind) out there, so that could be something, but my best top speed run from a couple months ago was in worse wind and I was getting consistently 59 against the wind, 61mph with... though it was colder out then...hmm...
Could this be something to do with the new clutch, or the contraspring being new that you were talking about Alleyoop?
Oh and I just received the variator fan. Unfortunately the holes are too small for the variator holding tool I have...again... seems that's just how they make them? Everything else is fine on it and it matches the Koso's pulley size. So I went to Ace Hardware to get materials to build my own variator holding tool and a guy there was nice and built me a really simple spanner tool that fits it. Looks to me like it'll work just fine, was only ~$4 total for the parts. I'm still going to hold off until I do another top speed run on a NON windy day just to rule out the possibility that it was just the wind.
Last Edit: Mar 2, 2016 17:15:37 GMT -6 by rosiemoto
Hey I saw in my email a message from you, but I can't find it in here? Really curious what you were saying. This is what I got:
Rosie, when you get on it and are ready to take off slowing give it throttle and notice the RPMS when it actually starts to move you. If they are over 2500 you can take the OLD CONTRA SPRING from the...
On the stand, it doesn't raise RPM at all when letting off the throttle completely, or when easing off the throttle. RPM follows how much I twist the throttle all the way through the range... no dead spots or power spikes that I can tell. The belt hits "top gear" only when I let off the throttle from medium to high revs. Seems that shouldn't happen with the belt... I just checked a couple YouTube videos of variators working... their belt stays put after they let off the gas.
In my opinion I think my current setup is a little too light. I think it could be "caused by" the smaller variator fan that I've got, so I'm getting unexpected/different results. I'm hoping once I get the new 115mm fan in, it'll lower my RPMs and then the 12g sliders should work great then, and I'll get even higher top speed than before. I guess with the smaller variator fan, it would like 14g sliders. This is all assuming my observations are right. I could be completely wrong... hopefully not, but worst case, after putting the 115mm fan in, the 12g sliders would still be too light and won't push the belt any farther than it does with the small fan I've got now, and therefore no change... in that case I'd have to go 14g sliders I think. So really hoping the right size fan will fix it all!EDIT: Just did first ride with new belt, and the new belt fixed ALL the problems I believe! RPM is good now, and the sliders don't feel "too light" anymore. I didn't know the belt could influence the whole speed/rpm range... I thought it only affected the top end. Haven't had a chance for top speed test yet, but 50mph cruise is EFFORTLESS again, I love it! It cruises 50mph @ 6k rpm.
Just remembered something. I think I could have stretched out the belt (more) badly when I took off the old clutch. I thought I'd be lazy and not take off the variator to get the belt off. Turns out you can't get the belt off from clutch end without taking the whole clutch out... which meant I was pulling on the clutch and belt while saying "COME ON, JUST ONE MORE INCH AND YOU'RE OFF, IT SHOULDN'T HURT!" ...Stretttchhh. Well I won't do THAT again! Many lessons learned.
The 115mm fan pulley will be here in about a week, which gives me time to get used to the new belt and performance. I can't wait to try it and see how that plays into things.
Last Edit: Mar 1, 2016 14:24:10 GMT -6 by rosiemoto
Just changed the belt... YEAH it was definitely loose/stretched!! Sounds much smoother at idle with the new belt now. Short video comparing old and new belts:
While I was out there with the bike on center stand, just as a quick test I revved it up until the belt got as far as it would go. When I let OFF the acceleration, the belt goes noticeably HIGHER/closer to the edge for a little bit until the revs drop down and belt goes back down. Does that mean anything or is that normal? I'm afraid weights could be too light? I feel it too while riding, RPMs drop a lot (about 1,000rpm) when I let off gas from a cruise.
I'll be testing my top speed with the new belt probably tomorrow.
Cool, I'll do that in 2 different spots like in your picture, and this time not on the center stand!
Is the belt flapping at idle and initial takeoff normal or sign of worn belt? (I quickly edited in about that in my last post, you probably didn't see it)
Yes... my fan pulley is the same size as my stock variator which is definitely smaller than the 115mm variator. My local scooter shop carries them. What you have seen on 150s is probably THIS (click for picture), but what I have is THIS. It's definitely hard to find a picture of the one I have!
If I match the fan pulley size to the variator, would that lower my RPMs and be similar to going heavier on the sliders? I understand they should be matching in the first place for best results, so hoping I can do 2 birds with 1 stone that way. I'm thinking 12g sliders would probably be correct if I had them matching. What do you think?
Another thing about my belt.. just recently it's started flapping around at idle (1.5k rpm). It clacks around when I first hit the gas, then evens out. This is what my 5 year old OEM belt was doing. Also the lettering on the top of the belt edges are almost completely rubbed off.
Could the constant changing of variators have killed my belt? I noticed after putting in the new clutch there was a LOAD of black dust (belt?) in the CVT cover a couple days later.
Last Edit: Feb 29, 2016 15:07:05 GMT -6 by rosiemoto
Okay I'm not sure what's going on but I can't even hit 55mph indicated... so I've lost 6mph top end in the last 2 months. Trying to figure out why. Currently Koso variator + 12g Dr Pulley sliders + new clutch.
So I'm wondering: - New clutch giving less top speed somehow? - Sliders slightly too light on my bike? (WOT goes to 6.7k RPM, cruises 40mph at 5.6k rpm) - My variator fan is SMALLER... that could be why 12g is too light for me?? - Belt wearing out? I did clean it with soap+water+paper towel (oops? or is that okay?)
Not sure where to look first... seems trying a new belt would be the best place to start, as that will limit the top speed on any setup if the belt is worn. Any thoughts?
It appears the brand of sliders DOES affect results unfortunately. 12g cheap sliders gave me a heavier feel than 12g Dr Pulley sliders. The weird part is, the cheap sliders are varying from 11.8g to 12.0g, so if anything they're slightly lighter in weight but yet give a heavier feel with the RPMs.
Someone once used a 1/4" ratchet to tighten my variator nut and it came loose soon as I hit the gas. Freaked me out a little. He was giving it some good muscle too, but it just wasn't tight enough. I've personally been doing my variator nut at around 27 ft/lbs with a torque wrench and variator holder tool, and it's always stayed on great even after the million times I've taken it on and off. (Did my clutch nut at 35 ft/lbs and all seems good there too.)
I'm going to echo Alleyoop's advice from me to you and anyone else reading - remember to put slack in the belt before you tighten the nut, so it doesn't tighten the fan pulley against the belt... that was the main mistake I was making at first; I had no idea I was even doing it. It also allows the variator fan to go on all the way. Tightening it against the belt gave me WEIRD results... I'm just happy it never flew off from doing that. To put slack in the belt, you can squeeze the clutch open so the belt goes down into the pulley a bit... here's a video that shows how to do that (at 4mins in): ...just remember to get the belt back up near the top when you're done because the electric start might not have enough power to pull it out of there on its own. Video also shows how that's done near the end. I always start the bike and give it a small test on the center stand before I put the cover back on, just in case.
Here is your partner in crime jumping the SOLENOID (ROSIEMOTO)
(Video link...)
Awesome, I'm glad my videos could be of use! Lol, partners in crime, this is getting too cute. I must be the dipsy partner of the 2; when I saw you post my video just then, I first thought "oh look, someone has the same bike as me!" ...then I realized it's me.
Currently with 13g rollers + Koso variator: I managed to hit 57 or 58 mph which is better than 55, but it felt awfully hard to get there. I think the new clutch needed to break-in which might explain the 55 top speed in my last post, so I think 58 is absolute max I can get with this setup. I believe I'm being limited by the rollers. I'm thinking the rollers definitely aren't pushing the belt as high up as the sliders did, so I run out of gearing much sooner and it needs noticeably more "effort" starting at 40-43mph.
I just received the Dr Pulley sliders and will put them in now and update soon. After putting them in, I should be back to at least consistent 61mph (indicated).
Just a side note, I weighed the Dr Pulley sliders and they're all amazingly EXACTLY 12.0 grams. I was starting to think my scale was inaccurate because the generic ones I've gotten have all been +-0.2
it's me.