KymcoForum.com
Scooters - Big Bore => Xciting 500 => Topic started by: desliderman on May 31, 2013, 05:21:05 PM
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Hello all, I'm here to discuss a problem that once again, I'm faced with.
Some I think have refered to it as the "Elephant trumpet?". I call it a squealing / groaning. My dealer calls it clutch chatter.
I have a 2012 Xciting 500ri w/abs. I have about 14000 miles on it. Pretty much from the start I've had this noise. The first time the dealer looked at it they noticed the clutch pads were impregnated with grease. It was changed out under warranty.
The noise returned.
Once again, the clutch was changed out under warranty.
The noise returned.
This time, not only was the clutch changed out, but they put a new drive shaft on it.
The noise has returned.
There is a preliminary approval for the 4th clutch pack (counting the original), and I have no doubt it will be approved. Frankly, I'm getting tired of this same problem creeping up. I'll gladly have them change it but have my doubts it won't come back.
Has anyone had experience with this noise? Has anyone had their clutches changed out because they were noisey?
Inquiring mind wants to know.
Don
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In general chatter is a stutter taking off. It is caused by the clutch grabbing and letting go.
Some people hold the brake and rev the engine to smooth out the lumps to fix this.
A squeal or groan is caused by some kind of flexing in the drivetrain. It generally cannot
be fixed. I had that in my Aprilia 500. It seems the bigger bikes can have this problem.
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Hello from Greece my friends. We also had this terrible noise in the clutch section. We solve the problem without the dealers help. You can change the clutch as many times you want. The noise will appear again.
What we did. We send the bell and the clutch to a brake shop and put instead of the original clutch pads , pads from Ferodo that are softer than the oem. Then we took the bell to an iron factory and drilled ten holes on each outer space . Internally of the bell we cut some lines for the pads to breath and remove the used pad materials easily. I have done all these on my xciting 500 2005 and I am a happy user for 15000klm !!!
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i would never drilling holes in the bell. You compromise the structural integrity and gain only ventilation. Try cleaning the clutch "glaze" off and cleaning the area around the CVT from the black dust from the belt.
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i would never drilling holes in the bell. You compromise the structural integrity and gain only ventilation. Try cleaning the clutch "glaze" off and cleaning the area around the CVT from the black dust from the belt.
+1 If drilling holes is good, Kymco would have made it already... If you want holes, look for after market or performance clutch bells with holes already... they were made with "structural rigidity" in mind... The stock clutch bell was designed without taking holes into consideration...
Our scoots only need TLC and good maintenance...and they will last...
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He was trying to solve a problem with noise.
The holes in the "bell" stops it from ringing as much.
Many people do this emulating the aftermarket ones;
http://scooterdoc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=techtips&action=display&thread=2486 (http://scooterdoc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=techtips&action=display&thread=2486)
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Whatever you say boys. I told you my experience and how I solved the problem. And believe me I solved it. Now believe me once more that my scooter use is very rough and there is no problem with the bell. I took my chances and I succeed , you can try cleaning your pads every 500 klm if that is good for you. Simply it was not good for me. Now why Kymco does not make a good pads - bell combination , if you know the answer please notify me.
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Hey if it breaks you walk home. I'd have tried it on my Aprilia if I had know about the fix!
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Well if the bell brakes down I do not think that the things are so simple. Probably all the parts in there will brake down. The worst scenario is to get stuck and block the tyre! If that happens you will can hurt yourself! It is the risk I and many other guys have took. Since now non of us have any problem! I hope everything continues that way!!!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXn6SuU_8Jw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXn6SuU_8Jw)
That what it looks like when a clutch bell explodes.
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Hey all, thanks for the input.
The dealer seems to think this is a problem and Kymco apparently seems to think it is or they wouldn't have ordered and replaced (free) what will be my 4th clutch assembly and at least 1 driveshaft.
I don't know, call me cautious, but I don't think that clutch pads should be getting grease in them. Grease is a lubricant and has no place all mucked up in clutch pads. Cleaning the pads or changing them out still doesn't keep the grease out of them, neither does drilling holes in the bell housing really fix the problem as I see it.
I really like my Xciting but don't think I would buy another if this is a recurring problem. This may be apples to oranges but I haven't heard of Suzuki / Honda / Yamaha or Piaggio Maxi Scoot owners I know complaining of this noise. I know because at least one of each is in our scooter group.
Ride safe.
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My clutch works better with a bit of grease in it. Last time I used boron on it to
allow for some limited slip to get rid of the chatter on takeoff...
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My clutch works better with a bit of grease in it. Last time I used boron on it to
allow for some limited slip to get rid of the chatter on takeoff...
Yes, and the grease also protects the bell from bits of corrosion when the scoot sits for even just overnight... ;)
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My clutch works better with a bit of grease in it. Last time I used boron on it to
allow for some limited slip to get rid of the chatter on takeoff...
What kind of grease do you use? Does it help with this sound issue?
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Mine was greased by accident. I had lubed the rear pulley and some leaked out!
It was a moly grease. It made the clutch very smooth but I didn't have the groan
on this bike. My older Aprilia 500 had that problem but I never tried to fix it...
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What kind of grease do you use? Does it help with this sound issue?
Not the sound... the chatter issue...
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Where do you put this grease? On pads surface?
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so the noise on the 2012 xciting 500 ri is this a 1 or 2 bike issues or all the bikes having this issue .i had a 2004 burgman i bought brand new n 3 yrs in it started with the chatter 2 bell housing.3 clutches in less than 29.k miles and it finally got a little quieter but not totally.was thinking of buying a 2012 xciting 500 ,but do not want to hear the chatter why can't these high end manufacture fix these issues .or is it a 1 0r 2 bike issue just curious would appreictae good insight or ..should i take my chance and just buy the xciting 500
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If i want to add some grease to clutch where should I put it pads or bell or where?
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so the noise on the 2012 xciting 500 ri is this a 1 or 2 bike issues or all the bikes having this issue .i had a 2004 burgman i bought brand new n 3 yrs in it started with the chatter 2 bell housing.3 clutches in less than 29.k miles and it finally got a little quieter but not totally.was thinking of buying a 2012 xciting 500 ,but do not want to hear the chatter why can't these high end manufacture fix these issues .or is it a 1 0r 2 bike issue just curious would appreictae good insight or ..should i take my chance and just buy the xciting 500
Well I can tell you it's more than 1 bike. There was an Xciting 500ri in the dealer's shop where I bought mine for the noisy clutch issue. I've been through 3 new ones and a new drive shaft. I got my scoot serviced after a rally in Lincoln last week and they pulled the clutch housing only to find the grease problem coming back.
Lots of pictures were taken. The dealer seems to think it's a poor choice of seals that's allowing the packing / grease to migrate down the drive shaft to eventually end up in the clutch pads.
From what I understand it's not limited to just the Xciting. I've been told they've replaced clutches on Downtowns and People 300s as well.
My feelings / opinion is FIX the problem KYMCO. I appreciate them doing so under warranty but eventually that warranty will run out. I don't think drilling holes in bell housings or living with it is any kind of answer to the problem.
Ride safe everyone.
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My 5 paw malossi delta clutch just burned out on my xciting 500 anyone else have a malossi delta 5 paw clutch? I got about 16000 miles out of it. It partially ate the clutch bell too. I now know why my 2009 xciting was faster than the 2013 xciting 500 demo unit.
I am replacing with the same clutch and factory clutch bell. Any feedback would be awesome.
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I have learned to stay with stock if you want your bike to last. As to the original poster. The grease is comming from the inside of the shaft the clutch is mounted to. You have a bad seal. A dealer will have to dis assemble, new seal/s, and repack with grease. There should be no grease on anything, variator, clutch, nothing. Never grease the pad's, nothing. Grease will shread the belt, and distroy the variator. :-*
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Stock is plenty good enough on the xc500. I doubt I'd successfully resist the urge to enhance anything 200cc or below though ;)
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I should correct an clarify. I had a Malossi Fly 5 paw clutch. I bought the scooter used and it was a performance upgrade. The shop records state it lasted just shy of 16000 miles. I ordered the same to replace. I was wondering if anyone else had experience with this clutch?
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No I have not. But my stock clutch with 44,000 touring miles on it looks as if it were new. I bought a new stock clutch to put in when I put on a new belt. The old clutch when held up to the new one looked so good, I left it on. :-*
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I have the same issue. Supoose to pick bike up tomorrow. Barely, over a thousand miles and they are telling me it's a normal wear item and it's not covered by warranty! Show me where they recommend it. I wouldn't have bought a scooter that recommends taking the drive apart at 1000 miles as normal wear. Don't believe it's normal wear. They said they sanded off the clutch surface will post pic of invoice, when I get it. Almost causing divorce, hope they know the anxiety they have caused over being cheap on clutches. I'm 54 and not hard on my vehicles. I maintain my stuff.
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YES, LET US KNOW WHATS GOING ON, AND KEEP US UP TO DATE. There is no (normal wear) item on your bike that needs attention after only 1,000 miles. Someone just wants a large repair bill, not the little amount paid out to them from warranty work. I think your getting the shaft? What exactly went wrong? :'( I have 47,000 miles on my 2007 and it has the stock original clutch, has never had the valves adjusted, etc. I had a belt issue once, but that was caused buy a bad mechanic and bad after market parts. 2 trips from Arizona to Michigan and back, and so on. These things are pretty much bullet proof. :-* Rode 200 miles today with my wife on the back. Hwy and freeway speeds.
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1107 miles in 1109 miles out. Qty 1 80W90 Gear oil 1L, 9.95, Resolution Test rode to verify noise. Removed belt cover to inspect. Belt looked good, rollers looked good. Centrifugal clutch shoes and drum had a little wear on them and had a glaze to them. Scuffed up clutch shoes and drum so they wouldn't slip anymore and reassembled scooter. Changed rear diff fluid, it was dirty test rode scooter, no more clunking and it rides smooth. 2 hours labor on Clutch. I'll never go back for what I think should have been warranty work. Nearest Kymco dealer is 1.5 hrs away. I only took it there because I figured warranty would cover. Whatever. Will take it local. Warranty is worthless. Should have known it. Next time noise comes back I'll do what the Greek said to do.
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Wow! I am shocked at the issues. I have an 09 Xciting R and only pulled my bell clutch once since I own it... at 13.5k miles back in May of this year. No issue, just wiped out the dirt from the bell. Belt looked fine and now have close to 22k miles. Like Sissy Mary, I do mostly highway miles and way, with gear, about 200lbs. (I am sure the weight is a big factor). So sorry to hear of all your issues and wish you luck.
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Sorry I haven't been on this forum for some time. As an update to my issue, the dealer is changing out the clutch again. They got it approved from Kymco and I'm told mine isn't the only Xciting this is being done on.
I'm approaching 18k after 18 months. I really like the scoot and would recommend it to anyone.
Ride safe all.
Don in KC.
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Good to here. :-*
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So is that clutch chatter harmful? I am presently feeling this however the scooter feels great otherwise. I took the housing off today to inspect things. My belt looks great but the outer metal housing had a very slight coating of grease on it. I gave it a light wipe up to remove the light dust build up (figuring that is why the layer was there). The bell housing, pulleys, and other parts inside all seems clean to me with no residue. The outer bearing to the drive shaft (on the outer metal housing) had perfect-smooth action.
(http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss134/TB-6962/Kymco/IMG_1394a_zpsd2ndflco.jpg)
(http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss134/TB-6962/Kymco/IMG_1396a_zpsczaecnyx.jpg)
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On my 300i downtown, I found some oil on the (cover) of the variator & clutch,. from over filling the gear rear end,. dripping from the air intake , took that apart and cleaned all the oil that was in there,. now I measure very carefully ,. to never over fill ,. finally getting this metric crap in my head,
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When I did the service on the rear end I used a syringe to measure out the oil. Found it at Walmart.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yGxXpLpHL._SY355_.jpg)
I will be ordering up some new clutch parts because that chatter is upsetting me and I am afraid to take the bike out on a long drive up the mountains because of it. I'll post up some pictures of what I encounter when I do that service.