Annoying clanking from the variator

[ktienation]

Hello guys. I am experiencing another annoying issue... When the engine is running, and espiecially after the revs reduce to idle i hear anoying clanking from the variator. Initially i thaught its something with the engine, but after removing the vario, there was no longer any worrisome noises.
When everything gets hot (after a 10-15 km ride with high speed, it tend to be less noise, however I can still hear it from time to time.

The belt has about 2 k milles on it. However the vario has over 10k milles.
Any ideas? Is the vario weared and should be repleaced or it might be something else?
For sure its not the rollers as i have Dr. Pulleys which are in perfect conditions.

Regards,
Peter

[de dee]

  you are hearing the sliders falling in, at idle, the variator is not spinning fast enough to too hold them up, you should hear mine with extended ramps in the variator,  I check mine every oil change and they are still like new,  I have about 15,000 miles on the modded variator, 

[ktienation]

Ok, that's what I thaught. However, it wasnt always like that... when i bought the scooter (used) and after changing OEM rollers tu Pulleys. Now the clank is noticable both on stock rollers and on Pulleys. Is there anything i can do about that?

I was thinking about buing a new vatio (whole "front" set of the tranmission) as the outer edge already seems to be a litle bit weared of (i ride most of the Times 60 mph+ so the belt is mainly in that place). Also my local dealer told me that the transmission, generaly should be repleaced every 20k km (sorry, as I am from europe i dont know exactly how much miles is that:D). Complete original vatiator costs here ~100$.

What do you suggest?

Regards,
P.

[CROSSBOLT]

Bad advice from your dealer. Good for him because of the $100s, bad for you. There may be a bad part in your variator. All you have to do is find it! I would check the bearings on the back part first.

Karl

[de dee]

  how would you check the bearings ,  ??  would taking the sliders out , and put it together with out the sliders , and start up and if you hear any noise its the bearings, if no noise its the sliders, im going to do that today, thanks for the idea,   2011 downtown 300i   41,000 miles,.     600 miles is 1000 km.
   20,000 km is 12,000 miles

[de dee]

  I took the variator apart     and tried it with out the sliders , it still made noise ,  took the variator off and tried it, and no noise, I think the variator is like a bell and carrys the noise out more ,  checked the belt and it is down to 23 1/2 MM.  and it looks like new ,   who said looks is only skin deep,  now I have 3 belts with 20,000 km . on them, and they all look like new, 

[ktienation]

De Dee,

About the belt. I thing that despite the fact the belt looks like new, it may be worn due to the heat it absorber during all that time. The rubber may have lost its strenght and there is the risk it will break and damage the rest of the transmission. Thats why i think Kymco sugest to replace it every 12k miles.

[CROSSBOLT]

This is a bit late but the bearings I was referring are in the clutch end of the CVT. Since lube in this area needs to be sparce the noise could be from there. Also in my tirade against dealers I must say yours may have been saying the BELT should be replaced every 12 k miles. Dee dee has more than double that on his and he says it still looks good. I think 12k is to sell belts more than anything.

The strength element in any belt is the kevlar, rayon, nylon or steel. The "rubber" is the wear component.

Karl

[de dee]

  seeing I have close to 20,000 km. on my belt again ,  I have ordered new belt $ 98,00     new variator  $55,00    new face drive $ 37,00 ,.   from powersports warehouse.com  ,.     delivery by 9 th, to the 12 th,  of oct. 

[ktienation]

I know that its been a while, but i had no time to share this with you. My "clanking" problem was obviously from the variator side, not the clutch one. My problem was weared variator. After changing the variator and the counterplate no more noise can be heared. Probbably, the "spaces" where the sliders are in tearaed and therefore the sliders were a bit loose while the engine was on iddle rpms.

Regards,
Peter

[de dee]

  Let us know how long the quite lasts, I have over 60,000 km. on my variator, and it  makes noise, but works very good,  I am hard of hearing so it does not bother me,

[ktienation]

Sure I will. However, I hope not so fast:) I did replavce my variator, as despite the clanking, the outer edges were visibli weared (as i do 90% of my riding with speed 60+mph, so the belt is almast always on its top position).