New variator info

[sissy mary]

I called Kymco USA yesterday and had to leave a message for their tech department, ofcourse as know one ever answers the phone. And holy crap, some guy called me back! First time that ever happened! Well he seemed to know his stuff. Here is what I found out. The Kymco X500 variator has a design flaw as in the fact that is does not use hardened aluminum like many after market variators. So the stock variator pulley half's and the bush are normal wear items. So the pulley half's can wear, get out of round etc. This can cause a wobble, warp, build up heat, snap belts and so on. The washer MUST be placed between the bush & outter (non sliding) pulley half, (the one with the fan blades on it). And must be tight to keep the bush from spinning. If it spin's, then your belt is dead & gone. He could not tell me how long these parts will last, but my first variator lock up was at about 25-26,000 miles. But remember, all I do is tour, and he said that the wear comes from excellarating up and down, more than a constant speed. The variator does come with a small amount of grease to help the bush & inner sliding pulley half to seat or wear in. Just a little grease so that it does not get on belt, or the belt is dead & done again. Because the aluminum is not hardend, only use a stock belt on a stock variator. This is why many people are having so many problems with the Malossi kevlar belts. They have a diff angle on the side of the belt, and are really made to be only used on their multivar variator. Malossi uses hardened aluminum. Well at least we have some questions answered? Stock var, stock belt. Malossi var Malossi belt. He also warned of dirt and such. Keep the inside of the housing clean, and make sure your gasket is in good condition to keep dirt and dust out. I hope this helps.

[sissy mary]

Sorry, I should have said the Malossi belt (MAY) have a diff angle? And since it is kevlar, it may wear against the pulley's (cause pre-mature) damage to the non hardened pulley's. So it my be more suited for the Malossi variator?

[Hoolander2]

Good info, Sissy.  Thanks for sharing that.  I hope you get all you're looking for with the new setup. 

[sissy mary]

I spent most of yesterday looking over the net and found a new stock belt for $79.00. The guy bought it, but sold the scoot before putting it on. It is brand new. Kymco now wants about $230.00 for a new belt.   I also found a complete stock variator for $99.99 from a used motorcycle parts house. The wrecked 2007 Xciting 500 only had about 3,800 miles on it, and it is in perfect condition. So for under $200.00 I have an almost new tran's. It even has a 7 day return policy on it. I decided to go this route as funds are a little low right now. I am going to put my almost new Dr Pulley's in it. I don't think they had anything to do with the belt breaking, and I loved how they performed for the 1,500 miles before the variator froze and the belt went. I asked my auto mechanic if he could zip off the variator & clutch nut's with his large impact wrench? He said no problem. So I am going to put it on a trailer, have him loosen the 2 nut's, and then I can clean everything up, change out the variator, and put it back together with my impact wrench. Hopefully I will be good to go for quite some time? I do want to go the Malossi route, but when I have the funds?

[sissy mary]

!

[zombie]

You are all ACES Sissy! Plus a wild card!

[sissy mary]

I just hope all go's well & everything works? It's getting warmer, and I can feel the itch.