Time to change the belt?

[houndguy]

OK...I've got a 08 Kymco.  When I bought it last year it had about 2000 miles on it.  Maybe a little more.  I've since put some 10K miles on it myself. 

I am wondering if I should change the belt in the next 5K or not.  I'm not that familiar with a Kymco product so what would be the belt life?. 

[Vivo]

Depends on your usage... I changed my belt at 17,000 kms.  and upon inspection, it still looked like new... Now, with a new belt my confidence rose...  It's nice to experience for yourself.. you tend personally determine your belt's life... Another person's belt experience may not be the same as yours because of different riding habits and conditions. 

[BigOrange]

I just had my changed at the shop.  16 thousand miles.  The belt looked fine but it was out of spec too thin. I replaced the clutch, clutch bell and belt.  Now the Xciting is the rocket!

[Urbestfriend]

check out "Shredded Belt" actually Xciting 250 accidentally posted up under Grandvista.
Also just put a new belt also on my GV.  Old one still looked good at 9,200 miles.  Installed
New one anyway.  Cost about $75 for 3 sliders, 6 rollers and belt.  Belt wear will vary,
Depending on where you live as per the discussion.  I have an Air Impact Wrench,  took
Around a half hour to change.   I am extremely interested in cost to have it changed.

[sissy mary]

Pop cover off and measure width. If OK leave it alone. I changed mine first time at about 25,000 miles. But these were highway miles. I think that the play/gap in tolerance between the boss and the inner pulley half (the half that holds the rollers in place), in even more important. If there is to much gap/play this can cause heat and destroy belt. I would change the inner pulley half every other belt change. Change rollers with belt also. 

[de-dee]

 on my scooter the change is at 20.000 km. but I have over 40,000 km on the belt and it still looks good,  I carry a spare belt and tools all the time,.

[desliderman]

I think I'll leave mine alone for the rest of the year.  This spring I want to ride to Tennessee, Kentucky, and maybe down through Arkansas.  I think I'll put a new one on just for the peace of mind.  I'll carry the old one as a spare (provided it's still in spec).

[sissy mary]

I bought a cheap electric impact wrench at harbor freight for about $40.00. On long trips you could put this under the seat with the 2 sizes of sockets, (1 for variator & 1 for clutch), with a 10mm socket & wrench with electric extension cord, and change belt is under 30 minutes at a hotel room. I know this sounds strange, but if your belt has high mileage on it before you leave for a long trip? This may be worth looking into? Don't forget a spare belt.

[kingkymco125]

I spoke to my dealer here in Vegas and he told me the original belts can last up to 2 years without changing them. I was told Kymco uses Bando belts which are of high quality. I thought it was once a year, but it all depends.

[de-dee]

  how do you tell if your belt is worn. if there is no spec. on the belt,  I measured the width of my belt and the width of the pulley,. and if the pulley is wider than the belt, your not going to get the best rpm. at speed,  (rpm to high),.  my pulley was 25 nmm. wide, and my new belt was 24 mm. wide, so I shaved the pulley 1 mm. on each side,  now the pulley is about 23 1/2 mm. wide , and my rpm droped 1,000 rpm at speed, I looked at the belt with the tranny cover off, and the belt goes to the top of the pulley at 6,000 rpm.  befor it would go to 1/4 inch from the top at 7.000 rpm.  at 6,000 rpm. I go from 60 to 65 mph. and at 6,500 rpm. I go 70 to 75 mph.                     Mitsuboshi spec . was 25.2 mm. x 1004 mm. with 30 degree pitch ,. on both of the new belts I bought the belts are 24 mm. wide,  x1004 mm. thats why I shaved the pulleys,.  I ride a 300i down town 2011  now have 25.000 miles on it,. and I just changed the belt it was starting to have little cracks between the bumps when I squeezed the belt, and I was getting tired of checking it every oil change,. 

[sissy mary]

De Dee, It sounds like you had your pulley half's shaved down? If this is true? Replace them now before u loose your belt and destroy your entire variator system ! ! ! !   I recommend you replace the 2 pulley half's, the fan side and the side that holds the rollers, a new boss with a new belt and rollers. Never shave anything.  

[de-dee]

   I did not shave the belt part of the pulley just the part that touched around the boss, that makes it close a little more,