Clutch slipping?

[MJR]

But you've got your Burg, so you'll be OK....if you don't go Postal.
We're rooting for ya!

Good thing for them Kymco USA isn't local, can't exactly get off on temporary insanity when you drive across seven states to go insane, lol.    Thanks.

[souzamoto]

You bought the bike at Bert's correct? Take the bike back to Bert's instead. They know what they are doing there. Talk to the salesperson, ask him/her to get involved. I do marketing for various dealers including a few Kymco dealers, trust me, Kymco will do the best they can to assist the dealer in repairing your bike.
CJS

[MJR]

You bought the bike at Bert's correct? Take the bike back to Bert's instead. They know what they are doing there. Talk to the salesperson, ask him/her to get involved. I do marketing for various dealers including a few Kymco dealers, trust me, Kymco will do the best they can to assist the dealer in repairing your bike.

Admittedly I should have left the bike there but I tried once already and frankly driving up every weekend was getting old. When I expressed that the bike wasn't right to the adviser one of the comments I got was "the bike is still breaking in". That tells me my concerns weren't taken seriously. They even had another they could have checked it against but didn't. Mind you Bert's is an hour drive each way from where I live. My response from Kymco USA has been thus far disappointing. When it was found that grease had gotten on the belt the reps (not the normal one) response was that they could just clean the grease off the belt and it would be fine because it won't absorb the grease. I find that statement mind boggling because the belt is not meant to have grease/oil on it. Oil/grease does one of two things to a belt, it either shrinks/hardens or softens/swells it. Not to mention the exposed reinforcement fibers that can absorb it.

I've heard from others that say they aren't shy about putting parts on bike yet they've offered me nothing. When I sent an email to them today explaining that the situation was simple if there was more grease coming out to locate it's source, fix it, degrease everything and put a new belt on or if there was no more grease then to degrease it again and replace the belt his response was "You seem to be simplifying the proper course of action but if you assumptions are correct, I would tend to agree with most of your assessment". Not sure how you can get much simpler than a mechanical CVT, maybe a pair of sprockets and a chain. On one hand they say they are willing to put parts in to fix it yet they haven't put a single one in.

I rode it over to Riverside and the guy I spoke to took note of everything (also provided him with a letter of the history and issues). Hopefully I'll have better luck with them. As it is the bike is just unsafe as there is little confidence in making through an intersection with it slipping. Once at speed it's ok, stop and go traffic is bad too especially when the bike starts vibrating badly at 10-15 mph on/off with throttle. The worst part in all this is I can fix it myself but that I shouldn't have to. Alright enough for now, sigh.

[MJR]

Latest news, the dealer in Riverside believes the clutch is the problem (have my doubts since the belt drives the clutch), they are waiting for a response from Kymco USA. Looks like it's gonna be a while before I can ride her and I so wanted to try out my new brake levers.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Latest news, the dealer in Riverside believes the clutch is the problem (have my doubts since the belt drives the clutch), they are waiting for a response from Kymco USA. Looks like it's gonna be a while before I can ride her and I so wanted to try out my new brake levers.

Can you bolt them up to the Snapper?....yard needs mowing anyway while you wait.
Practice 0 Turns.
Just a thought. ..
Stig

[sissy mary]

if it was glazing on the pads, and not grease, then I would say the entire clutch assembly is not aligned correctly? It sounds like it was bad right out of the factory? The grease was more than likely from a seal in the torque drive than the variator as the grease there is a very tiny amount put on the plastic dust seal. This is just a tiny dab of grease on the tip of the finger, and run over the lip of the seal to lube it before sliding it over the boss. How could a factory worker slather on a soon full of grease on the variator? It would take at least a soon full or more to cause this?  This has happened to a few bikes. Maybe a bad run at the factory? How could there be a high spot on the pads? Really? Impossible.  I would at least take apart the drive and make sure there is grease, and that the seal is in place and in good condition. And then put on a new clutch and belt. If this happens again after doing this, then go for the lemon law and get a full refund. My two cents. 

[MJR]

if it was glazing on the pads, and not grease, then I would say the entire clutch assembly is not aligned correctly? It sounds like it was bad right out of the factory? The grease was more than likely from a seal in the torque drive than the variator as the grease there is a very tiny amount put on the plastic dust seal. This is just a tiny dab of grease on the tip of the finger, and run over the lip of the seal to lube it before sliding it over the boss. How could a factory worker slather on a soon full of grease on the variator? It would take at least a soon full or more to cause this?  This has happened to a few bikes. Maybe a bad run at the factory? How could there be a high spot on the pads? Really? Impossible.  I would at least take apart the drive and make sure there is grease, and that the seal is in place and in good condition. And then put on a new clutch and belt. If this happens again after doing this, then go for the lemon law and get a full refund. My two cents. 

Seems the clutch should be ok and while I think the clutch to bell fit should be better I can see that as new it would have to wear in for it to be even. The first 140 miles on the bike were perfect. I never got to see it in person while the grease was still in there, I am assuming it came out of the driven pulley (output one with the clutch on it). Here's the problem I see. If the belt slips how can the clutch fully engage from a stop (slippage causes clutch shoes glazing). I have actually thought about Lemon Law but damn I just want the bike and to be fixed as it was for the first 140 miles.

[CROSSBOLT]

Something is not right and it sounds like you have been "hung out to dry" by the dealer(s) and Kymco US. Have you called the US office in South Carolina? I mean the 800 number. Talk to the East coast Sales rep supervisor. Tell him everything you have been through. He is a no-nonsense guy and has produced IMMEDIATE action when I have called him on other's behalf.

Karl

[MJR]

Something is not right and it sounds like you have been "hung out to dry" by the dealer(s) and Kymco US. Have you called the US office in South Carolina? I mean the 800 number. Talk to the East coast Sales rep supervisor. Tell him everything you have been through. He is a no-nonsense guy and has produced IMMEDIATE action when I have called him on other's behalf.

I emailed the California rep, he said he authorized replacement of the clutch on Friday so now I wait for parts to get there/be replaced, and hope this fixes it.

[MJR]

Called dealer Monday morning, says they are waiting on response from Kymco for clutch.

E-mailed Rep at Kymco, says he spoke with advisor on Friday and authorized clutch replacement.

Called dealer just now, says he is still waiting on kymco, says he did not receive a call from the rep despite leaving several messages for him and will talk with his manager.

Me, WTF? I do not know who is telling the truth, OMG. I just want my scoot back in working order. It's been in 3 service facilities for nearly 4 weeks now and I still don't know when or if this is ever going to be fixed.

[CROSSBOLT]

I say again (military talk for "I'm gettin' tired of waiting for SOMEBODY to take action!") call Kymco USA on the 800 number, etc.

Karl

[MJR]

I say again (military talk for "I'm gettin' tired of waiting for SOMEBODY to take action!") call Kymco USA on the 800 number, etc.

Called KYMCO USA Customer Support Number: 888-235-3417 and spoke with a gentleman there. Said he would look into it and call me after he finds out something.

[Stig / Major Tom]

You know....I keep tuning in here hoping to see a selfie taken by a happy guy a'sittin' a bigdam white scooter.
Ah me.
I had trouble like this until I got the names of all the parties involved and made certain they were asking to speak only to the correct person. Mechanics and/or parts counter guys don't make the best secretaries when it comes to taking and passing accurate messages.

Reading, writing and remembering can be a stretch for some.
Stig

[MJR]

Missed three calls yesterday while I was out at lunch, called back and left a message.

E-mailed the rep this morning expressing my concern that I believed the belt to be the issue and that no one has been able to give me an idea how long this is going to take. Missed one call today but called back and was able to speak to Chip. He was very nice, told me who he spoke with at the dealer, that they have ordered the clutch/belt, and they expect the parts to be at the dealer middle of next week. Assuming they have time I might actually get the bike back that weekend.

Through the discussion it sounded like the o-ring seal on the secondary pulley might have been bad and was not checked the first time around. Unable to see for myself I can't say but I at least feel better that with the replacement of these parts it will finally be fixed so I can then simply enjoying modifying and riding her.

[MJR]

You know....I keep tuning in here hoping to see a selfie taken by a happy guy a'sittin' a bigdam white scooter.

Don't need to scare anybody with a photo of some fat guy on a scooter.

Ah me.
I had trouble like this until I got the names of all the parties involved and made certain they were asking to speak only to the correct person. Mechanics and/or parts counter guys don't make the best secretaries when it comes to taking and passing accurate messages.

Reading, writing and remembering can be a stretch for some.

As a former mechanic and current back counter parts guy I always try to be accurate on the information I provide. The service advisors however I do not understand the stuff they tell the customers at times. If I was a customer and knew about some of our mechanics here I'd probably take my car somewhere else. It's kinda sad being hard to find good people around here but maybe it's just because of the pay being offered you get what you get.