Dupont dry chain lubricant on variator?

[hypophthalmus]

I'm actually quite happy with the performance of the scooter. I guess I'm just being fiddly for the fun of it, and because it doesn't cost very much.

Supposedly the Dr Pulley sliders allow lower and higher gears. But it's been suggested that they're sluggish to move compared to rollers, which sounds plausible. So it would make sense then that there would be more of an advantage to apply some kind of lubricant, though I don't think it'd need to be super slick.

Trying the dry teflon film on a smooth stainless steel surface, a thicker spray left a film that seemed a bit fragile. It seems plausible that it would rub off and get somewhere it shouldn't. Rubbing off the excess though leaves a surface that doesn't feel much different to the touch, but lets the old rollers I took out slide much more easily on it. So I think I'll do that.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Buggypartsnw.com is who I  buy my Dr Pulley sliders and slide pieces from. They are also a good source of info. on the use of Dr P products.
Their web site gives an explanation of how sliders work, expected results from using different weights, recommended weights for engine sizes, etc. Their installation instructions do not include the addition of substances when using sliders.

However, I do understand scooter  riders love of fiddling.....
Then, there are those who never pull their dipstick (Honda PCX owners)  brag about having never looked at the orig spark plug in 60,000 miles  (Burgman  owners. No -it's  dead simple to access the $6 plug on America's most expensive mid weight scooter ,after popping 2 panel pins....cutting airfilters out of old socks or $2 furnace filters), etc.
Takes all kinds.
Stig

[Scooter Dan]

Yep Red. A good rule is; if you want a faster scooter, buy a faster scooter. Kymco scooters are so well engineered it is really hard if not impossible to overall improve them. In most cases it would be cheaper and less headache to sell and upgrade to a more powerful, and reliable scooter. But I too understand the need to tinker and upgrade. Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt, and the wisdom.

Agree, case in point; my previous PS 200 was a bit anemic to me on the top end so instead of trying to tweak it, sold it and uograded from 163cc to 249cc. Man what a difference that made and took me off riding the shoulder on state highways to running with traffic now. Maggie over at the Maxi Scoot forum had done an engine upgrade on her BW increasing to 300cc. That's insane as this little scoot is already too fast at 85mph top end. If I want to see 100, which I do occasionally, it's on my SW.

[Redk]

Whew!

A 100mph scooter !

I can only imagine.
redk

[MJR]

Whew!

A 100mph scooter !

I can only imagine.

I do take mine up to take fairly regularly on riding the freeway, both the B650's (with the large Givi screen I try to stay under 80 mph indicated nowadays) and the MyRoad have seen in excess of 100 mph indicated.

[hypophthalmus]

I applied it to parts of the variator: the ramps, slide pieces, the metal the slide pieces contacts, collar (in retrospect I maybe shouldn't have, although it actually seemed like it was lightly oiled when I took it out), and the sliders.

It was pretty dirty when I opened it up, so unfortunately I won't know if any differences are from cleaning it or lubricating it. It all felt pretty rough in there in the first place. The plastic slide pieces especially might as well have been rusty metal.  Hopefully I should be able to find out if it causes any problems, and if it helps it stay any cleaner though.

The lubricant seems like a good choice if anything is going to work. It seems to stick on well, and feels quite dry like a waxed metal table. It's all nice and smooth now, but not especially more so than the pulley surfaces are. I'd actually be curious to see if it adversely affects the belt if it's sprayed in the pulleys... not enough to try it though.

It'll be a while longer before I can actually try it, as I wait for a bearing to come in.

I'm assuming if the belt does slip, it'd be obvious?

[hypophthalmus]

Before cleaning:
http://earthwoodjoinery.com/random/photo/scooter/variatorlubricate/beforeclean.jpg

After cleaning and lubricating:
http://earthwoodjoinery.com/random/photo/scooter/variatorlubricate/afterclean.jpg

[ole two wheels]

One would think that in a device designed to transmit power in varying ratios and with the main physical element being friction, introducing any type of slippery substance would be contrary to the design. Trying to keep it off the belt and ramps would be something akin to trying to stand on a bar of soap in the shower. IMHO   


Mac

[hypophthalmus]

It definitely can't be so slippery that the belt slips on the pulleys instead of grabbing them. But lower friction would also mean the belt would have to waste less energy being pulled out of the pulleys. And it'd wear the belt less I suppose.

 I personally have no idea how much more slippery it can get before the belt can't grip properly.

[Stig / Major Tom]

One would think that in a device designed to transmit power in varying ratios and with the main physical element being friction, introducing any type of slippery substance would be contrary to the design. Trying to keep it off the belt and ramps would be something akin to trying to stand on a bar of soap in the shower. IMHO   


Mac

One would think that in a device designed to transmit power in varying ratios and with the main physical element being friction, introducing any type of slippery substance would be contrary to the design. Trying to keep it off the belt and ramps would be something akin to trying to stand on a bar of soap in the shower. IMHO   


Mac

Agree about the soap/shower thing....
Teen daughter might be trying to speed up her inheritance of the scooter estate, and my golf clubs:   cream rinse in the shower is a deadly, silent, invisible, substance!
Stig

[Redk]

Perhaps a graphic would be of assistance in this discussion ?

I have talent.

Some time ago I was creating abstract art by applying paint to a substrate placed upon a centrifuge.
An example is posted below.
Feel free to judge the quality of my talent and skill. :-)

It occurs to me, the bit of artwork applies in this discussion.
The artwork was accomplished at perhaps 5rpm using a viscous fluid on a horizontal plane, and halted when I felt I had achieved a particular effect, at which time it set up, and has defied forces thereafter.

For the matter at hand...
The manufacturer has guaranteed both viscosity and lubricity for an extended period of time.
It is being applied to a centrifuge, perhaps run at extremely high rpm, within a heated environment that also has turbulent air currents within it.

The basic intent is to facilitate a positive transition of power via dissimilar mating surfaces transmitting various levels of torque.

I would suggest consideration of the lubricant manufacturers claim of longevity for effectiveness.

This could lead me to consider the product would be mobile under applied forces for quite some period of time.

This has been fun for me, how about you ?
redk

[hypophthalmus]

I've considered this. It'll be interesting to see how it handles the high rpms over long periods.

It's dry, so no viscosity. In addition to the centrifugal force, there's also simply the rubbing of materials which might shed some of the lubricant. It does have an adhesive/cohesive quality, and in the best case that will allow it to just stay put. There was belt dust stuck in there after all. If it doesn't, it might just gather at the ends of the variator. If it's just a matter of poor longevity under the stresses, then no harm.

If it does somehow reach the belt or pulleys, it's hard for me to imagine it not just flying off for the same reasons. And if not... it's not that slippery, and might be fine anyways.

Or maybe the belt will slip, I guess I'll see. Assuming it's noticable...

[Redk]

... It'll be interesting to see ...

Yah...  Fun stuff !
I will look forward to reading your report after a few months or so !
redk

[ole two wheels]

Yes I agree Redk. I'll be waiting for his report. Some times experience is the best teacher.



Mac

[hypophthalmus]

Everything's finally put together and running now.

No immediate problems are evident.

It seems like there's more power/responsiveness at the lowest speeds. Which is something that seemed to be lacking when I switched to sliders in the first place. In general the response seems possibly more even. Of course it seems very probable that there are psychological factors involved, not to mention cleaning the variator, roughing up the clutch with sandpaper, lightly sanding the clutch pads just enough to expose a fresh color, and changing the belt.