KymcoForum.com

Scooters - 125 to 300 => People 250 => Topic started by: olbull on August 02, 2009, 12:33:52 PM

Title: Drive belt replacement
Post by: olbull on August 02, 2009, 12:33:52 PM
I  am  about to  replace  the  drive  belt  for  the second  time  as  I  approach  40k.. The replacement   I  used was  a KEVLAR belt,seems  its  has stretched  farther  and  shows  alot  more  wear  than  the  original  KYMCO  belt..(  I  always  carry  it  as  a spare)..This  falls  inline with  the  belt  results  from  the  Cannonball  run  of a  few  years  ago.Which  showed premature  failure from  the  KEVLAR  belts... I  am  also  going  to  replace  the clutch  shoes  and  springs  as  a  preventitive  maintenance    measure.. I  will  be  using   ALL  OEM  parts..

OlBull
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: kawzak on August 02, 2009, 07:25:50 PM
I have heard the same, and on several brands of scooters. It would seem that a Kevlar belt would be better-but too many people are having the same problems (breakage/wear) with them. Doesn't make sense does it. I work with a lot of machinery that uses the large toothed belts- like  giant timing belts, 1-1/4" to 2" wide and capable of 75 to 100+ HP. It seems like most of them are made with the Amirid fiber-like most "V" belts-and of course Scooter drive belts. I don't know this for sure-but the rubber coumpound may ??? stay vulcanized better to the Amirid fiber, as the belt failures I've see with Kevlar seem to have the fibers "loose" in the belt. This may just appear that way, but the Amirid fibered belts that have broken just break a ragged break. the Kevlar ones seem to unravel some instead.???
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: bongoman on August 03, 2009, 10:11:24 PM
So how about the Dayco powerbelt? It's supposed to be Aramid fiber. I am about to change my drive belt. Again. More expensive than I expected, but still less than Burgman.

Anyone used the Dayco powerbelt?
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: jprestonian on August 03, 2009, 10:54:33 PM
I was thinking about changing mine, soon... about to hit 10,000km. Am I think too far ahead?  Still has the original belt, now.
.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: axy on August 04, 2009, 12:40:07 PM
I was thinking about changing mine, soon... about to hit 10,000km. Am I think too far ahead?  Still has the original belt, now.
.

I think for OEM belt that's too soon.

In the shops here they tend to replace them at 12.000 kms. I do not know is it really necessary or just to charge you more...
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: geezerbob on August 05, 2009, 11:15:57 AM
Replaced the original belt at 21,000 km and it was still within specs.  The Kymco replacement belt broke at 34,000 km, with only 13,000 km of use.  Figure that one out.  I sure can't. 
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: olbull on June 20, 2010, 01:38:52 PM
more
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: kawzak on July 26, 2010, 03:02:31 AM
Belts with Amarid cord/fibers are better and last longer won't come apart like the Kevlar belts. Also Reply to Bongoman- Dayco belts are excellent, as are Gates. Look on both their web sites. When you find the size you need (cross referance). Call a bearing house and ask them how much. You may save some money this way-depending where you live.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: olbull on July 26, 2010, 11:15:44 AM
nice to see you back Kawzak.....Always get a little nervous when guys are'nt around for a while
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: wordslinger on July 26, 2010, 09:14:48 PM
Always get a little nervous when guys are'nt around for a while

..true...
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: kawzak on July 28, 2010, 12:21:59 AM
Glad to be back. We set up a production plant in Asia. Lots of teething problems.Too much work/not enough people. It's like going wide open with your hair on fire!. I will try to find the belts from Dayco and Gates. I know I looked at their sites/products when I first bought my P-250, but wasn't interested in buying when mine was new. I buy a lot of power transmission parts (brgs, timing belts,"v" belts, poly chains,chains,gears,etc., so I get to see lots of alternative and new stuff . Stuff anyone can purchase from the Bearing companies, all you need is a part #. I will do some homework.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: wordslinger on July 28, 2010, 12:27:33 AM
...sweeeeeet...welcome back fo' sho!!!!


 ;D
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: Hoolander2 on July 28, 2010, 03:02:39 AM
It wasn't too hard to find a Gates for my Xciting 500.  I went to the Gates website, plugged the Kymco number into their cross reference dealy and their equivalant number popped up. 

Then used their dealer locator and found at least two regular auto parts stores right here in town who were Gates dealers. 

One of em offered to order it for me right away and I had it in about 4 days.  About $30 bucks. 
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: shalbern on August 13, 2010, 04:36:43 AM
Hi,

I determined the belt size to be 955x24x30mm. Still looking for a gates number. Please let me know what you find out.


Thanks
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: anhoa on August 19, 2010, 03:58:50 AM
This might work.

Google 1626V395 for Gates/Bando/GoodYear belt

http://scootdawg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=200cc&action=display&thread=32147 (http://scootdawg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=200cc&action=display&thread=32147)

Anhoa
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: art on August 19, 2010, 04:18:29 AM
   Been having the same fun trying to track down a s200 belt. (looking for something a little longer) It seems other than bando the Mitsuboshi is your only other choice. But getting real #s has been difficult.  I did found some sights in russian that cross referenced the #s but can't confirm any of it yet.
  Going to try a malossi = but have heard from another member the #s are not true  ::)  and I know for a fact not all malossi #S can be trusted either.  OH well trial and error we'll figure something out.
   Wish gates was on the ball and simplified this whole mess  :P
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: TechGuy on August 19, 2010, 09:00:12 PM
I guess on the belt, I am not willing to "save" 30 bucks in the hopes that the gates/malossi/goodyear generic belt will perform as well as the 60 OEM belt. The OEM belt was chosen to meet the engineering specifications of the intended use. I read all the time at too many forums about the non-EOM belts failing much sooner than the OEM.

I value my time more than the 30 dollars I "might" save in the hopes I can get equal performance to a part that has a cost of 5 cents per KM assuming a cost of $60 USD and lifetime of 12,000 km.

WOW!  I gues I just now... literally figured out that your belt cost is about the same as your fuel costs PER MILE if you assume a $6 dollar fill-up for a 120 mile tank.... i know this is KM belt vs. MILE gas but it is a fair percentage of your running costs. Never mind if you get the labor done at the shop.  But I assume anyone shopping for a non-OEM belt is not having it installed by a shop for $100 / per hour labor cost.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: TechGuy on August 20, 2010, 03:32:08 AM

From ModernVespa tonight:

Quote from: ataritron
I don't know why I didn't learn the first time, but I tried another third party drive belt for my GT200L.  This time it was a Furioso.  The belt snapped at 2,500 miles!  Below is a picture of the remnants.  Luckily it didn't get all wrapped up like last time and was easy to remove.  I had my wife bring a belt and my tools out and I changed the belt to an OEM on the side of the highway.  Not a fun prospect in 98 degree, high humidity Florida.  From now on I am using only OEM and replacing every 8 thousand miles as the service manual recommends.  This is my 4th snapped belt. When will I ever learn!  Luckily I came out of all these without damage to me or the bike.  I in no way endorse this as it could be very dangerous.  Here are my stats on the 4 belts I have snapped:

first OEM belt: 11,500 miles.
Malossi belt: 6,000 miles
second OEM belt: 10,000 miles
Furioso belt: 2,500 miles

Be Safe!  Don't be like me!

http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=992478#992478 (http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=992478#992478)
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: Dion on October 06, 2010, 03:07:19 PM
I too am victim of aftermarket belt slop. I wonder if that is a real phrase?

One question seems to be underpinning a lot of the observations, What are the actual dimensions of a brand new Kymco, OEM belt? Several of the suggestions for replacement have close to a 40mm discrepancy in belt length and I've never seen what a factory supplied K 23100 measures out at. Perhaps one of the chronic failure problems is due to a wrong size being used? I've been dealing with a very good mechanical engineer in Michigan recently who is heavily involved in the motorcycle industry and his thoughts and experience in Snow Mobile and ATV drive lines was eye opening. 

In essence he thought that a good aftermarket belt could be satisfactory IF the size was right. The problem for him was that most belt systems use a jockey wheel to accommodate the variable ratio adjustments. If there wasn't one on the machine, you were better off using the stock design.

These are just random thoughts offered to add to the mix. - However, if you do have a brand new belt, most of the old fashioned auto parts houses have a special belt measuring fixture / tool which will give the absolute number.  It could be interesting to find out if all the stock belts are the same length. 

I have a 2006 P250 which has about 18,000 KM and am shopping for an Exciting 250 specifically for touring back roads in the Upper Midwest and central Canada. I also am the caretaker of another eleven motorcycles dating back to the late 1930's but prefer to ride the P 250 for everyday riding ... the old bikes are normally ridden for short distances as they are not too reliable ...
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: TechGuy on October 06, 2010, 07:47:25 PM
I don't have the OEM belt out of the bike anymore... it's in the bike...

I found I didn't want to save $20 and worry about it.  I just ordered the OEM and I quit worrying about it. I looked for alternative but they were so close in price... but were they "right"?  It was only about $60 USD for the 100% correct one.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: wordslinger on October 08, 2010, 01:18:48 AM
..itsa delima...


"http://kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=3017.0"
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: Dion on October 19, 2010, 03:07:01 PM
A modest update - on two sites, ( Monster Scooter Parts - and an Australian forum )I found a direct number from Gates which will work on a P 250. Gates # is PL 30904 and the dimensions are 894 / 23 / 28. This directly correlates with the Kymco piece but for some unknown reason, Gates doesn't list it for the Kymco. But ... they do list it for a Honda Helix.

I think one of the problems I have had with other belt changes is I didn't realize there is a 'seating in' process of about 10 to 15 miles to help the side walls of the belt get a better fit. When the scoot was bought new, I did a fast break in ... after about 100km of stop and go, partial throttle acceleration and letting the engine and trans cool down two or three times. This most likely let everything settle in - and the Belt lasted about 11,000 km.

After I changed the belt - I just gassed it and the belt failed at just over 4000 km. On another thread I posted some information from Gates which goes over break in and failure diagnosis. I'd never seen this stuff before. Hope the information helps or at least simplifies ordering parts. 

Now to figure out what works on an Exciting 250 ...
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: axy on October 19, 2010, 03:28:34 PM
I think one of the problems I have had with other belt changes is I didn't realize there is a 'seating in' process of about 10 to 15 miles to help the side walls of the belt get a better fit. When the scoot was bought new, I did a fast break in ... after about 100km of stop and go, partial throttle acceleration and letting the engine and trans cool down two or three times. This most likely let everything settle in - and the Belt lasted about 11,000 km.

I have once already commented on this forum that there is no "seating in" for toothed belts used in scooters.

It exists only for V shaped belts used in some other vehicles like those things used on snow, whatever they are called.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: TechGuy on October 19, 2010, 05:56:22 PM
I am going to guess that the reason Gates doesn't list a belt is that the angle of the belt (the angle between the top edge of the belt and the side walls of the belt is defined by the manufacturer)

(http://www.gizmology.net/images/v-belts.gif)

The Gates belt as mainly manufactured for industrial applications. The belt in the CVT transmission is a "specific use belt" -'power transmission belt?' not a "general use belt". While you may find a "general" belt to fit, it is not designed to the tolerance or heat or stress tolerances of a specific use belt. The above chart shows the standard belts made by gates and others.  They are designed to be used to move blowers, fans and other wheels and pulleys and the loads are no where near the level required of the power transmission we are putting them into.

Pony up the extra bucks and save your self the time and trouble associated with changing the belt...another time.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: dejzebmoorbn on May 13, 2012, 03:31:12 AM
Hello, all -

Sorry I am a little slow. Is the general consensus to stick with the OEM belt or replace with a Gates/Dayco? I'm much less worried about price and more concerned with a broken or stretched belt. Thanks.   
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: jprestonian on May 13, 2012, 06:21:09 PM
I'm about to swap belts again, so original, 1st replacement (still on bike @ 33,000km; installed at 17,000km). All OEM.

I still can't figure out why anyone would buy a Kevlar belt, let alone a SECOND one.  ;)
.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: zombie on May 13, 2012, 10:45:47 PM
In HIGH HP applications kevlar is mandatory. It is also SHORT lived. For OEM applications oem belts.
Title: Re: Drive belt replacement
Post by: zombie on May 13, 2012, 10:50:08 PM
I should also state the HIGH HP is relative. I plan on 20ish HP in my 50cc. The OEM belt would break on the first launch due to its small size. A Kevlar belt in the 500cc range will handle approx 200hp but for a short while. It lasts no longer in lessor hp applications due to it's nature. Kevlar is a specific purpose belt, and any other use is wasting money... as you all have found.