What a day it's been. Last night I removed the cover for the drivetrain, and succumbed to the fact that I would need an impact driver to remove the variator.
I bought a pneumatic driver today, and removed the variator without any issue. Installed the 4.5g rollers and buttoned everything back up.
My first test run around the neighborhood revealed two things:
1) It was like night and day. The thing leaps off the line and stays right in the powerband and 2) I was going to need proper riding gear to fully evaluate.
I ran in the house and grabbed my helmet and my Aerostich Roadcrafter (by now the temps had dipped into the upper 50's).
Took her out for a cruise. Acceleration is fantastic and a run down a higher speed road revealed that she'll pull an indicated 53 and hold it. Bear in mind that it was very windy and the Roadcrafter isn't exactly aerodynamic. Picture a guy in a snowmobile suit trying to tuck in for minimum exposer.
I am happy with the acceleration but I am disappointed in the top end.
I am going to play with heavier rollers and find a happy compromise.
I also found out that the variator had been replaced with a more robust Malossi unit. I'm going to weigh the Malossi rollers to get a base to work with. (9/12/07--they weigh 7 grams each) I may also change the clutch spring (a lighter spring was installed along with the new variator).
Like I said, she pulls pretty hard off the line. At a red light, I canned it when the light turned green and reached an indicated 22 MPH when I crossed the intersection. This took about a second and a half. The pipe announces to the world that there's 70cc's of pissed off two stroke approaching. When I'm riding the thing I feel like a teenager that just TP'ed the entire neighborhood. Growing up is underrated anyway.
Stay tuned as there's more tweaking to be done.
-K
Rattler updates
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- Kevin K
- Member
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:16 pm
- Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
Rattler updates
She rides: nothing yet
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug
-
- Member
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 5:44 am
- Location: minneapolis
There is a stiffer Malossi main spring in there. You need to get some stiffer smaller springs. Like these https://www.pmtuning.co.uk/Merchant2/me ... 5050BIGMAX
It is also possible to get weights in smaller than .5 gram increments to really find the sweet spot.
It is also possible to get weights in smaller than .5 gram increments to really find the sweet spot.
- Kevin K
- Member
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:16 pm
- Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
Thanks for the 411. I thought that the white spring (the one that's in the clutch now) was the lighter spring. I suppose it's probably still stiffer than the stock spring.
I think my next plan is to change out the secondary springs and maybe jump up to 5 or 5.5g rollers.
After that, I'm going to tackle that poor excuse for a headlight.
Rattlin' in the dark,
-K
I think my next plan is to change out the secondary springs and maybe jump up to 5 or 5.5g rollers.
After that, I'm going to tackle that poor excuse for a headlight.
Rattlin' in the dark,
-K
She rides: nothing yet
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug
He rides: crappy 35 year-old Vespa (and 70cc Rattler)
Minnesota Motorcyle Monthly
My SmugMug