Modern Buddy

So anyone tracking my post from a month or 2 ago now knows how quickly I can get around to stuff lately! I really am planning on ordering sliders and the Dr. P variator.

I took off the CVT cover today to check the belt. The belt looks fine and measures right about 19mm in width. Does this mean a new belt? I know Rajron has a pic in his post that says 19 MM was fine, and others have said their belts get about 12000 miles ( I have about 5600).

The service manual (p 48 referencing PA 125) says the belt should be between 20 and 21 MM, with 19 mm being the “limit of use”.

I have done some searches, but not finding how much the belt should measure…

I also know some will recommend a new belt for the variator, but if I need a new belt, that probably means no Dr. P variator… no funds.

In Mpls and St Paul we have two very good dealers. They told me that one should consider a new belt at 10,000miles as they could snap from being old more than to narrow. I have 8,000 on mine and I have not lost any top end speed yet. For those who don't know, that loss of top end speed can be a belt that is worn past it's measurement zone. I would go with the new variator, because a belt isn't that expensive, and could be replace later down the road easier.

If you are installing a different variator then you will most likely want to install a new belt too. The different variator model will have a different shape and the belt will need to break in to that shape. The old belt will already be broken in to the shape of the old variator. There may be enough of the old belt left that it can re-brakein to the new shape, but IMO, you may as well put a new belt in while everything is already taken apart.

Skootz Kabootz wrote:If you are installing a different variator then you will most likely want to install a new belt too. The different variator model will have a different shape and the belt will need to break in to that shape. The old belt will already be broken in to the shape of the old variator. There may be enough of the old belt left that it can re-brakein to the new shape, but IMO, you may as well put a new belt in while everything is already taken apart.

great point