new problem for me.

Sailboat13 · Post by **Sailboat13** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:34 pm

I knew I was having too much fun riding. This just started yesterday. When I throttle up maybe two out of three time the clutch seems to slip. When it does engage it bangs me back in my seat. When I'm up to speed it runs as good as ever, its just from a dead stop or when going real slow and I give it gas and it hesitates for a second and then engages with a hard lurch. I have 5800 miles on it and its a 09. I weigh 255, hope my weight didn't cause sometime to break. I'm in Florida for the winter and the only shop near me kind of messed my scoot last year. Any ideas guys?

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:08 pm

Sailboat13 wrote:I'm in Florida for the winter and the only shop near me kind of messed my scoot last year. Any ideas guys?

Yes, you need to use this board and any other available resources to find a decent scooter mechanic. The problem is with the CVT transmission, which sounds scary but isn't a big deal. The Buddy scooter is very straightforward and easy to work on and parts are relatively inexpensive and easily sourced, however, you will need to find a competent scooter mechanic to get it done.

P.S. The CVT tranny stuff is a normal "wear item" and not the result of your weight or anything you did.

broke · Post by **broke** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:15 am

Hey Sailboat.

My 125 started having the EXACT SAME problem at almost the exact same mileage. I tracked the problem down to belt dust caked on my clutch pads. This allowed the clutch to slip at much higher RPM than normal and causes the lurch you feel.

It was an easy fix for me:
1) remove CVT cover
2) remove clutch bell
3) remove clutch
4) clean clutch pads (just sandpaper, and/or brake pad cleaner)
5) replace stuff
6) RIDE!

broke · Post by **broke** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:23 am

OH! But based on some recent posts from other users, you should be aware that you need to pay attention to what you are doing when working on your CVT. It isn't really hard work for someone less mechanically inclined (like me!) but it isn't something to take on without the right tools (like an impact wrench and torque wrench, etc.) and the enough attention to detail (like making sure you don't gash the hell out of your clutch pulley trying to separate it to get the belt back on, etc.)

After reading LOTS of posts on MB I felt more than confident in working on the CVT and I haven't caused myself any problems yet. I've replaced the rollers, cleaned clutch pads, swapped my belt, and then put my old belt back on... no problems, but I put my time in reading lots of posts about how to do the work. PLEASE DON'T BLAME ME IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOUR CVT FALLS APART AT SPEED, JAMS THE DRIVE SHAFT, YOUR REAR TIRE LOCKS UP AND YOU LOW SIDE AT 55MPH!

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:42 am

I was going to suggest the build up of dust on the CVT belt also. Sounds pretty typical of that. Mine happened more at lower speeds, but it is a slipping and then a sudden grabbing feeling. You can do it yourself, or just take is somewhere and suggest what you think it is. When I cleaned mine out, it was night and day in difference, and it was around 6000 miles.

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:45 am

bluebuddygirl wrote:I was going to suggest the build up of dust on the CVT belt also. Sounds pretty typical of that. Mine happened more at lower speeds, but it is a slipping and then a sudden grabbing feeling. You can do it yourself, or just take is somewhere and suggest what you think it is. When I cleaned mine out, it was night and day in difference, and it was around 6000 miles.

+1, likely just belt dust. They need cleaned out from time to time, and exhibit exactly the same symptoms as you've described.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:54 am

broke wrote:OH! But based on some recent posts from other users, you should be aware that you need to pay attention to what you are doing when working on your CVT. It isn't really hard work for someone less mechanically inclined (like me!) but it isn't something to take on without the right tools (like an impact wrench and torque wrench, etc.) and the enough attention to detail (like making sure you don't gash the hell out of your clutch pulley trying to separate it to get the belt back on, etc.)

Unfortunately, I have recently learned this lesson. As I said to someone somewhere (actually, I posted it to Facebook and Twitter), having an intimate knowledge of anatomy doesn't mean you can perform surgery. Thus, thanks to a combination of haste and having invested in a crappy $10 torque wrench, I snapped a couple bolts in the transmission case of my Vespa. I don't really want to talk about what I did next and the tragedy of errors that followed…

So my advice: Do your homework. Invest in the right tools and don't try to save money buying those cheapass ones next to the checkout stand at Pep Boys. Then recognize when you're in over your head and need help rather than digging yourself in, breaking drill bits and extractors and ultimately having to live with fewer case bolts. Essentially, don't be like me!

(Undeterred, I will still be doing my own transmission maintenance. I got some lessons from a pro.)

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:14 am

broke wrote:Hey Sailboat.

My 125 started having the EXACT SAME problem at almost the exact same mileage. I tracked the problem down to belt dust caked on my clutch pads. This allowed the clutch to slip at much higher RPM than normal and causes the lurch you feel.

It was an easy fix for me:
1) remove CVT cover
2) remove clutch bell
3) remove clutch
4) clean clutch pads (just sandpaper, and/or brake pad cleaner)
5) replace stuff
6) RIDE!

When I did mine I simply opened the cover and then blew out dust with a compressor as aggressively as I could, turning the belt a few times. I didn't pull anything else off.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:51 am

at the demo last weekend, they took off my belt and the disc thingy behind the variator was polished to a mirror finish. This is not one of the things that should be that smooth and shiny. They took it off and roughed it up with some sandpaper and holy smokes does my scoot zoom off the line fast. I guess that's another thing the belt can do to make your tranny not work as well. I have had a couple of close calls in the parking lot not expecting my scoot to go so fast that quick. So if you're in there cleaning out the dust and IF you can take off the variator, take a look at that.

If that's your original belt, it may be time for replacing, too. I had mine replaced at 9k.

Sailboat13 · Post by **Sailboat13** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:29 pm

Well, I got some help from a biker guy I know down here. We (he mostly) took the case off and it didn't some too dusty. Nevertheless I blew everything out and soaked it all with break cleaner. We replaced the belt even though it looked ok. Sanded up the shiny parts on the "thingy". I didn't replace the rollers although that may come back to haunt me later. They had a couple flat places but I think I'll go ahead and order that Dr Pulley thingy, lol I think after watching my friend take all of the cvt apart I won't be scared to tackle doing the Dr. Pulley deal. I kept my old belt, because I had only 5800 miles on it. I rode it around the park and it felt like new or better. Must have done something right. Thanks for your help folks. PS cleaned off the break pads too.

Wheelz · Post by **Wheelz** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:45 am

I'm glad that w/e you did to your do-hidgets, and whutchamathingies, helped the performance of your jobey do...
Good luck with the Dr. Pulley widgets deal and stuff...

Modern Buddy

new problem for me.

new problem for me.

Re: new problem for me.

think we fixed it,I hope