Roketa Bali - Running (but not fast) By nalrac (Read 1,743 times)

[nalrac]

JR, You are a fellow Bali owner, so, what kind of top speed do you get out of yours?

I'm not sure if you recall the thread, but you recently helped diagnose some electrical problems with my Bali. I just replaced my stator and got up and running. Everything seems to be working as expected. However, I was only able to hit 50mph on the speedometer. I have a performance CDI, performance Exhaust, new coil, new stator (of course), and new spark plug. I thought for sure that I had heard that I should get at least 60mph. It felt like it could do more but seemed restrained. It's hard to know how high I'm revving since the Bali doesn't have a tach. Any thoughts?

[tvnacman]

how many miles do you have on the scooter ?

John

[nalrac]

About 8,400 miles

[JR]

Good question John and nalrac I haven't seen you mention the CVT area. Now remember the speedo is off and that varies but you should be able to with the right set up hit 65MPH (chino speedodometer) so let's think about it.

The Chinses are famous for putting on whatever belt and/or roller weights that they have the day it's made. I have friend who has a Bali and it came with a 842 belt and 12 gram rollers, however mine came with a 835 belt and 14 gram rollers.

Now with that said you need to open up the CVT and look at what's going on as in:

(1) Is the system dirty and the clutch and variator engaging properly or it's not working like it should and needs cleaning and lubricant. If the inside variator plate that holds the rollers is not moving all the way in to make the belt go to the outer most part of the variator then you lose top end, same with the clutch if it's not opening up enough the belt cannot get into the high range at higher RPM's.
(2) You need to weigh the rollers and determine what weight they are go to jewelry store or the Post Office and weight them and convert the ounces to grams, lower weight rollers = very good take off, loss of top end. Make sure they are not hanging in the variator guides they belong in, if so loss of top end. If they have sever flat spots they are now lighter and may not give good top end.
(3) Belt, a wore out belt = loss of top end.

If you ride in the hills I would recommend 12 gram sliders, keeps good take off and keeps top end as well as 14 gram rollers. Also makes it pull the hills well.

Ride in the flatland I would consider 13 to 14 gram sliders.

Just read your 84k reply and you might consider a compression test to make sure all is well.

Keep us informed and also Welcome to the forum!

JR

[nalrac]

Thanks JR! I rode it a little yesterday and here's what I noticed:

1. Take off is good, IMO. 0-40 in about 4-5 seconds.
2. After reaching 40 it can take quite a while to go from 40 to 50.
3. It peaks out at 50

I haven't tested the speed with a GPS, but judging from my orientation with the surrounding I wouldn't say it's terribly far off.

The thing that confuses me the most is that the guy I bought it from said that the fastest he got out of it was 65 on the speedo. This was within the last 5 months. It's probably had less than 100 miles on it since then.

Is there anything else other that the CVT that could cause this kind of issue? If not, then I will disassemble it this weekend and report back.

Thanks! Good to be here

Adam

PS - I don't think the speedometer is stock. It's actually in "mph" in the big numbers and "kmph" in the inner, smaller numbers. Is this standard or am I right about it being an add-on?

[JR]

Hmmmm don't know Adam can you post a picture? Then I can compare and if it's running right on a chinodometer it will hit 65MPH which is actually around 55 to 57MPH actual.

Also glad you're here!

JR

[nalrac]

I'll try to post a pic by tomorrow. I'm not at the scooter at the moment. However, it looks exactly like the standard except that the big numbers are MPH. I also just thought about the fact that the mileage on this speedometer is showing 8,400...so that probably means it the one from factory. Right?

Thanks!

[oldchopperguy]

Nalrac,

My scooter is a Xingyue Eagle 150, which is probably the same basic scooter as yours. Your scoot's performance is identical to mine. My speedometer is actually accurate (surprise!) and I do have a factory tach (which is accurate within 200 rpm).

I've got the engine running great, and like yours, it runs strong up to about 40 to 45, then sort of "Peters out" finally reaching 50-52 mph. The scoot has about 3,000 miles on it, and the drive belt has "stretched" just a teensy bit. THAT has increased overall performance enough to notice!

Up to this season, my top-end was about 48 mph. So, there's NO doubt the variator, weights, belt and clutch make a BIG difference. Bad health and other priorities have kept me from installing a Prodigy variator which I've had for over a year... SHAME on me!

When your engine runs fine, getting an extra eighth-inch of belt travel toward the outside of the variator CAN make a five, to even TEN mph increase in top speed, while doing so at a safe rpm. Right now, on the flat, with no headwind, (the unusual "perfect" conditions...) I can get an honest 54 to 56 mph, but at near 10,000 rpm. A good performance variator, and a belt that goes "all the way out" should give you at least 55- 58 mph, maybe even 60+ and, at around 7,500 to 8,500 rpm.

I'd go with JR's advice completely, and if the engine is good, which yours seems to be, concentrate on the CVT tranny. I'm convinced that the CVT is the area that can give the greatest increase in performance and overall driveability.

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas

[nalrac]

Thanks, Leo!

It's good to hear that I'm not in an isolated situation

I'm willing to bet that when I open it up and look at it I'm going to find the problem. I would guess with 8,400 miles the weights can potentially be worn.

Also, JR, I noticed you mentioned an "835" vs. a "142" belt. Can you educate me a little on the differences, and should I consider upgrading to a different belt if I find that mine is the original?

Thanks!

- Adam

[JR]

Ooops typo! I meant 842 belt and it goes with what Leo just said the 842 is 7mm longer than the 835 and it just by it's extra length will give a tad of more top end because it goes higher out on the variator. They even make a 846 length belt special order.

I found I liked the 842 with 12 gram sliders on a stock variator, kept my hill climbing and good top end.

JR

[tvnacman]

JR
You make me second guess myself , I too have the version of th mc13 150 (longbo) stock it has 12gram rollers , based on what Alley said , I ordered 13gram sliders , it has 842-20-30 . I also ordered some tools removal , magneto , and starter clutch tools .

John

[nalrac]

Finally got into the CVT today and determined that I have what looks to be a NEW 842-20-30 belt and 14 gram rollers.

I can confirm that there is a good layer of black "dust" in the variator. There are also noticeable flat spots on three rollers. If I roll them gently on a flat surface they will "stand" on the flat places.

My questions are thus:

1. I need to ride on these rollers for the next few days so I should probably clean and lubricate them. How do I do that?

2. Are the slight flat spots enough to hurt my top-end?

Thanks for the help!

- Adam

[sprocket]

Run them dry.. never use lubrication in a GY6 CVT...there are lubrication points but the rollers aren't one of them...

Yes the flat roller will effect the take-off and the top end...

[nalrac]

Thanks sprocket! I'll be ordering new rollers or sliders on Thursday then.

[JR]

Yep as always you can rely on Sprocket's advice he's hit the nail on the head, and I really believe you'll like the sliders better.

JR