MOPED ARMY

Grind the brass off and drill 1/4" holes in the variator weights. Massive gains for free

Well...somebody beat me to it! Pics below...so I guess I’ll check to see if they drilled out the weights.ground down to 3mm & added 2 thin shins.

Okay, I read it correctly, looked at it wrong. It wasn’t ground as I thought. ( newbie ) . So I ground it down . The washers I put back on, during my first run, I got really high rpms , no speed. Eventually I was barely moving. Got back put on a new belt. No high rpms , but good take off, slow speed. So as I don’t have a reliable drill press, I couldn’t open up the weights with the1/4” bit. So hopefully I can find a shop that will do it, and hope the lighter weights will bring my speed back up.

Yes. Used 200 grit sandpaper, also buffed it 00 steel wool. The washers were there when I took it apart Ike. Not now. Also the rpms are normal but no speed after I put on a new belt.like I've read, variating is more of an art than science. Back to the drawing board. I'll check to see if it's sliding,I just assumed it would.Thanks for the help Ike.

You can sand the bushing flush with the variator cheek. Other than that, you should have been able to put it back on directly and feel a gain. You basically just made a 30mph variator.

Les, you should be able to drill the weights with a hand drill, if you can hold onto em. Don't use pliers or vise grips and marr them up. But the drill bit should follow the center of the existing hole, like a pilot hole.

Yeah... me and hand drills have a bad history of misery..Any special type drill bit Seth?

I use a drill press for mine, but you could use a drill. I also use vice grips. As far as marring them, remember you have plastic caps to go over them, so it shouldn't be a big deal. Alternatively, I use a bit of old tire tube to wrap around the weight and then clamp with vise grips.

I've ground the collars on several bikes and I don't notice a very large change. Lightening the weights helps a lot with acceleration, however.

I tell you what though, nothing beats a Polini. I'd get that before a kit any day. It just changes your whole world.

Malossi is good, but Polini is better.

Ok guys, I got a case of CRS but found my drill press in the basement! 1/4" drill bit as suggested..worked out good. Before I put it together I made sure the collar moved freely as instructed,it does. Checked the belt tension, it's good. Gonna warm up with a cup of Joe, start it on the stand to see if belt rides up/ down. Then take it for a spin. Hoping for better run.

It’s not the transmission it’s the cast steel clutch bell that explodes.

yeah pretty much just on kitted bikes turning high rpm though, i doubt a stock or mild kit bike would be able to rev that high

Sounds like yer plug is about fouled out. Put in a new one and Maybe down jet from 69 to 67 and then plug chop. See what that gives ya.

Pretty sure I ended up at a 69 in mine too, iirc. At least that's what I wrote down in my book. Unless I read the stamped # wrong. Stock cylinder, 13.13 carb, and Proma circuit. Not that I'm correct, but it seems about right. (edited)

Yep. I'm a #69. Went thru my notes. I also looked at the tuning spreadsheet in the wiki, and according to other Vespas, mid/upper 60's is where we should be.

Or maybe we're all fucked up.