SR50 hangs at 6k rpms until 15mph; need help

[toddlamp]

i have been having a problem recently and I am stumped. I modified my stock setup to a Malossi Multivar w/7.2g rollers, white contra spring, red clutch springs, and Malossi torsion controller. I ended up with great results and performance. Take off was great, it held a solid 8500rpms, and maxed out ~56mph on flat roads.

I then changed to a taller gear set (Stage 6 13/39). At that time the scooter was still running great! A small hit on acceleration with a new, modest, 58-59mph top speed on flats. Then I went back in and swapped in the sliders. I didn't like the results so I made a few other changes including the contra spring and some other slider configurations all with the Stage 6 gears.

I don't remember exactly when it happened but I started getting some serious lag/hesitation when accelerating from a dead stop. The symptoms I experienced was a very anemic acceleration until the scooter reached 15mph. I'm talking about an absolute crawl. Once I hit 15mph the rpms jumped up to 8500rpms and the scooter would accelerate just fine and hit a normal top speed.

At the time I attributed this with my messing around with the roller/slider and contra spring combo so I started to revert back to the step before to see where the problem started. The thing is it's STILL there even though I went all the way back to the stock gears, Malossi Multivar w/7.2g rollers, white contra spring, red clutch springs, and Malissi torsion controller configuration. An interesting characteristic I noticed was that this issue does not happen when I start out for a ride when the scooter is "cold". I put cold in " " because I warm up the scooter but the trans is cold.

In addition to the other issues I noticed that I was having more of an issue installing and removing the variator cover. It seems as though the axle does not what seat in the bearing and takes a little bit of convincing. I am getting frustrated!! If I had to guess it seems like once the transmission warms up something is binding up am creating resistance that the engine can not overcome until the scooter starts moving.

I would really appreciate any suggestions you may have.

[Snugg]

Those that I know who have a Piaggio SR50, have negitive results when using a Malossi TC.

Also, when is the last time you have serviced your rear pulley/clutch? As in removing the clutch, contra and separating the rear pulley and cleaning/regreasing it.

[toddlamp]

The scooter only has about 550 miles on it so I didn't think to do any maintenance on it. And now that you mention cleaning and re-greasing when I took the rear pulley off to swap the contra spring I noticed that when I expanded and contracted the rear pulley halves grease was coming out in the inside of the pulley. Also there was one time when I had issues removing the rear pulley from the axle. It was stuck on there and from what I can tell it should always spin freely and go on and off easily.

[Snugg]

The couple that I have seen were very dry from the factory. Mine was one of them, I purchased mine with 900 miles on it and the rear pulley did the same, was stuck and needed to be serviced badly.

[Rosscofat]

malossi tc as in the yellow ring right

[toddlamp]

When I took it off and inspected it I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. The action was smooth. What was weird, to me at least, was that when I expanded it and contracted the rear pulley grease would come out of holes on the inside and then get pulled back in. I will still follow your suggestion as I am getting frustrated and desperate.

Does anyone have a video of how freely the rear wheel should spin when turned by hand? When putting a normal amout of force it will do a couple revolutions and stop. Is that correct or should it spin many many times? Without the axle installed it spun very free but when I installed the axle and installed the cover I noticed that there was added resistance and that the rear wheel didn't spin as freely.

[toddlamp]

malossi tc as in the yellow ring right

Yes. And I swapped the TC position from the upper part (inside the clutch) to the lower part (inside the ring on the pulley) and there was no change. I have had the TC installed for as long as I've had the scooter and it worked great.

[Rosscofat]

is there anyway to videotape it? does it happen even when it is on the stand?

[toddlamp]

Well I took it out for a ride when I got home from work and as mysteriously as it began so it ended. Thinking it was something with the axle I swapped back the 13/39 Stage 6 gear set. I took the scooter for as lengthy of a ride as I have within the past few days, long enough for the problem to occur again. While there was a hint of hesitation that I am certain is the issue it was not nearly as severe as before with even the stock gears. It still feels like some problem is there but it's definitely getting better. I am not going to consider the problem solved but I don't have anything to add at this point. It was much cooler out tonight so I don't know if that is why (I feel like the problem is heat/friction related). I will test some more this week and this weekend. If it starts up again I will get the GoPro out and try to capture it on tape.

[Rosscofat]

check it ever now and then for extra wear.. just in case..

[toddlamp]

I think what ended up being my problem was that my gear fluid was low. I added more fluid today and took it for a 80 mile ride and it was great. Man I love this scooter. i can't wait to put on the BBK and get it up to 70mph.

[Rosscofat]

and put on the Fuel Reg you have!

I with with a 7.5g Sliders and im hitting 8500 perfect on the dot. I get to 102kph and then it reaches 10G so I stop at about 95kph

[toddlamp]

and put on the Fuel Reg you

Definitely. The extra power from the reg show give me a nice boost in top speed with my 13/39 gears.

[Rosscofat]

Yup should fix your slow starts.

[toddlamp]

I don't have slow starts anymore. It must have been the gear oil.