2004 Vino Classic Belt Replacement

[REGMAR]

My Vino Classic has over 10,000 miles on it, and I derestricted the exhaust and the speed governor, and got the top speed up to a reliable 40 mph. Recently however the top speed dropped down to about 37 or so, and I began to wonder if maybe it's time to replace some worn parts. Talking to a neighbor who's had a scooter for 25 or so years, I mentioned this problem, and he said that at 10,000 miles, a loss of speed might well be attributable to a stretched belt. This seemed reasonable to me, so I ordered a replacement Yamaha belt, and bent it on last week.

The top speed now dropped to about 33 mph, and when I compared the new belt to the old one, the new one is noticeably longer. Is this a common issue, and what can I do to get my speed back up - besides putting the old belt back on?

My next replacement job is going to be the piston rings, but I'd like to get the belt problem squared away before I move on to other things.

[Blackbomber]

10,000 is well beyond the expected lifespan of a belt. You did good. The speed issue isn't from the belt stretching, but rather the decreased width (from wear) prevents the belt from riding up as high on the front pulley, and therefore doesn't achieve as high an overall ratio as a new (wider) belt. A belt longer than stock might play into the equation, as it won't ride as far down to the center of the rear pulley when the variator is fully closed down. It seems as though this would be what you are experiancing.

[REGMAR]

So what's the solution? The original belt is wearing, and the new belt is too big. Is it possible that the belts that come with the Vino Classic are different from the OEM replacement ones?

Another question: Should I just eschew the Yamaha OEM belt, and get a kevlar belt? I looked through the kevlar belts listed by Provoscooter, and I don't see one for the YJ50.

[Blackbomber]

Ok, whether belts stretch or not doesn't change the fact that if your new belt is LONGER than the old one, one of those belts is wrong - probably the new one.
If belts stretched, than your new one would be SHORTER if it was correct. From whom did you purchase the new belt? I'd question them on it.

[REGMAR]

I'm still trying to figure out what I should do to make my scooter go faster. Should I try again to get a replacement belt? Maybe this time I'll roll the bones and get a good one?

Something occurred to me. I know I have a Vino 50cc, but the parts houses seem to differentiate between a YJ50RP and a Vino Classic RJ50RAP. How can I tell which one I have? I can't find the information on any of the panels on the scooter. Does it matter? Does one have a longer belt than the other? Maybe I got the wrong one.

[Blackbomber]

Either you were given the wrong belt, or the wrong belt was already in your scooter. Can you read the numbers printed on the old belt?

I personally do not know the difference between the two scooters. Wish I could help you there. I'm betting someone here can answer that, though.

[REGMAR]

Thanks a bunch for your help. I think I'll have to take the panels off this machine until I can find out which model it is. Until then I'll drive it on the old belt, so I can reclaim some of that lost speed.

[REGMAR]

OK turns out Yamaha mis-labeled the belt. A Yamaha rep told me there's no difference at all aside from colors between the Vino and the Vino Classic. When I read out the part number to him he said it was the right part number, but the size of the belt indicates it's a Vino 125 belt mislabeled as a Vino 50 belt. I'm going to put the original belt back on after three months of abysmal performance. Yamaha said they'd replace the belt. All appears well.