WRENCH: Honda PCX150 // Dr.Pulley Variator Malfunction

[@newenglandpats59]

I use Dr. Pulley slides and variator in my Honda Helix. The thing I like best is that you don’t pack the Variatior with grease as required on the OEM Variatior and rollers. The OEM rollers don’t roll anyway. They always develop flat spots indicating that are actually sliding instead of rolling. I have found that the performance of Dr. Pulley 21 gram slides are no better the OEM rollers. (I have tried many different gram slides.) I have stuck with Dr. Pulley sliders because they last much longer and you end up with less grease contamination throughout the belt case and clutch. Incidentally, my Honda Helix just turned 100,000 miles yesterday. I recently purchased a 2022 Trail 125. I’m loving it! I really enjoy your channel, thanks.

[@thedaydreamer7972]

I have a Helix as well, I went with the Dr pulley variator and the 16g dr pulley sliders, this I found is the key setup, its faster off the line, puts the bike in powerband, has a little higher top end and lowers cruiing rpms, its all about finding the proper weight, however with the Helix, the OEM boss is .5MM longer than the Dr pulley and the drive face is angled slighty differnt and its .5mm larger on the dr pulley,,,,that is the difference here

[@newenglandpats59]

Thanks very much for the information. I guess I’ll be trying the 16 gram sliders.

[@thedaydreamer7972]

Yes, but they will NOT work well in the OEM variator, you need to have the DR pulley variator to get the results that I am talking about, there is a difference in the boss pin and variator angles@@newenglandpats59

[@htschmerdtz4465]

Very informative. I'm still on my ST1100 (former) cop bike but at 66, I'm looking ahead to something more age-appropriate, so these vids are useful. By the way, don't let the trolls get to you.

[@roywalls5595]

I purchased a used 2007 Piaggio mp3 for $1000 and got it inspection and took for test drive but it was making noise on variator before I started working on it I did some research on you tube watch how take apart CVT Transmission! I replace the variator & rollers to Dr. Pulley slider 21x17 13.5g and the belt an rebuilt the clutch! I changes out the oil & oil filter and air filter & gear oil too! QM

[@jackvoss175]

If those little flippers are in an enclosed cavity, I don’t see how they reposition themselves. But, I’ve never seen a variator before.

[@stevenmullins9442]

Great videos I own a Suzuki Burgman uh200 biggest scooter I’ve ever own . Keep putting out the videos I always enjoy watching them.

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback, Steven! I'm trying to get back into a steady editing and posting schedule again. I have a TON of videos sitting in the queue, so stay tuned... and thanks for watching! 😉👍 --QM

[@juliodiaz4493]

bike rides real good with the slider good performance

[@alexsbikesandmotors]

Ive got about 3k miles on the sliders in my pcx 125 and now its started vibrating at around 45mph. I think i might tear the cvt down and check it out. Those sliders are great. They increased my top speed from 58 to 63mph

[@QuasiMotard]

You might just need to clean the belt and clutch dust out of the CVT. I'd measure the belt dimensions to be sure that it's still in spec, and then clean up the pulleys before reassembling everything. Dr.Pulley sliders are a great upgrade... better acceleration, higher top speed, and better economy. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@Visionery1]

Great video! 4:35, are they Philips or JIS?

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback! Good catch... all of the screws on these scoots are obviously JIS. I have a couple of worn-down #2 Philips bits that fit perfectly and won't round out the screw heads. 😉👍 --QM

[@paulgreenfield1237]

Seen your road .loads . Crazy like i now it .. lol . Funny how we got loads of stuff on cars .nothing on bikes her .need more of your stuff 😉

[@jackvoss175]

Sometimes dental picks are useful for cleaning back into tight corners.

[@scoop4321]

I have a Genuine Buddy 170i scooter, and I recently did this job on it. Just a tip for you: when reinstalling the belt, you can pry the clutch pulley apart slightly with your fingers when it is on the shaft and secured with the nut, and this will allow you to easily place the belt loosely over the variator shaft so you don't squeeze it during installation.

[@UnkownDraco]

Hey I’m about to get a buddy 170i, what did the variator upgrade do to the scooter?

[@williamread720]

Did you ever figure out HOW those sliders were able to disorient themselves? Sounds impossible, or at least counterintuitive. Given the shape of the sliders and the space in which they operate, its hard to figure out/understand how they got turned around? Its a bit disturbing and makes it LESS likely I will change out stock OEM rollers. Your thoughts on this welcomed of course. Thanks for the enlightening video. Appreciated.

[@QuasiMotard]

No, I never could figure out how the sliders could shift/rotate inside of the variator's ramps. The only thing that I can point a finger at is maybe a weak rear pulley spring on the clutch? I'm still running the factory spring, so maybe it's not quite stiff enough to maintain enough tension on the belt at certain RPM's (e.g. decelerating from mid-range speeds), so the variator might be able to slack a bit and permit the sliders to cock sideways. The problem hasn't happened again (yet), so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@nicholasclark5094]

That would make sense also when he was cleaning them, he felt like there was some residue or grit on one of the sliders. if it's rolling, air quotes sliding, up that little ramp , to force out that plate on its way back home, if there was some pieces of belt or whatever might have gotten into the case. that could stop it from sliding backwards and stand it up and flop it down in the wrong direction. I like the thought of the rear spring being weak that never crossed my mind but that would allow this to take place. I also felt like maybe his belt was wearing narrower. But when he took off the variator it looked fine. Cuz I feel like that would give them the slack and room to stand up and flop over back down the ramp instead of sliding backwards into home plate;)

[@nicholasclark5094]

Another thought that just crossed my mind if the centrifugal force is forcing them outward up the ramp and pushing the variator plate open if you will, in order to close the pulley. Maybe it's possible they got pinched like the ones that didn't flip backwards the tip of them since they're not round could possibly get pinched to little holding open the plate and allowing the others to fall the wrong direction on their way back down the ramp.? I I

[@ajc5601]

First time i heard a slider turned while inside the variator 😳

[@QuasiMotard]

Yep, that was the first time it has ever happened to me! I'm not sure how the sliders could have flipped over. Maybe if the movable face wasn't returning quickly enough due to belt tension (driven pulley spring not strong enough?) or if the drive boss wasn't allowing the movable face to slide back smoothly... dunno. I'll keep an eye on it during my next long road trip to see if it happens again. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@ymoneify]

@@QuasiMotard the culprit is the center spring and clucth spring, you might change it to 1000 rpm.

[@damacknificent151]

What roller weights are the best for top speed and power to maintain it at high windy days?

[@QuasiMotard]

That's a tough question to answer because it depends on the scooter's configuration (e.g., engine power, weight, aerodynamics, etc) and also the rider's weight. Generally speaking, heavier rollers/sliders give higher top speeds at the cost of acceleration because the centrifugal force from the heavier weights raises the overall drive ratio faster (higher "gear" ratio). I recommend purchasing 2-3 different sets of rollers/sliders so you can tune the performance for your needs. Most weight sets are relatively inexpensive ($25-35), so it's a cheap way to customize the CVT to your preference. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@F-tt3xv]

A question, did the Dr Pulley variator add any top speed? Is it worth the money so to say?

[@QuasiMotard]

This PCX150 was upgraded with a Dr.Pulley performance variator and 13-gram sliders. The sliders in the factory variator increased the top speed from 62-63 mph (100-102 kmh) to 67-68 mph (108-109 kmh) before hitting the ignition rev-limiter. The Dr.Pulley variator and slider combination raised the top speed to 74-75 mph (119-121 kmh) without hitting the rev-limiter (drag limited). I felt the rev-limiter a few times when going downhill or with a tailwind above 78 mph (126 kmh). However, I don't recommend the Dr.Pulley performance variators after my 2023 Scooter Cannonball Run. My variator failed TWICE (original one with ~10K miles and a new one with only ~250 miles). At least two other PCX150/160's with Dr.Pulley variators failed as well ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJmrnJqJg8Zghrc ). The center bushing wallowed out due to sustained high RPM/heat operation and caused repeated belt failures. The best performance and reliability compromise seems to be using the OEM variator with upgraded CVT weights/sliders. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@ematise]

The variator and the belt should be very accessible. Too bad they designed this scooter this way.. I subscribed because I felt your pain. 😅

[@mikestowell4758]

On my standard pcx150 2016 what dr pulley sliders do you recommend on std variator. Would like to just change sliders.

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Mike! I would recommend using the 14g Dr.Pulley sliders as I mentioned at 23:49 in this video. I ran those in the factory variator on my 2015 (same as the 2016) without any problems. They bumped my top speed up from 62-63 mph to 67-68 mph, and the fuel economy cruising at 50-55 mph jumped up ~15% due to the lower engine RPM. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@ytar-_-8127]

31:18 My pcx 150 2014 is making this noise too (noise after accelerating). So I just have to clean these things as you cleaned on video?

[@QuasiMotard]

CVT shuddering and "belt slap" can be caused by several things, but cleaning everything out will generally resolve most of the issues. How many miles do you have on your PCX overall, and how many miles on that CVT belt? 😉👍 --QM

[@ytar-_-8127]

@@QuasiMotard 11 700km = 7270 miles overall. I bought my pcx from one dude, who i think he never changed anything except engine oil 😂

[@QuasiMotard]

If the maintenance history is suspect, then it's a good idea to replace the CVT belt and clean out the variator assembly while you're in there. I use compressed air to blow out the belt dust from everything, and then I hit the rollers/sliders and friction surfaces with brake cleaner and a green ScotchBrite pad as shown in this follow-up video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHfVZ2SEYpeApZo . Cheers, and good luck with your maintenance! 😉👍 --QM

[@dinospumoni8860]

On dr pulley sight now through your link. Doesn’t appear they make a 12 gram compatible with that kit anymore. The link on it to the sliders only offers 11 gram as the lightest and 14-19 gram. Skips 12 and 13. Maybe those sliders aren’t resided for the pcx and that’s why they turned or maybe they discovered over time that 12 and 13 was problematic.

[@QuasiMotard]

You can use any weight sliders that are the same dimensions, in this case 20x15mm. You can pick any weight between 11-17g and them mix and match later. You can buy additional sliders from Amazon or any other scooter shops for around $25-30/set. I've found the best slider weights for my weight and riding chores on the PCX150 are the 13-14g sliders. You can mix and match sliderr weights as long as they are balanced in the variator (e.g. staggered 12g and 14g to arrive at an average of 13g). Just be sure to maintain opposing weight sets the same value 180° from each other for proper balance. Cheers! --QM

[@dinospumoni8860]

@@QuasiMotard good to know. I ordered the 11 and 14 gram sliders. I’ll use the 14s first and see how it works. Just noticed you have a video on the ncy kit… making me question my life choices.

[@Nick-me9tl]

Great helpful video! I want to replace my stock rollers in my pcx 150 (2015) but can you tell me if I only replace the rollers in the stock variator for 14gr Dr Pulley is enough? Or do I need also the Dr Pulley sliders? And makes it a lot of difference? Thank you very much in advance! Gr Nick

[@QuasiMotard]

I was previously running only the Dr.P 14g sliders in the factory variator of my 2015 PCX150 before this video. That combo increased the top speed from 61-63 MPH up to 64-66... about a 3-4 MPH bump. When I upgraded to the Dr.Pulley variator AND sliders, the top speed increased to 71-73 MPH on flat ground (drag-limited, no rev-limiter) and 76-78 MPH downhill (hitting the rev-limiter). It's a worthwhile upgrade that's not too expensive. The sliders have turned in my Dr.P variator again, so I think the problem is the rear pulley spring is too weak. I'm planning to dig into that project again sometime in the next few weeks. I'll do another post mortem and then pull the rear drive and clutch out of it to replace the spring with something a bit stiffer. I'll be sure to video the process and share it here for others to consider. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@Nick-me9tl]

@@QuasiMotard many thanks for the quick reply! I follow your advice and put a new Dr pulley variator in my pcx. On top speed I miss a little bit of speed. I hope the rollers don't turn in my variator! 😅 Looking forward to your video that you gonna replace the spring. 👍

[@DirtRider22a]

Whoops lol I wanted to add the sliders to my baby Burgman but haven’t yet, never thought it would be possible for them to get turned sideways like that

[@QuasiMotard]

This the first time that has happened to me. I've used the Dr.P sliders in 6 different scoots from 50cc to 600cc, and this is the sole failure so far. I wonder if it's due to the Dr.P variator... that's the only new piece in the puzzle. 🤷‍♂️😉👍 --QM

[@DirtRider22a]

@@QuasiMotard curious also what oil you run in your scooters? You mention you don’t use the Mobil1 4t for the engine, I just did my first oil change on my Burgman a few weeks ago and that’s what I used myself. I know the book calls for MB rated oil but from what I could tell online the MB rated oil was just reduced friction and MA rated oil like the 4t would be fine for the scooter engine??

[@leohobbleohobb3781]

On all variators that have pressure plate crank pin hole with no grooves for the splines on crank pin that typical stop before the crank case seal.On this type variator only the outer pulley half is "pulling" it look,s like.The variator only goes along do to the sleeve that is between outer pulley half and the inner variator pressure plate. .should be easy to make a sleeve with spline grooves inside 1/3 of the length and some notches on the sleeve end that fit in to notches on the pressure plate.easy converter kit.Many models suffer with extreme belt wear do to this unstable bad way to have only the outer pulley half fixed to the crackpin and the inner is pressed by the sleeve and nut that hold it al together

[@lears6169]

Greetings - love the channel. You take some nice road trips. Looking at getting a Trail 125, thinking Honda may put out a Trail 150 for 2022. Thoughts? First time I am seeing you have a PCX150. I am also looking at the ADV150. What are your thoughts on the PCX vs ADV 150's? Which would you buy if you did not have either? And why? Thanks for the great content!

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback! I own the Trail 125 (CT125) and also the Super Cub. The CT125 is more suited for off-road and gravel trails than it is for road trips because of its lower top speed (limited to around 53-55 mph). The ADV150 is a great scoot, and it can go anywhere that the PCX150 or the Trail 125 could (within reason). I haven't heard any confirmation of the CT150 rumors yet, but I'm definitely waiting to see if there is any truth to it... we should know in November when EICMA happens. As for the PCX160 vs the ADV150, that's a tough choice. I recently picked up an ADV150 for a buddy of mine, and we rode to Round Rock, TX (about 165 miles away). He rode his new 2022 ADV150 and I rode my 2015 PCX150. I upgraded the variator in my PCX150, so it is able to maintain 65-72 mph on the highway without much difficulty. If the ADV150 received the same upgrade, then it would definitely be my choice between the two. The ADV150 has much better brakes, and the fatter tires give it a more stable feel on the road. The PCX's narrower tires make it feel a bit twitchy sometimes at freeway speeds. We had several ADV150's compete in the recent Scooter Cannonball Run in July 2021, and they all fared very well in terms of reliability and comfort. I did the event (over 9600 miles) on my 2019 Honda Super Cub C125, and I was definitely jealous of the ADV150's more comfortable ergonomics! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@nickreyes4570]

You should try dry lube before inserting the sliders for better performance.

[@robertanthonybermudez5545]

i know you already said you do your own way but maybe it would help you a lot in taking off the filmed belt compound by soaking the parts in petrol first.

[@BethePandaGames]

Been looking at these for a honda reflex. But I've heard that it does work well for that bike. Do you have any experience with a Relfex?

[@jackvoss175]

Muffin tins make nice “parts holders”. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@teamkagoodboys]

Did you find a way fixing this? I have the same problem

[@QuasiMotard]

If you're running the Dr.Pulley variator, it apparently needs 21x15mm sliders, NOT the 20x15 that came with my kit. I switched to 21x15 13-gram sliders, and the problem hasn't happened again. However, I still think that my rear contra spring is too weak, and that's causing other performance problems. I plan to upgrade to a stronger spring (20-30% heavier) to give more bottom-end acceleration and climbing ability. Cheers, and good luck tuning your PCX! 😉👍 --QM

[@teamkagoodboys]

@@QuasiMotard thanks man

[@pilyomotoride7781]

Can you do a video how to remove all the plastic fairing. And what rear shock are you using?

[@masteraquarius747]

I like the windscreen, where did you get it?

[@QuasiMotard]

The screen that I have on my 2015 PCX150 is the National Cycle VStream Sport Touring (medium height): www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/national-cycle-vstream-sport-touring-windscreen-honda-pcx150-2014-2018?sku_id=1161414 . It works very well, but I think the taller version might be just a bit better for reducing helmet turbulence. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@davidmcglumphy2240]

@@QuasiMotard Even National's tallest windscreen isn't quite tall enough. I put an extension on mine to make worlds of difference. I am six feet tall.

[@bachpham5357]

I don’t install the hidden bolt when I’m tuning.

[@QuasiMotard]

That's a good idea! I usually pull the 3 bolts out of the variator vent cover, but that's not really necesary. I like to open it up to verify that it's clear and unobstructed. 😉👍 --QM

[@orvillerayguyos2346]

Hello sir.what is the tire size of your pcx 150.. front and rare

[@QuasiMotard]

I'm still running the original size tires on my PCX: 90/90-14 front, and 100/90-14 rear. I upgraded to the Michelin City Grip tires because the original IRC Hoop tires were too slippery on wet roads. The City Grips still look almost new after 6K miles, so they are wearing very well. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@orvillerayguyos2346]

@@QuasiMotard your right IRC stock tire is so sleepery

[@orvillerayguyos2346]

@@QuasiMotard your right IRC stock tire is so sleepery

[@orvillerayguyos2346]

@@QuasiMotard what your top speed sir?

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

U say your dealer charged 400$ for this, was that with parts included, because that seems very high? Also makes me wonder if you might not have cleaned the brake cleaner out fully when u installed it

[@QuasiMotard]

No... that's a mix-up on maintenance events. I've done all of the variator upgrades on my scooters. I paid the dealer to do the first checkup and valve maintenance on my white 2015 PCX150. That service was over $400 because of all of the labor to remove the plastics. I've done the valve checks since then to save $$$. The shop rates have increased from $75/hr to $120/hr, so it would be even more expensive now! 😉👍 --QM

[@julianarodriguez3635]

Why didn't you use a swivel socket

[@QuasiMotard]

I could do that, but swivel sockets aren't recommended for high-torque fasteners. Removing or reinstalling the smaller fasteners would probably be OK, but variator nut needs a straight shot to avoid damage and to get an accurate torque value. That means I'd still need to loosen the side panel, so it's just easier to use common sockets throughout. 😉👍 --QM

[@drdreddmanofmystery9482]

You were getting up to, what, 70 mph with the new variator?

[@QuasiMotard]

Yep... the Dr.P variator raised the top speed to 71-72 mph on flats without any headwinds. The NCY Super Transmission kit that I installed in the 2016 PCX (gray) bumped it up to 73-74 mph. 😉👍 --QM

[@CorneliusLyngdoh]

Why my scooty aprilia yesterday I put dis dr pully n i got speed same no different😢😢😢😢

[@FranklinHicks-qs4gs]

What size are the sliders

[@QuasiMotard]

Sorry for the late reply... just saw your comment. These sliders are 20x15mm. One set is 12g and the other set is 14g. You can see the measurement and the markings fairly clearly at 23:50 in the video. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@marsy_mcmarsface]

I've been wanting a scooter but everyone in my town goes so dang fast. What's the top speed of this scooter?

[@marsy_mcmarsface]

Ah I just saw your reply on another's comment. 70+ would definitely get me around town with no worries!

[@QuasiMotard]

The factory RPM limiter in the 2015-2018 PCX150 caps the speed at 62-63 mph. The upgraded variator and sliders push that to 71-72 mph (flat ground without headwinds). Realistic (reliable) top speed is 65 mph after the variator upgrade. Surface streets and limited in-town highway jaunts here in Houston aren't too difficult with the PCX. However, I try to stay off of IH-10 because the average speeds are now 80-85 mph with lots of crazy cagers blasting around at 100+ mph! You can watch a couple of PCX acceleration videos here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5rTp2CJisitgdE (really old, crappy video) and here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobaoZxvpdtjotk (use the chapter markers to skip toward the end with the acceleration pulls). The new 2021-22 Honda PCX 160 has an updated engine and final drive ratio. Early reports say that its top speed is 70+ mph in factory trim... no upgrades necessary. Good luck shopping, and I hope you find a good fit. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@juliodiaz4493]

I install myself slider wrong en nothing happen my bike ride good

[@julianarodriguez3635]

Is this the same as the 160cc scooter in the Philippines let me know thanks

[@mprime6807]

They are very similar with the main exception being the new 4 valve engine.

[@km4fsi827]

Dr pully sucks after some research i have done..Kenzo or Yuminashi is the best hands down if you ever want to know. only one problem is getting them from Asia.

[@williamread720]

What research? Got cites or links?

[@Brian-ro9vn]

I’m definitely gonna go with either Kenzo or Yuminashi because you said Dr Pulley sucks and you must know what your talking about

[@soprasvidigo8962]

Pcx 150❤

[@pattayakamagra8325]

Your inner pulley is modified ? (Sliders travel higher than normal that’s why they turn) Not suitable for dr rollers… use normal round ones …

[@QuasiMotard]

The sliders in this Dr.Pulley variator were a matched set as a complete kit. Dr.Pulley designed their variator ramp profile to work with their 20x15mm and 21x15mm sliders. --QM

[@corneilcorneil]

"Labour intensive" sounds not the right discription to me. You have to lift nothing that is more heavy than a screwdriver. If you remove one more screw, the lower sidepanel comes off.

[@tedwalker1370]

That variator must be a design problem. Always needing repairs. Love the bike but starting to have second thoughts because of that.

[@QuasiMotard]

The factory variator doesn't need much maintenance at all... just an occasional dust blow-out and inspection of the factory roller weights to be sure that they aren't flat-spotted. This unit is a performance variator from Dr.Pulley, so these issues shouldn't reflect poorly on Honda as a quality or design problem. I was previously running the OEM Honda variator with Dr.Pulley sliders, and that combination worked well... no problems after ~3K miles. The Dr.Pulley sliders in the OEM variator raised my top speed from 63 to 67 MPH, and then the full Dr.Pulley variator pushed the speed to a drag-limited 72 MPH. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@paulgreenfield1237]

Class thanks .all english lent loads .😉

[@GamerChillz]

I’ll be honest I read the thumbnail text as “vibrator malfunction”