1993 Honda Elite - 27MPH top end?

[Trafficjamz]

-Did not re-use the o-ring that goes between the variator and interior face plate as it wouldn't stay in the groove with the three nuts tightened down.

Did you reinstall the grease cover? (incorrectly labled here as the restrictor plate)
Did you put new grease in it? If you did.....don't. The variator does not need grease or that cover. leave it off

[eliteguy50]

Now I've gone and done it. I ordered a variator from daywot on eBay and tried to install it today. Instead of speed gains....

.. my engine bogs at idle, will _barely_ hit 15mph. I have to help it along to even get to that point. However, once it hits ~15mph it starts to sound more like it should and I can get it up to ~20. I did two things that were not explained anywhere:
-Had to squeeze the rear drive plates apart (where the belt rides) to get enough slack in the belt to get the front drive plate back on.
-Did not re-use the o-ring that goes between the variator and interior face plate as it wouldn't stay in the groove with the three nuts tightened down.

I followed the instructions in the service manual to a T aside from those two differences. Did I inadvertently change the gearing negatively by squeezing the rear drive faces apart, letting the belt move more towards the center? I was careful to not get grease on the drive plates (but that stock one was FULL of it)...could that cause this issue?

No, your issue is not grease on the drive, that would allow the belt to slip and rev out the engine, not bog.

[Trafficjamz]

........with the three nuts tightened down.

Mystery solved.

Throw that plate and those nuts in the garbage. Clean out all the grease in the variator.

[Trafficjamz]

Had to squeeze the rear drive plates apart (where the belt rides) to get enough slack in the belt to get the front drive plate back on.
Did I inadvertently change the gearing negatively by squeezing the rear drive faces apart, letting the belt move more towards the center?

That is fine. You did nothing wrong. That is how it is done. I usually spin the rear pulley around by hand a few times after the front drive plate is back on, to get it to seat better.

[themeltingclock]

-Did not re-use the o-ring that goes between the variator and interior face plate as it wouldn't stay in the groove with the three nuts tightened down.

Did you reinstall the grease cover? (incorrectly labled here as the restrictor plate)
Did you put new grease in it? If you did.....don't. The variator does not need grease or that cover. leave it off

The variator I bought came with a new one! So you're telling me I don't need to use the gold grease cover?

How will I ever keep all those rollers in place, lol?

Edit: I used no grease and got the ramp plate as clean as possible.

[eliteguy50]

The variator I bought came with a new one! So you're telling me I don't need to use the gold grease cover?

How will I ever keep all those rollers in place, lol? ...

What variator did you buy?

By carefully holding the ramp plate in the variator during install.

[themeltingclock]

I bought this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VARIATOR ... arQ5fParts

and mentioned my scooter year, make and model before shipping to verify.

Is this restrictor plate causing me to bog out of idle until the engine starts to wrap up?

[Trafficjamz]

I bought this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VARIATOR ... arQ5fParts

and mentioned my scooter year, make and model before shipping to verify.

Is this restrictor plate causing me to bog out of idle until the engine starts to wrap up?

one problem at a time

The rollers will stay in place without that plate.
That is defiantly your top speed issue.

The bog on idle - 15mph is probably something different.

[themeltingclock]

Anything strike you as apparent that I could have done in this process that would have had such as drastic effect on my performance? My clutch cover gasket wasn't in great shape, but I highly doubt that would have caused me to lose so much power..

[Trafficjamz]

Anything strike you as apparent that I could have done in this process that would have had such as drastic effect on my performance? My clutch cover gasket wasn't in great shape, but I highly doubt that would have caused me to lose so much power..

Did you do anything to the air box?

[themeltingclock]

I did remove it since at the time I didn't have an extension to easily get at the bolts holding the clutch cover. I could have sworn I put it back on correctly....?

[Trafficjamz]

I did remove it since at the time I didn't have an extension to easily get at the bolts holding the clutch cover. I could have sworn I put it back on correctly....?

The tiniest air leak will cause the bog you are describing. Check again for any air leaks.

[eliteguy50]

I bought this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VARIATOR ... arQ5fParts

and mentioned my scooter year, make and model before shipping to verify.

Is this restrictor plate causing me to bog out of idle until the engine starts to wrap up?

You bought a Keli and it came with a seal plate?

When you remove the seal plate from the Keli, check your rollers.

[themeltingclock]

I bought this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VARIATOR ... arQ5fParts

and mentioned my scooter year, make and model before shipping to verify.

Is this restrictor plate causing me to bog out of idle until the engine starts to wrap up?

You bought a Keli and it came with a seal plate?

When you remove the seal plate from the Keli, check your rollers.

I am having one of those days. No, It did not come with a plate. My apologies. The rollers are the graphite white material and they have less than a half mile on them at this point. I assumed that I would be re-using that plate when installing the variator the first time. I'm going to rip this thing apart again and take that grease plate out and fix my airbox leak.

You guys are super helpful! Thanks!

[odinxxix]

wait! o-ring on the vari? no i dont think so. any way di you clean your carb yet?. the vari you swapped out should not be restricted(the plate on the back) remove if there is one and put it back together. im not understanding why you squeezed the clutch? if you removed the nut holding the variator then it will come right off. fisrt and for most remove the carb and clean it real good then do it again twice noone gets it right the first time. then report back and let us know where you are in speed.