T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Chat about all makes of Maxi scoot here!
User avatar
tmaxrobbo
Benefactor
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:58 am
Current Ride: BMW C Evo Yamaha T Max 560
Location: 3 pin plug

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by tmaxrobbo »

So , I removed the belt cover and the belt looks fine, correct tension and no wear . Fair bit of dust which I cleaned out . Put it back together, and listened with a stethoscope, no noise from the belt , but the little chirp remains. I can hear it when I close the throttle and the bike is slowing down . It persists after I brake with the bike on the centre stand and the wheel has stopped turning . It seems to be coming either from the akrapovic (quiter when I put a rag over the pipe ) or from within the engine, almost could be like an alternator bearing. It's weird, when new I used to hear the belt whine at about 30mph, as it was new , but that's faded as it's been used more or less everyday for 3 years . Maybe now it is becoming a money pit !!

User avatar
tmaxrobbo
Benefactor
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:58 am
Current Ride: BMW C Evo Yamaha T Max 560
Location: 3 pin plug

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by tmaxrobbo »

Update. Passed its MOT yesterday with advisory re noisy exhaust ( akrapovic) otherwise nothing. The belt is clearly fine and the chirp comes and goes . Rides great just get the weird noise coming to a stop, nothing horrible just a new noise. Driving me mad

Chocky
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:11 pm
Current Ride: Tmax 560 Mk8
Location: Doncaster

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by Chocky »

I agree that the noise is annoying. I had the same sound coming from my belt, albeit at 27,000 miles, which I replaced and the noise went. The problem may be the alignment of the back wheel.

The belt seems to be a sandwich of rubber with a steel band in the middle. I suspect what happens is that if the toothed wheel alignment at the back wheel causes the belt to rub against the raised side of the toothed wheel, the rubber coating on the side of the belt wears away, exposing the edge of the steel band. I am sure that it is this which causes the noise.

You could check to see the running position of the belt on the toothed wheel to see if it is rubbing against the side and check the alignment of the back wheel. If the alignment is OK, I would find out whether it is allowable to turn the belt around (this did not occur to me at the time). As to the noise just happening on a closed throttle, it could be that the belt moves across the toothed wheel to one side on a closed throttle.

User avatar
tmaxrobbo
Benefactor
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:58 am
Current Ride: BMW C Evo Yamaha T Max 560
Location: 3 pin plug

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by tmaxrobbo »

Thanks Chocky , I think you are right. Looking closely at the belt, there are tiny bits of fraying at the side, the belt itself is otherwise fine insofar as the ribs are all intact. It rides fine but I will change the belt at the next service when I'll put new tyres on as well.cheers

Pukmeister
Benefactor
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:20 am
Current Ride: 2011 Tmax + 2019 R1250GSA
Location: Fareham, Hampshire

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by Pukmeister »

What about a squirt of teflon dry lube on the belt/pulley ?

A lot cheaper than a new belt, might be an interim fix ??

Symcity
Benefactor
Posts: 1216
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:58 am
Current Ride: Honda SH300i
Location: Balloch Scotland

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by Symcity »

MrGrumpy wrote:The temptation is to try a new one, but at £240 a go, maybe its best to grimace and bear it
I’m assuming this includes labour to fit the belt - polini belt around £100
http://www.pedparts.co.uk/product/4396/ ... a-tmax-530

User avatar
Greyerbeard
Posts: 523
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:20 am
Current Ride: Any of the below
Location: South Midlands, UK

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by Greyerbeard »

Symcity wrote:
MrGrumpy wrote:The temptation is to try a new one, but at £240 a go, maybe its best to grimace and bear it
I’m assuming this includes labour to fit the belt - polini belt around £100
http://www.pedparts.co.uk/product/4396/ ... a-tmax-530
As it says on the advert...!
*This is the belt for the variator and NOT the rear wheel drive belt.
1981 Triumph T140ES
1989 Honda C90
2019 Triumph Street Scrambler 900
2021 Honda Forza 350

Symcity
Benefactor
Posts: 1216
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:58 am
Current Ride: Honda SH300i
Location: Balloch Scotland

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by Symcity »

I’ll no be getting a tmax then

User avatar
tmaxrobbo
Benefactor
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:58 am
Current Ride: BMW C Evo Yamaha T Max 560
Location: 3 pin plug

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by tmaxrobbo »

Pukmeister wrote:What about a squirt of teflon dry lube on the belt/pulley ?

A lot cheaper than a new belt, might be an interim fix ??
will give that a go cheers

User avatar
The Bern
Benefactor
Posts: 1804
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2014 7:04 pm
Current Ride: Silverwing 600
Location: Telford

Re: T Max 530 Mk 4 symptoms of a worn rear drive belt?

Post by The Bern »

tmaxrobbo wrote:
Pukmeister wrote:What about a squirt of teflon dry lube on the belt/pulley ?

A lot cheaper than a new belt, might be an interim fix ??
will give that a go cheers
I've probably got the wrong end of the stick here but, I thought that the drive belt worked by friction, surely lubricting it &/or the drive surfaces would cause slippage :?
Have wheels, will travel :D

Post Reply