Help me pick a trany for my 142F

[michael whiteman]

Q-Matic transmissions are the absolute best overall design I have found. At this time they do not have the adapter for my tapered shaft engine and the $300+ price tag puts it out of the race for me. GruBee seems to have the next best design and great customer service from what I can tell. All of the internal components on their transmissions can be ordered separately, which is a huge plus.

I considered the 5G dual chain drive from BikeBerry. BGF sells the same exact item for less on E-bay. After waiting for ever, I was able to talk to someone in customer service. Nice enough fellow, but every question I asked him he had to run and ask his boss. The sad news is you can not buy any of the internal pieces other than the clutch bell. If that shaft breaks, which we all have seen pictures of that happening, you toss your 5G in the garbage and buy a new one. This fact along with all the terrible reviews about this company has me walking away.

Has anyone had any experience with BikeBerry's belt drive trans?? My feeling is the stress on the small pulley's shaft would be much less than the chain drive version. I'm sure none of those internal pieces are sold separately either.

What would you suggest for me? I really want to get it right the first time. This is my first build. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Go with the Grubee.

 

[JerryAssburger]

I ended up with what I THINK is the equivalent of a 4G knock-off.... It's a "53cc(?) / Belt-Drive Kit" from E-bay, that has the 5>1 ratio. Except for the big-pulley getting bent during shipping, it hasn't given me any problems yet.
The question mark is because I haven't yanked the head to see if it really IS a 53cc....
The whole kit was I think, $170.

 

[darwin]

 

[JerryAssburger]

View attachment 105806

GOOD ONE! I wonder if we're allowed to laugh at this stuff anymore. If not, I'm in trouble!

 

[michael whiteman]

I think I saw the one you bought Jerry. The transmission sure looks like the belt drive one BikeBerry offers. Compare your cover to the one on their website. I think you're real hopeful about it being 53 cc's. Good luck yanking the head. I thought it was a one piece casting with the cylinder.

 

[Deleted Member 4613]

There's no uncertainty here. Without a doubt, if you can
afford it, the Grubee design is the best. Although it is a
wide drive, he uses two sealed bearings in the belt
design. It is by far the best as the others use bushings

 

[JerryAssburger]

I think I saw the one you bought Jerry. The transmission sure looks like the belt drive one BikeBerry offers. Compare your cover to the one on their website. I think you're real hopeful about it being 53 cc's. Good luck yanking the head. I thought it was a one piece casting with the cylinder.

Oh YEAH! You're right! (Slapping face with pipe-wrench.) Well, unless it FORCES me to pull it apart, we'll never know! One thing I did notice was that the rockers DO look different on my engine vs most of the "How do you adjust the valves on the HS 4-Stroke" tutorials, but that really doesn't mean squat either.

I apologize to The Community on this- "The Mystery of The Ultra-Cheap Ebay 53cc 4-Stroke Belt-Drive Kit" remains a mystery. As Michael pointed out, there's no easy way to verify the bore, and my clutch definitely rides on a brass bushing. Then, I have the disadvantage of having the large pulley pre-bent for me by shipping. I also have to be honest about seeing if it has the rev-limiter on it... I' don't wanna be that guy who says, "I wound the sh&% out of my new 4-stroke and now it's making funny pencil-sharpener-like noises!" (I will report on the things I can verify about it though!)

Knock on wood, it has run like a little bent-pulley top since I've purchased it, reached 32 phone-gps verified mph both ways on my street with my ballasty 245lbs on it, and even shows signs of potential improvement if I decide to put a less-restrictive exhaust and a slide-carb on it.

Maybe if several of us chip in on one and have someone who's good with these things, (NOT me! I'm befuddled by the lack of head gasket), do an exploratory on it.

 

[Deleted Member 4613]

I'm curious JA, what size is your rear sprocket, 36T?
I installed a 41T and it has plenty of torque. I have the
same kit as you and it also came with a large pulley
that is slightly bent but it doesn't mean too much.
And a brass bushing. That's gone and I'm now on
the Oilite conversion. And I had to replace the
415 chain with a 41 to get the bike running.

 

[JerryAssburger]

I'm curious JA, what size is your rear sprocket, 36T?
I installed a 41T and it has plenty of torque. I have the
same kit as you and it also came with a large pulley
that is slightly bent but it doesn't mean too much.
And a brass bushing. That's gone and I'm now on
the Oilite conversion. And I had to replace the
415 chain with a 41 to get the bike running.

I am running the 32T on the rear- it would've been stupidly under-geared with the stock 44T and the 5>1 belt ratio. (24 mph @ 6800 rpm!) My pulley is sort of straightened but it still wobbles about an 1/8". Kinda noisy, and it makes belt tension vary as it spins.