Solved!: Any tips for taking care of the CVT area? (First time for me)

So I just got to 16,000 miles and my V light is on. All the manual says is go see Honda dealer, but some people online say just inspect the belt and some people say replace it at that time. Since I brought this used at 5100 miles I don't know what "good" is. I have some photos and vids and even though I dont know what good looks like THIS doesn't look too good ( the belt looks ok though)
It's supprising how little videos in English there is on cvt cleaning





Also I'm not sure or not (I think so) but is the belt supposed to wabble so much?

https://streamable.com/3j6icw

But the belt looks healthy I think




I only did a dry rag clean as I don't know what I can and cannot use in there.
I have these in the ready, break cleaner (which I think I read NOT to put in there.
Machine grease
Dw40

Old Bike---at about Honda recommended miles. I would just replace belt with new OEM belt. My experience with SilverWings, 2 new ones, near 100,000 miles, changing belt at Honda recommended miles---never walked. Always carried used belt as spare---dealers probably never have these belts in stock, if you have emergency. I never monkeyed with drive train or made changes, just rode them---bike is scooter and I enjoyed its performance

Judging by the debris inside the outer shaft along with the scoring on the outer side, my first thoughts are the aluminium casing bearing. Looks like there's a lot of belt dust in there too.

There is a lot of info and advice regarding 'that' bearing on the forum. A belt change wouldn't hurt in any case.

Just my ten-bob's worth.

Loosemarbles wrote:

There is a lot of info and advice regarding 'that' bearing on the forum. A belt change wouldn't hurt in any case.

Just my ten-bob's worth.

Hmm? Is this bearing not oem? Or is something wrong with it?

There are two thin O rings which fit on that clutch (outer shaft as Loosemarbles calls it) where it slides into that belt case bearing. If they are missing your should replace them. Then lube them when you put the belt case back on.

Yes, that belt case bearing is OEM. 

Your might want to get some break cleaner spray and clean around that bearing and clean up the belt dust grime. Same with the other half of the belt case when you remove the belt and variator. Well, while you’re at it might as well remove the clutch assembly too. Lock up the rear brake and remove that 22mm nut inside the assembly. It’s only torqued to 40 lb/ft so easy peasy to remove. Then you’ll have full access to clean all that belt dust off everything.

Change the belt (get a Honda belt) and stash the old one under the seat for an (unlikely) emergency.

BTW that clutch outer shaft is not scored. It need to be cleaned before the O-rings are installed.

You've got it open, it's done 16k, so just change the belt- it's a very easy job now it's open.
While you're in there it will be worth pulling the clutch (another easy job) and cleaning the crud out of there too - after 16k miles the belt and clutch shoes create a load of dust.

That just looks like 16000 miles of accumulated belt debris to me, I would blow out all the crud with compressed air and then clean the surfaces thoroughly (brake cleaner will be good) and unless there is any visible metal damage, just renew the belt and ride on. There's no lubrication required in any part of the driving variator and you MUST clean any grease carefully from any of the surfaces in contact with the belt.

I would recomend a full disassembly/inspect/clean and lube, of front and rear pulleys assemblies, etc.  there's plenty that can go wrong IMO, lot's of how to videos on YouTube and threads on the subject here.
 Before you do anything try to use a good shop vac and and old paint brush to clean most of loose dust 1st., I would not spray too much brake clean, etc., in that area it can attack/damage rubber seals, etc.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

There are two thin O rings which fit on that clutch (outer shaft as Loosemarbles calls it) where it slides into that belt case bearing. If they are missing your should replace them. Then lube them when you put the belt case back on.

Yes, that belt case bearing is OEM. 

Your might want to get some break cleaner spray and clean around that bearing and clean up the belt dust grime. Same with the other half of the belt case when you remove the belt and variator. Well, while you’re at it might as well remove the clutch assembly too. Lock up the rear brake and remove that 22mm nut inside the assembly. It’s only torqued to 40 lb/ft so easy peasy to remove. Then you’ll have full access to clean all that belt dust off everything.

Change the belt (get a Honda belt) and stash the old one under the seat for an (unlikely) emergency.

BTW that clutch outer shaft is not scored. It need to be cleaned before the O-rings are installed.

Thanks for the in depth suggestions.
I have break cleaner, so it's safe to clean the inside of there with that? I'm assuming not the belt itself though right? I also have machine grease. Should I apply some and if so, where?

When you pull the clutch assembly (Driven Pulley in Honda speak) you can apply some grease to the needle bearing on the inside edge of the assembly. Use a small amount and massage it into that needle bearing.

You’d be best advised to pull both the variator (Drive Pulley in Honda speak) and clutch assemblies so that you can get unencumbered access to clean that debris. And as others have stated, don’t get any grease on the pulley or belt surfaces.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

When you pull the clutch assembly (Driven Pulley in Honda speak) you can apply some grease to the needle bearing on the inside edge of the assembly. Use a small amount and massage it into that needle bearing.

You’d be best advised to pull both the variator (Drive Pulley in Honda speak) and clutch assemblies so that you can get unencumbered access to clean that debris. And as others have stated, don’t get any grease on the pulley or belt surfaces.

Ok got it, thanks everyone. I'm going to replace that as I do speed quite a bit on it. Better safe then sorry.

Update: just changed the belt and cleaned the rollers and interior. Man does it feel smoother

Since you bought it at 5100, it was due for a belt change at 8000! If you haven't done it by 16,000, you are way overdue!

Honda shop manual pg. 3-3, calls for inspect belt at 12k miles, replace belt at 16K miles, kinda weird schedule. IMO CVT cover should be removed yearly, to inspect belt/area and at a minimum clean dust from CVT components and filter, IAC keeps everything operating better IMO.