Genuine Buddy 125 Final Drive Questions

Jim Moore · 01-21-2013, 06:10 AM

HI folks,

I have an opportunity to buy a GB125 for cheap. It starts, but doesn't run. It also has a trashed final drive. "Trashed" as in grinding noises and metal in the FD oil. I've never dug into a scooter final drive before, but I've watched a few videos. I assume I will have to replace everything that turns or rotates in the final drive. I haven't had any luck finding an online fiche. Any idea how much $$ I'm looking at to replace all the bearings and gears? Any special tools required?

Thanks,

gogogordy · 01-21-2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

HI folks,

I have an opportunity to buy a GB125 for cheap. It starts, but doesn't run. It also has a trashed final drive. "Trashed" as in grinding noises and metal in the FD oil. I've never dug into a scooter final drive before, but I've watched a few videos. I assume I will have to replace everything that turns or rotates in the final drive. I haven't had any luck finding an online fiche. Any idea how much $$ I'm looking at to replace all the bearings and gears? Any special tools required?

Thanks,

You might be better off sourcing an insurance totalled Buddy and just doing an engine/driveline transplant. They're out there!

Jim Moore · 01-21-2013, 06:36 AM

I thought about that. I saw one on eBay for $900. Thta's way too much for this project. I'm hoping to spend $100 or so on parts. I'm not interested if I can't do it for that.

gogogordy · 01-21-2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

I thought about that. I saw one on eBay for $900. Thta's way too much for this project. I'm hoping to spend $100 or so on parts. I'm not interested if I can't do it for that.

Maybe call Genuine directly in Chicago....?

Jim Moore · 01-21-2013, 06:59 AM

OK, I found an online fiche. Looks like about $200 worth of parts. Interesting. Looks like I'll get to use my bearing puller. Anyone know if the gears need to be pressed?

brianwheelies · 01-21-2013, 09:26 AM

May want to try modernbuddy.com forums.

Also, the parts may be swappable with aftermarket GY6 bits which could save some money as well.

Jim Moore · 01-21-2013, 09:48 AM

Thanks. I see the term GY6 alot, mainly referring to engines. What is a GY6 exactly?

brianwheelies · 01-21-2013, 09:58 AM

The basic aircooled platform of scooter engine from 125cc to 150cc(Buddy 170cc is now even bigger). There are different versions of the GY6 so parts have to be confirmed before purchasing and swapping since there are several derivatives.

bbishoppcm · 01-21-2013, 05:52 PM

Be careful; on real Honda scooters, if the needle bearings are trashed, you need to replace half the engine case (the needle bearings are not replaceable). Call that a "worst-case" scenario!

Hittman · 01-21-2013, 07:49 PM

The gears do not need to be pressed in.

Jim Moore · 01-22-2013, 06:48 AM

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know what happens.

Dibber · 01-30-2013, 10:44 AM

Try www.scooterwest.com or www.scooterworks.com. Scooter Works is the same company that distributes the Buddy 125. These are the best locations I have found and use them on my Buddy 125. Interesting, never heard a drive train being toast. My has been a real work house for over 14,000 miles.

Jim Moore · 01-30-2013, 10:56 AM

Thanks again. I kinda got the it was run without rear drive oil, or it was never checked. The whole thing is fishy, but I can live with fishy for super-cheap.

MOPED MEDIC · 01-30-2013, 12:59 PM

I've seen a few scooters with final drive failures. A lot of them had crappy bearings put in at the factory, and there are some that have obviously been under water at some point. One thing you want to make sure of before ordering parts is that when the rear end self distructed the bearings and gears didn't take chunks of engine case with them. That's expensive.
Also, sometimes people think the final drive is toast and when you open it up you find out that a clutch shoe broke or the variator froze on the crankshaft.

When you pull the bearings, note the sizes and try to replace them with German or Japanese bearings. We use a brand called Nachi and have had very good luck with them.

Freeze the bearings and they will slide right in where they should.

conchscooter · 01-31-2013, 07:09 PM

If the transmission ate the end of the crankshaft you may need a $900 transplant motor. Go for it and tell us the result!

01-21-2013, 06:10 AM	#1
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	Genuine Buddy 125 Final Drive Questions HI folks, I have an opportunity to buy a GB125 for cheap. It starts, but doesn't run. It also has a trashed final drive. "Trashed" as in grinding noises and metal in the FD oil. I've never dug into a scooter final drive before, but I've watched a few videos. I assume I will have to replace everything that turns or rotates in the final drive. I haven't had any luck finding an online fiche. Any idea how much $$ I'm looking at to replace all the bearings and gears? Any special tools required? Thanks, __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-21-2013, 06:36 AM	#3
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	I thought about that. I saw one on eBay for $900. Thta's way too much for this project. I'm hoping to spend $100 or so on parts. I'm not interested if I can't do it for that. __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-21-2013, 06:59 AM	#5
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	OK, I found an online fiche. Looks like about $200 worth of parts. Interesting. Looks like I'll get to use my bearing puller. Anyone know if the gears need to be pressed? __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-21-2013, 09:26 AM	#6
brianwheelies Iron toocus Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV Oddometer: 935	May want to try modernbuddy.com forums. Also, the parts may be swappable with aftermarket GY6 bits which could save some money as well. __________________ 2009 Aprilia SR50 R Factory 2012 Bont Vaypor Custom 2pt My drivel \/ http://chillislives.blogspot.com/

01-21-2013, 09:48 AM	#7
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	Thanks. I see the term GY6 alot, mainly referring to engines. What is a GY6 exactly? __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-21-2013, 09:58 AM	#8
brianwheelies Iron toocus Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV Oddometer: 935	The basic aircooled platform of scooter engine from 125cc to 150cc(Buddy 170cc is now even bigger). There are different versions of the GY6 so parts have to be confirmed before purchasing and swapping since there are several derivatives. __________________ 2009 Aprilia SR50 R Factory 2012 Bont Vaypor Custom 2pt My drivel \/ http://chillislives.blogspot.com/

01-21-2013, 05:52 PM	#9
bbishoppcm It ain't a moped. Joined: May 2010 Location: Bennington, NH Oddometer: 662	Be careful; on real Honda scooters, if the needle bearings are trashed, you need to replace half the engine case (the needle bearings are not replaceable). Call that a "worst-case" scenario!

01-21-2013, 07:49 PM	#10
Hittman Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Minneapolis Oddometer: 146	The gears do not need to be pressed in.

01-22-2013, 06:48 AM	#11
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know what happens. __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-30-2013, 10:44 AM	#12
Dibber Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN Oddometer: 10	Try www.scooterwest.com or www.scooterworks.com. Scooter Works is the same company that distributes the Buddy 125. These are the best locations I have found and use them on my Buddy 125. Interesting, never heard a drive train being toast. My has been a real work house for over 14,000 miles.

01-30-2013, 10:56 AM	#13
Jim Moore ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Jax, FL Oddometer: 10,335	Thanks again. I kinda got the it was run without rear drive oil, or it was never checked. The whole thing is fishy, but I can live with fishy for super-cheap. __________________ Jim Moore "Marines good. Press bad" -Turkish

01-30-2013, 12:59 PM	#14
MOPED MEDIC FUN WITH MOPEDS Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Moped Medic World Headquarters, Charleston, SC Oddometer: 225	I've seen a few scooters with final drive failures. A lot of them had crappy bearings put in at the factory, and there are some that have obviously been under water at some point. One thing you want to make sure of before ordering parts is that when the rear end self distructed the bearings and gears didn't take chunks of engine case with them. That's expensive. Also, sometimes people think the final drive is toast and when you open it up you find out that a clutch shoe broke or the variator froze on the crankshaft. When you pull the bearings, note the sizes and try to replace them with German or Japanese bearings. We use a brand called Nachi and have had very good luck with them. Freeze the bearings and they will slide right in where they should. __________________ http://www.mopedmedic.com Italian prices on Vespa parts in America- http://scooterpartsco.com

01-31-2013, 07:09 PM	#15
conchscooter Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Florida Keys Oddometer: 1,323	If the transmission ate the end of the crankshaft you may need a $900 transplant motor. Go for it and tell us the result! __________________ http://www.keywestdiary.us IBA#39,523

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