Lube for front rollers

To lube, or not to lube, that is the question. Some say to lube 'em like Honda says, if you're using OEM replacement rollers. I think Honda went overboard with the amount of grease they used (30 grams total, I believe) when they assembled the stock variators at the factory, but it certainly worked on about a millon Elites and Helixes. If I were to use OEM Honda roller weights, I'd moderately grease them with moly-based wheel bearing grease prior to reassembling the variator. I'd also grease the crankshaft very lightly, as well as the inside of the variator bushing. I'd be very careful to position the o-ring variator gasket correctly, to keep grease from being spun out of the variator, and onto the belt.

I've replaced the stock rollers on two different Honda scooters (a Helix and an Elite 150) with Dr. Pulley sliding rollers. These rollers, (or more correctly "sliders") appear to be made out of a nylon-like material, which is supposedly self-lubricating. Some people run these without grease, and report no ill effects other than a slight rattling noise when accelerating. I've cleaned all of the old factory grease out of my variators with degreaser and solvent and dried all of the variator parts prior to lightly greasing the ramps and the new sliders with moly-based wheel bearing grease. I've also lubricated the inside of the variator bushing with the same type of grease. Make doubly sure that you get the rubber o-ring properly positioned when you reassemble the variator, or centrifugal force may fling grease out of the variator onto the belt. I think the light coating of grease on the rollers helps to keep 'em quiet, and it certainly doesn't hurt anything provided you get the gasket back in the variator correctly. If you do run your variator totally dry, I'd at least recommend greasing the inside of the variator bushing. So far I've had no problems with either of my scooters since replacing the rollers with the sliders.