Hey Bonesv! Thank you for the reply! I have been really struggling with this issue and it has been hard to get help.
I am going to show in order, the old belt, then the new belt. Then at the end, today I changed my springs with new old stock springs and I will show and talk about that at the end.
(FYI this is all probably from July until the new information today at the bottom)
First, the replacement belt is a SYM - B - 23100 - GR1 - 0030 Bando belt.
The part number off of ebay was listed: Manufacturer Part Number: 23100-GR1-0030
The listing details specified: "634X15.50X30 is the size of this drive belt"
The original Honda V matic was I believe the same a 23100-GR1-0030 belt. (Pictures below of course)
On Honda Parts House, if you drill down to the actual belt number, it is listed as: 23100-GG2-751
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oempart ... belt-drive
When I took my readings, if I "squeezed" the belts with my calipers, the old read in the 13mm range, and the new read in the 14.5mm range....the book did call for 15.5mm "normal" thickness.
Original Belt, never taken apart before:
New SYM Belt:
Comparison shot, new belt in back, old in front.
New belt fitted (note it has to be shoved down in the rear pulley to barely fit over the variator)
I can try for an additional belt if you do think this could be a case...
New additional information
I had always thought it felt like the clutch springs, so I ordered a set of new old stock clutch springs, with the exact part numbers.
Today I replaced the clutch springs and contra spring...it ran PERFECT....for 5 miles and then
it started again
Every stop was buttery smooth nice rev up then a shift all smooth.
It did feel like the revs were actually a little bit higher than normal...going 30 say felt from the revs like I would normally be going 35....
Then it started up again after about 5 miles, every stop it would vrvrv kick and then go...I'm not sure if it is temp related...back in July when the original issue came about it was probably about 95 F, now it was around 80 F.
This has kinda' happened in the past too, when I would open it back up to inspect / clean / relube it would act normal for a stop or 2 then it would start back up again.
Pictures from today:
OLD VS New the old ones did a weird bend when I poped them out with a pic:
Contra Spring comparison shot. LEFT - New RIGHT - Old
I cleaned the variator face with scotchbrite:
I am honestly at a loss at this point...so frustrated I've probably had this thing apart 10 times
literally.
As far as your other questions, when I originally replaced the belt, I disassembled the variator, removed all old grease, then regreased lightly.
The next time I opened it up, cleaned it again and regreased the variator and sliders, as well as the rear driven pulley.
I did not see any excessive grease on the surface of the driven face pulley where it slides around.
The plastic seals on the inner driven face, have a plastic outer 'lip' and then a metal inside for both upper and lower seals...is that normal?
Ex looking at the inside of the round seal from left to right: plastic lip, metal band, plastic lip.