F3 Front Sprocket Inspection

[Roadster Renovations]

Had a friend/customer loose his splines on his F3 Ltd at Spyder Adventures. We were able to verify by removing the plastic cover for the front sprocket. His did show the telltale rust around the front of the sprocket. I highly suggest that ryders periodically (ever month or so) pull that cover and look for the rust. Just looking under the byke is probably not good enough.
What happens, the splines on the sprocket start throwing metal shavings and they appear as red rust. By pulling that cover (2 min job) it should help you to catch it before it goes completely out and you are stranded.
My friend was very lucky and Blessed. Out of all the areas to ryde, many without cell phone reception, his grenaded (total part failure) right next to the Maggie Valley Inn at the stoplight!
You might not be so lucky!
I know this topic has been posted before, but to my knowledge no one has suggested pulling the inspection cover.

[Chupaca]

when mine came loose i found out by coasting down the hill to the garage with music off engine off helmet off. There will be a gnawrly sound coming from the left side by the peg. So now every few rydes I do that little coast. I did replace the sproket bolt and washer (make sure you replace the bolt and washer) I still believe that the engine heat and high torque stretched the threads causing the bolt to loose tension...

[SpyderF3-s]

My F3 stripped out a week ago just after 6000 miles after the first one was replaced.
This time I am having them replace the shaft and sprocket.

[SPYD3R]

I bought my '15 F3 in Feb. of '15, and the sprocket was trash after a few thousand miles... i also heard of a rather large number of other F3's that had the sprocket go south on them... i would have thought by now that BRP would have come up with a 'FIX' for this issue... i really am starting to wonder what their engineering department head is thinking... here's my suggestion BRP; CUSTOMER SERVICE & QUALITY PRODUCTS.... is that too much to ask...? God knows, you charge the ultimate price for your products, give us the quality that goes with that price...
Dan P
SPYD3R

[SpyderAnn01]

Doc, have you heard of many F3T or Limited having this happen? I had only heard of it happening on 2015 F3 and was hoping that they had fixed the issue in 16 or 17 or on the T or Ltd. models.

[ABQSpyder]

So if there is any rust you should change sprocket!

[Roadster Renovations]

Doc, have you heard of many F3T or Limited having this happen? I had only heard of it happening on 2015 F3 and was hoping that they had fixed the issue in 16 or 17 or on the T or Ltd. models.

This was on a F3T. It had about 14-15K on it. He had pulled a trailer some of those miles. I have rode with him a lot and he probably never has tried a burnout. I *believe* that BRP has changed the number (different grade metal) for the '17 model. His was a '16.

[fencepost]

BRP needs to change the way the front pully fits on the trans main shaft. Current design the inside of the pully has a countersink that slips on the main shaft and belt alignment issues will cause uneven pressure on the front pully causing the splines and countersink to wear on the main shaft. A simple fix would be to increase the inside surface mating area with a thrust washer between the pully and main shaft.

[Bruiser37]

Doc, have you heard of many F3T or Limited having this happen? I had only heard of it happening on 2015 F3 and was hoping that they had fixed the issue in 16 or 17 or on the T or Ltd. models.

Problem exists in all 2016 and probably 2017 Spyders. Just replaced front sprocket on 2016 F3-T at 16Kmi... just missed grenade stage by few miles. 90% of spline gone to rust dust. My clue to problem was a couple months of increasing louder high pitched whistle when closed throttle engine braking. This suddenly turned to loud metallic thrashing... this is final stage indicative of immediate grenading. Immediately push it to a dealers shop is only option if you aint stuck in the hinter land.

[ofdave]

I think an inspection of the front sprocket should be done at a minimum 1500 mile intervals.
It takes at most 10 min to remove and replace the cover and have a look.
Maybe take a pic for comparison to the next inspection.

[Wildrice]

when mine came loose i found out by coasting down the hill to the garage with music off engine off helmet off. There will be a gnawrly sound coming from the left side by the peg. So now every few rydes I do that little coast. I did replace the sproket bolt and washer (make sure you replace the bolt and washer) I still believe that the engine heat and high torque stretched the threads causing the bolt to loose tension...

You should ride slower--no acceleration above 3K rpm, & convert to chain drive--two (2) chains.

[always young]

After reading about this I'll keep an eye on it, but my bike is still new with less than 1k miles on it. One thought though. Since BRP also builds aircraft, I wonder if the department's talk to each other. They use lockwire all over aircraft, why not use it here? Any A&P mechanic would tell you that! It would prevent the bolt from loosening. Could it be applied here by US? I don't know as I haven't taken my cover off yet to look at it. Just a thought.

[cptjam]

Discussed this with Rocky at Coyote powersports in Boerne. He says the problem is belts too tight, and that the bolt is a one time use. Showed us the service bulletin moving the tension down. Went out and checked SpyderAnn’s F3T, and hers is even lower than the bulletin requires. Hers was just serviced las week. But, with the lower tension, and Doc’s belt tensioner, it rides vibration free!! So, still sciencing all this out. We will keep an eye on this.
Meanwhile, the rally is ramping up in the hills of Texas!!

[Roadster Renovations]

Discussed this with Rocky at Coyote powersports in Boerne. He says the problem is belts too tight, and that the bolt is a one time use. Showed us the service bulletin moving the tension down. Went out and checked SpyderAnn’s F3T, and hers is even lower than the bulletin requires. Hers was just serviced las week. But, with the lower tension, and Doc’s belt tensioner, it rides vibration free!! So, still sciencing all this out. We will keep an eye on this.
Meanwhile, the rally is ramping up in the hills of Texas!!

Wish we were there!! Many ryders have believed that the belt torque was too high on this and what the tech told you makes perfect sense. It is kinda cool that we can now drop the down and the Vibration Damper keeps them from vibrating!!

Burrr, it was 41 degrees this morning on my ryde over to Planet Fitness.

[robhowen]

This got me curious because we have a 2015 F3S. Please see the included image of the inspection cover.
Front Sproket Inspection Cover.jpg

I believe the cover bolts are 6mm Hex. I turn them, but I can't tell that they are loosing. I tried putting my hand behind the inspection cover and I can't tell if there is a nut or clip or ??? I know it must be easy, but can someone tell me how to get these bolts out and cover off so I may inspect my front sproket?

Rob

[JKMSPYDER]

Well Road-Kill I suggest you don’t worry about your F3 and don’t check your sprocket. It probably won’t happen to you. After all, it’s less than 1% right, according to your reasoning. But we are talking about F3’s only, not the whole sum of 100,000 Spyders+ ever built. And why would you question a member that said he has heard from 60 F3 owners about the problem? So in the future if you are crossing a wide intersection or riding 70 miles per hr on a 6 lane freeway, don’t worry about your sprocket. It won’t happen to you, right?

[motoswami]

[QUOTE=robhowen;1312791]This got me curious because we have a 2015 F3S. Please see the included image of the inspection cover.
Front Sproket Inspection Cover.jpg

I believe the cover bolts are 6mm Hex. I turn them, but I can't tell that they are loosing. I tried putting my hand behind the inspection cover and I can't tell if there is a nut or clip or ??? I know it must be easy, but can someone tell me how to get these bolts out and cover off so I may inspect my front sproket?

Rob:

I used a 5mm Allen key to remove the three screws which are obvious. There are clips on the backside, which should remain clipped in plate as you turn out the Allen screws. At the top, on the inside of the cover plate, there's a small black plastic push pin which secures the cover plate to the main frame rail. Mine came out when I pushed inward on the cover plate, but didn't roll far on the shop floor, calling my attention to this "invisible" fastener.

I just checked my 2015 F3-S SE6, 12,500 miles, and was relieved to find no rust.

Pete

[robhowen]

I guess I just didn't turn it enough as I was afraid it was just spinning inside. I'll give it more turns.

Thank you,
Rob

[ofdave]

while we're talking about removing the cover,
anybody know what the purpose of the foam on the back of it is?
Noise reduction? noise from what?
just curious

[Freddy]

while we're talking about removing the cover,
anybody know what the purpose of the foam on the back of it is?
Noise reduction? noise from what?
just curious

Primarily engine noise insulation and a bit of heat.
.

[motoswami]

[QUOTE=ofdave;1312875]while we're talking about removing the cover,
anybody know what the purpose of the foam on the back of it is?
Noise reduction? noise from what?


Um, noise from splines grenading?

[AY4B]

Just changed my oil and checked under the cover and this is what I found
6A13FAB7-820E-4AF8-B359-E355E35FA399.jpg

[AY4B]

Just changed my oil and checked under the cover and this is what I found
6A13FAB7-820E-4AF8-B359-E355E35FA399.jpg

I drove it to a dealer and found that it was closed due to Presidents day. I did however check the torque before I left and it was way under the 92 pounds. I torqued it to 92 and went. It should be OK till the next chance I get to drive it down there.

[Sarge707]

I drove it to a dealer and found that it was closed due to Presidents day. I did however check the torque before I left and it was way under the 92 pounds. I torqued it to 92 and went. It should be OK till the next chance I get to drive it down there.

How many miles???

[AY4B]

How many miles???

Its a 54 mile trip one way so double that. My wife warned me to call them to verify tat they were open on Presidents day and I forgot after started getting ready to make the trip in upper 30 degree temps. Ill drive it again tomorrow but may have to ride in some rain.