How difficult is it to flush the brake fluid on a 2015 F3S Spyder?

[Capt. Bob]

I am wondering with the ABS if flushing the 3 year-old fluid on my 2015 F3S is doable at the house without special tools/equipment? Thanks for the help and heads up.

[Capt. Bob]

I got a great PM from one of our regulars who suggested that with ALL Spyders that flushing should start at the left front, then right front and then rear while not letting any air into the system. Seems pretty darn reasonable to me

[Highwayman2013]

I haven't done my F3L yet. I did do our 2012 RTL a couple times and had no problems.

[Capt. Bob]

I was looking through the F3 manual and in the procedures for flushing the brake fluid, it calls for the use of the BUDS at the end of procedure to use the ABS pump to completely flush the lines. Given this, I found a dealer that was willing to charge a reasonable price for the procedure and had them do it using the BRP DOT 4 brake fluid to insure full compatibility with the whole system. I won't be mentioning the price but it was considerably less than the 3.5-4.0 hour book rate that I had been quoted by several dealers. Sheer rip off IMHO. The procedure really only takes about 1-1.75 hours if the tech knows what they are doing. I did a few panic stops on the way home on my private roads and the system was functioning perfectly. Did I mention that I really LOVE my F3S! Other than it following the slope of the roads like a hunting dog, everything else about the trike is just sheer fun!

[Capt. Bob]

The dealership where I was going to get my brakes flushed was initially going to have a non-Spyder tech do the job. I had handed the 4-page instructions from the service manual to the Service Manager to insure that the tech followed the prescribed procedures. The first tech blew off the instructions and said he didn't need them. I informed the Service Manager that I would prefer to NOT have this dumbass tech touch my trike and suggested that I take it home. The certified Can-Am tech was then given the job even though he was slammed with work and I drew a long breath. There are certain aspects of these Can-Am's that are better left to qualified techs with a BUDS system rather than some unqualified but experienced tech who could do it improperly. Bottom line seems to be that this service is best done by a Can-Am dealer rather than an Indy unless the Indy has access to the BUDS system.

In doing my research, I realized that brake flushes for a F3 are best completed by a tech who has the experience and the BUDS systems to properly complete the task. The Service Manager suggested that he would be having the certified tech overseeing the other tech's work but this provided me with no comfort given the experienced dumbasses "know it all" attitude. It is not like changing the oil which after reading the instructions a couple of times was easy to perform. I did unnecessarily purchase a big ass 36mm GearWrench which is one of the trickest looking tools I have ever owned just to remove the oil filter canister top. I will only use this tool x1/year based on time rather than miles but it is comforting to have the right tool rather than using a pair of channelock pliers to remove the canister top. Besides, if I am ever attacked in my garage, I have a handy weapon that is almost better than a baseball bat

[Easy Rider]

I won't be mentioning the price ........

And I guess you won't be mentioning who the shop is either.
Pretty rude to post a tease like that, in my opinion, for the rest of us in Florida who are looking for a reliable shop.

Edit: Or maybe not. Given your second post on the matter, would you go back to them again ??

[hypurone]

It isn't hard as long as you have the tools (a 10mm flare nut or box end wrench, bleeder hose w/ 90deg fitting if you want to leave the front wheels on and fluid container) and either speed bleeders (these allow you to leave the bleeder open while bleeding vs closing on the up-stroke of the pedal to avoid air being drawn in) or a helper to operate the pedal when flushing at the left front since it is a bit tough to reach the pedal from there.

[Capt. Bob]

And I guess you won't be mentioning who the shop is either.
Pretty rude to post a tease like that, in my opinion, for the rest of us in Florida who are looking for a reliable shop.

Edit: Or maybe not. Given your second post on the matter, would you go back to them again ??

Didn't mean to be rude. It was kind of a mixed-bag experience that turned out well. I also own a Harley Tri Glide Ultra trike with the new M8 engine and find that I can do at least 95% of all the required maintenance with my own garage tools and a few inexpensive specialty tools from Harley. With the Can-Am, I have been running into a lot of dealers that don't seem to have the best trained service techs or they are doing certain jobs very seldom like changing brake fluid/clutch fluid because many customers neglect that aspect of maintenance and it is possible that the dealerships are not suggesting that service because it books out so expensively?

I bought my Spyder from Central Florida Motorsports in Orlando, Florida used (6k on the F3S) and they had one particular tech that appeared to be primarily tasked with Can-Am repairs/service. He was responsible for a complete oil and tire change on the trike before I took delivery and did an excellent job that was paid for by the dealership as part of the sale. They sell so many other brands of bikes that the other techs appeared to work on the other brands. I was kind of flabbergasted by their published prices for certain services on Can-Ams that seemed pretty expensive. As others have lamented, many service tasks on Spyders seem to require the use of the BUDS system to complete the job and this really forces the consumer to head for a dealership. They did not perform a laser alignment at the time of the rear tire change and I immediately trailered it to Doc's Spyder Aligment in Folkston, GA where he uses the True Laser Track alignment system and Doc really knew what he was doing and was simply a perfectionist (highly recommended in Southeast Georgia and you can visit the Okefenokee Swamp that has an entrance right at Folkston).

In terms of going back to the dealership, it would only be on the condition that the certified Can-Am tech is turning the wrenches. If not, I can read a manual as well or better than some techs and have the tools and know-how to do most common services and even some rudimentary repairs if necessary.