I am happy to announce I will now be supporting Spyderlovers as a new vendor, "SMOOTH SPYDER BELT TENSIONERS". Thanks to Spyderlovers, its members and their experiences, the joy and knowledge I have received from this site is immeasurable. It's comforting to know that there are many great people that share the same passion for the spyder as myself, and if I have something to share or need advice, Spyderlovers is only a click away. Thanks, Lamonster! After lowering my belt tension to the new specs, I experienced a fair amount of belt vibration, due to the long belt length. With no apparent solution, other than tightening the belt up again, I started researching "Dynamic Spring Loaded Belt Tensioners" and Cad designed a bracket to fit the Spyder. After comparing all the Rotary tensioners available, I chose the "Fenner Drives" Rotary Tensioner, model RT 3000, automotive quality, self lubricating and 0-42lb. adjustability, along with their composite ball bearing idler pulley. This worked very well for me, and removed all my vibration with only 10 lbs of tension. Realizing there must be others with the same problem has inspired me to try my hand at manufacturing and marketing these as a kit so that others may have a solution to their vibration problems. The bracket is water jet cut from 3/16 steel plate and black epoxy powder coated and comes with all the mounting hardware and detailed illustrated instructions. The Idler Pulley is 2". A dial fishing scale is helpful to know exactly what your tension is set at, and this is included. This tensioner will only fit the G/S-R/S, but are adaptable to the RT with modification to the exhaust system. I am working on one for the RT. There is an unconditional 1 year warranty on all parts and 2 week return policy if you’re unhappy for any reason. Presently I am only shipping to the U.S., Canada and Australia. The price for Spyderlovers members is $265 to your door in the continental U.S, $285 to Canada and $300 to Australia. Send me a private message through Spyderlovers if you have any questions, or for purchasing info, thanks, Capt. Jim
Thanks for your support and I hope you do well with these. From what I can tell it looks like a good product that should help reduce vibration and bearing wear.
Will these be in Cuba and how hard are they to install?
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Happy Ex Owner, Hopefully future Spyder owner again.
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Great news Capt.Jim!....and thanks for the great product.I have not installed it yet,but the fun starts in a week or two.It will be joining everything else for a winter install.Good Luck!
I have installed the belt tensioner on my RT with the lower belt tension. I did remove the cat. so I was able to use the RS model. Someone asked how hard is it to install, it is the easiest mod I have done yet, not including the cat. by-pass which I was going to do anyway. If you did this on a RS/GS it would be a piece of cake with the instructions supplied. This is on the top of my list for the most bang for the buck mods I`ve done. The RT is heavy and is easy to put under a static load. I hated that vibration feeling under a load. To be honest it makes the bike feel cheap even though it is not. I did this during the winter and do not have much time on it since I put this on but to be honest you can tell in the first mile. It is very smooth now. The power curve feels great. You do not feel like there is that RPM range you need to stay out of. I actually find myself running at lower RPMs while cruzing becase it feels better not having that belt loading and unloading if under the load. I know this mod did not give me more power but it does make it feel like it. OK I know I am going on and on but I think a lot of people have a lot of questions so I thought I would throw my oppenion out there. Just want to give Capt. Jim a big thanks for doing the leg work.
If you want to see how much your belt jumps (at least on an RT) remove the plate and plastic on the left side and look at the places the belt has rubbed, not the sides but the flat part. You can not even begin to stretch the belt near that far by hand but some how it gets there when you ride. At least mine had all of this and that was enough to get me to try one. I do ride very hard so maybe that was part of it.
No I did not get paid for this, lol. Just want to put out all the info I can if it helps anyone. I personally can not read enough and I know there are other mod nuts on here also. I will be at Spyderfest and would be more than happy to let anyone try it to compare to theirs.
States We Have Been To On Our Spyder
My mods: Green filter, Air box mod., Muzzy exhaust, Cat Bypass, Exhaust Heat Wraped, Powder coated all Bare Metal surfaces, Capt. Jim`s Belt Tensioner, Custom Built Highway Pegs, Elka front shocks, RS-S rear shock, 2011 smaller windshield, Dynojet PowercommanderV & Autotune, NGK iridiom DCPR9IEX spark plugs, Maxxis MA-Z4S Victra rear tire, General Altimax HP 185/60R14 front tires, Corbin seat & backrest, BRP hitch. I need to stop!
Thanks, Capt Jim for the great Tensioner. We install your tensioner the last week in Oct, and rode to Weatherford Texas from California Mo. it really did a good job for us.
Thanks Again
KCmess
Silly question...once you install this do you need to adjust the belt tension any differently than what they do at maintenance intervals? Does it impact the factory specs for setting tension?
Silly question...once you install this do you need to adjust the belt tension any differently than what they do at maintenance intervals? Does it impact the factory specs for setting tension?
Alignment wise would be the same. I know I plan on backing off my tension some to help reduce bearing wear.
I've had this belt tensioner on for awhile now and really like it. There was always 'that spot' in the RPM range that had a certain vibration - especially noticeable from the foot pegs.
With this unit installed that vibration is gone.
Really simple install.
Don't sweat the 'alignment' mentioned in the instructions--- I just eye-balled mine-- moved it a couple times and then it was fine.
Spyder #1 - 2008 GS SM5 Premier Edition #1977. RIP after 80,000 miles.
Spyder #2 - 2012 RT SM5. Traded in after 24,000 miles.
Spyder #3 - 2015 F3 SM6. Put 13,000 miles on and sold it.
Spyder #4 - 2017 F3 SM6. Too good of a deal to pass up!
I've had this belt tensioner on for awhile now and really like it. There was always 'that spot' in the RPM range that had a certain vibration - especially noticeable from the foot pegs.
With this unit installed that vibration is gone.
Really simple install.
Don't sweat the 'alignment' mentioned in the instructions--- I just eye-balled mine-- moved it a couple times and then it was fine.
You mention an RPM range. I know that I have a vibration between 55-62 mph whether in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear. So, I would say my vibration is not RPM specific and was wondering if the belt tensioner would help.
Silly question...once you install this do you need to adjust the belt tension any differently than what they do at maintenance intervals? Does it impact the factory specs for setting tension?
Once you lower the tension to the new spec's, which is pretty low to me, especially for a belt that long, you should never have to adjust it again, the tensioner will do that for you. I have mine at around 200lbs. with the kricket, not sure what the sonic meter would show in newtons, but it feels loose enough to me. The tensioner seemed to add around 20 lbs. more tension overall with 10 lbs. on the tensioner. What's nice about low belt tension, except for the vibration, is that when your riding double and you hit that big bump your belt and bearings are not under such tremendous strain from the arc of the swingarm going up. If you don't think there i not a lot of pressure there under compression, take the bolt out of the bottom of the shock and see how far the swingarm drops down before the belt will fall off, not very far, it goes both ways.
on being a sponsor ! Let me know when you have one for the RT please.
Yes, i have been taking measurements from an RT at the dealers, but it's really tight with that cat in there, wish i knew why they did that! I wish i knew what it required to remove the cat and do what Stripperking did, maybe have an exhaust shop set up a jig and make a bunch of replacement pipes, probably getting
too involved and expensive at this point. Hey Stripper king, i have an idea, take your old one and get a ballpean hammer and beat the side in enough to see if we could fit the tensioner in there, yea, that should do it!
New Vendor for Belt Tensioners
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Originally Posted by Mr Orange
Very nice looking product! 
could always use new dealers
Owner, Hopefully future Spyder owner again.
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