So, I got back from the dealer...... Update!

I went in to get a new rear tire (Kenda, spit). Been waiting since April for some to come in.

I got back on the road to hear brake squeal when I applied the brakes. Really hard to tell from which wheel, since I was in downtown traffic. As I got out into the suburbs away from traffic, I think I could hear it squealing even as I moved. Hard to tell with earplugs and a full face helmet. So I got home and put my hand next to the rear brake disc -- hot as heck. Misalignment issue? So I called the dealer and he said bring it in when they open tomorrow morning.

About 20 minutes later, i went into the garage and smelled hot rubber. So I checked around the bike and noticed this:



I'm going to have a long talk with the service manager.

In the meantime, how do I get the belt back onto the sprocket? I'm thinking tap it gently with a rubber mallet, but that might be too drastic.

unless you just backed up? does no good to tap it back onto sprocket, it will just move back out. you will have to adjust the adjusters and loosen axle nut. better to have picked up, or TAKE it real easy now riding back in. the belt is probably touching front sprocket too

add - yep, brakes could be off, belt tension could be way to high or loose. would NOT go back there..............

I would not try to ride that with that much belt mis-alignment. Your dealer OWES you a trailer trip back and repair. He sent you out on the road with a very unsafe condition (Not to mention a crap tire). Document, document, document! Lots of pictures. Have them fix this and then look for a dealer that knows what they are doing for the future..... Jim

Update: it gets worse. I went out to the bike to see if I could persuade the belt to get back onto the sprocket. I found that the belt had moved so far off the sprocket that it was grinding the belt guard.





Definitely need to tow this back to the dealer.

The dealer loses big time. I was considering buying a new Spyder, but my wife says no way. If they can't maintain my current machine, why buy a new one? Tomorrow will be interesting.

Mods: how do I put "updated" in the thread title?

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Originally Posted by Fat Baxter

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Mods: how do I put "updated" in the thread title?

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I've fixed it for you ;)

Buuuut, if you want to edit a thread title, it's fairly easy if you can still edit the first post (and you should be able to do that... maybe?! :dontknow: ) altho it is a bit fiddly! Just hit 'Edit Post' (bottom right of your first post in the thread) which will open the post in Edit mode (if you change the title here, it only changes the title of your post, which is a pretty useless field anyway, cos some readers won't even be able to see that! :banghead: ); then down the bottom right of that screen, hit 'Go Advanced', which will take you to the Advanced Edit Post page....( :p ) & up the top of that page, about 3 lines below the 'Your Message' there is a Title Field which is where you need to update the Thread Title. Fix it there, hit submit, and the Thread Title is changed! :ohyea:

:cheers:

Its been updated by Peter A.

Crikey. Not good. I would ask for a new belt as well. Thats been dragging where it shouldn't on the belt guard. I would have a look and take plenty of photos along the way. Make notes ( time date ) of conversations and keep any e-mails and txt.

Shoddy kindergarten level work.

Sorry to hear, good luck with the fix.

Did the service tech not test drive before he signed off on it? When will Can-Am put shaft drive in these things? My last bike had shaft drive and boy was it nice. Belts and chains can be a pain.

I would say that shop owes you a belt guard, belt, and a tow to the shop!!! The tow would be a must, so they can see just how messed up they did their job! On the other side of the coin, why did you wait so long to do a walk around?? The minute I heard the squealing I would have been off the thing checking the thing out!!! Good luck!!!

Definitely do not drive it. I would guess they failed to tighten the adjusters, the axle bolt or both. Very bad. You are lucky you got home.

"why did you wait so long to do a walk around??"

Things looked OK at the dealer. Pulled out into rush hour traffic; couldn't hear much with earplugs. It wasn't until I got away from traffic (and almost home) that I could hear anything. And by then, the dealer was closed.

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That is just terrible, shoddy workmanship. I'm sure the dealer is truly pissed at his tech but won't fire him. I hope he does everything to make it right, making you more than pleased. Like a tow ( to and from ) , All parts replaced that his tech damaged, A free farkel or oil service to sweeten the deal.

Will be aligning a friends belt today and I know we will do a better job than that--------------

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Originally Posted by BajaRon

You are lucky you got home.

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What Ron said. That belt guard is probably the only thing that kept that belt on the sprocket. Shoddy work for sure! Actually just piss poor!!

Friday A.M. update:

I called the dealer as soon as they opened. Owner/manager not in today, so I got the service manager. I described the problem. "I'll send someone out immediately and pick it up. We'll make this right." 45 minutes later, a tech showed and we got it on the trailer. He looked at it and agreed they'd messed this up. Still haven't heard anything.

I'm not that worried about these guys. They've always been open and sincere with me. I think their challenge is that these machines are so complex, they are frequently baffled at what the real fix might be. I'm willing to give them time to get it right (which they've said they appreciate).

As a matter of fact, there's been a few times when I pulsed the Spyderlovers community on an issue, and I've taken that info to them. It's helped them zero in on the problem (especially my earlier DESS issues). So thanks to all you guys for chiming in.

Unless they had the parts, it will take a couple days for sure!! Glad they want to make it right!!

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Originally Posted by Fat Baxter

Friday A.M. update:

I called the dealer as soon as they opened. Owner/manager not in today, so I got the service manager. I described the problem. "I'll send someone out immediately and pick it up. We'll make this right." 45 minutes later, a tech showed and we got it on the trailer. He looked at it and agreed they'd messed this up. Still haven't heard anything.

I'm not that worried about these guys. They've always been open and sincere with me. I think their challenge is that these machines are so complex, they are frequently baffled at what the real fix might be. I'm willing to give them time to get it right (which they've said they appreciate).

As a matter of fact, there's been a few times when I pulsed the Spyderlovers community on an issue, and I've taken that info to them. It's helped them zero in on the problem (especially my earlier DESS issues). So thanks to all you guys for chiming in.

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:thumbup: Your bike, your call. Definitely a learning experience with dealer (we’re all human) if you’ve got the experience & rapport to trust them. Hope they treat you right & doesn’t change with the employees.

That is one of the reasons I bought my own tire machine and balancer so I do my own
tire changes so I know it is done right and to my satisfaction.

Toby

Looking at your update pictures shows your belt is no longer usable. Happy to hear your dealer is jumping right on it and realizes their responsibility. Not knowing how far you traveled, I think you were fortunate to make it home. Wishing you the very best outcome. Please keep us advised..... Jim

Final update: The tech who changed the tire spooged the tension adjustment on the belt. Dealer came through on his promises. All's good and my Spyder is back home.

Just to be safe, I'll limit myself to short rides for a while, though.

Thats great the Dealer stepped up and put it right, right away.
Did they fit any replacement parts at all?

Belt guard on order. New belt (actually had one in stock).

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Originally Posted by Fat Baxter

Belt guard on order. New belt (actually had one in stock).

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If you ever do any long distance travel, it might be worth your while to try to keep the old belt as a spare! :thumbup:

Those belts can really take a caning & still function - I've seen some (mainly on other bike brands, but same type of belts :p ) that've been looking pretty ragged & worn on the back/outer side but still looking fine on the toothed side juuust keep on working well for many tens of thousands of miles! :lecturef_smilie:

Over to you! :cheers:

Since it was a good experience, care to share the dealer's name? We travel on our RTL to the vintage days at Barber, and it would be good to know of a reliable dealer in the central Alabama area.

Bubba-Gump Motorcycles?

My next new F3 will be shaft drive, hope that is in the BRP game plan. I loved my shaft drive 1500 Vulcan Classic, but that is gone. I love the Spyder more, wish it was shaft drive, maybe someday I hope... Glad they got you all fixed up..