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  1. #1
    Very Active Member oldguyinTX's Avatar
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    Default Engineering Idiocy

    I got an Email from Can-Am recently that had a short video about doing an oil change on newer Spyders, so I thought I would watch it. Pretty straightforward about draining the engine oil, and then the transmission oil. THEN, it came to replacing the oil filter, and I was dumbfounded to see that you have to detach the brake fluid reservoir, pull it out, then secure it with a bungee cord to the right floorboard in order to get the old filter out and install a new one. Really? Whoever thought that one up gets the Darwin Award, yet another in a long line of Darwins that BRP has been awarded over the years.
    "A Wise Man Once Said, I Should Ask My Wife."
    2017 Champagne Metallic RT-S SE-6 Rivco Dual Flag Holders; Slingmods Highway Pegs; (Hate Them) Airhawk Seat Cushion; Show Chrome Black Touring Rack w/ Risers & Touring Windshield; RAM X Mount For TXTAG; TackForm Phone Mount; Lidlox; Magic Mirror Mounts; Guardian Bells; WOLO "Bad Boy" Air Horn; Dual USB Power Outlet With Voltmeter; Spyderpops Full View Mirror Turn Signals; Large Brake Pedal; Kott Grilles; Large Mud Flap; BajaRon 3 Piece Sway Bar, Last But Not Least, Kuhmo Rear Rire, Vedrestien Fronts.
    2017 RT-S , Brake pedal extender is twice the size of the stock pedal. Champagne Metallic

  2. #2
    Active Member redrazor's Avatar
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    Zippy the Pinhead was the best part of ZAP comics.
    2014 RTL bought in 3/20 with only 6,000 mi.
    Came with Garmin 660
    Car tires in 5/20; Elka stage 2 front shocks in 10/21

  3. #3
    Very Active Member EdMat's Avatar
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    It's actually not a big deal at all. Sure would not have worked out well to keep it in the old place on the 2020 and newer RT's.
    2019 RTL Phoenix Orange
    2019 RT Limited , Phoenix Orange

  4. #4
    Very Active Member rjinaz86323's Avatar
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    Not necessary on the F3 I have.
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 F3 Limited - Intense Red Pearl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  5. #5
    Very Active Member Navydad's Avatar
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    You ever change an air filter on a 1500 Goldwing? Ever adjust the valves on a Yamaha T-Max? BRP doesn't hold the top spot when it comes to maintenance headaches. There is plenty of engineering oops to go around. When you are tasked with cramming five pounds of stuff in a two pound bag you have to get creative. Creative is not conducive to easy maintenance.
    2015 RT , Black

  6. #6
    Very Active Member Jetfixer's Avatar
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    It's not a problem at all, and it's far easier to access the oil filter on the 1330 than on the 998. A bungee cord is overkill. The reservoir will simply slide up and aft to give enough clearance. The real engineering idiocy is the individual responsible for making the two drain plugs different. One is a Torx and the other Allen. Close enough in size to easily get mixed up and strip out. I've worked on many Spyders and refuse to do an oil change unless the owner buys the replacement plugs that are 6 point hex.
    2020 RT Limited Deep Marsala Chrome

    2020 RT Limited , Marsala Red

  7. #7
    Very Active Member CloverHillCrawler's Avatar
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    2020 F3 SE6

    Safety and Lighting: LED Headlight upgrade, IPS LED Fog lights, Show Chrome LED Fender Signals, LED Signature Light, Tric LED Afterburnerz, MotoHorn 2.0

    Suspension: Wilbers Front and Rear Shocks, BajaRon Sway Bar, Vredestein Quatrac Front and Rear Tires

    Comfort: Blue Ridge Windshield, Corbin Dual Touring Saddle, Ultimate Floorboards, OEM Passenger Backrest with Rear Shelf, OEM Passenger Floorboards Modified with High Risers from Pierre

    Tackform Center Mount Phone Holder w/ rapid charging USB-C.
    2020 F3 , Black

  8. #8
    Very Active Member ThreeWheels's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldguyinTX View Post
    I got an Email from Can-Am recently that had a short video about doing an oil change on newer Spyders, so I thought I would watch it. Pretty straightforward about draining the engine oil, and then the transmission oil. THEN, it came to replacing the oil filter, and I was dumbfounded to see that you have to detach the brake fluid reservoir, pull it out, then secure it with a bungee cord to the right floorboard in order to get the old filter out and install a new one. Really? Whoever thought that one up gets the Darwin Award, yet another in a long line of Darwins that BRP has been awarded over the years.
    Hi Dwight. I'm sure you're liking the weather down there better than up here. Energy costs are ridiculous.
    As to the oil filter, it's really not that bad. The brake reservoir is made to be relocated. Sure, it's an extra step, but it's designed into it.
    The 2020 re-design is much better as far as maintenance is concerned.
    You can access routine maintenance items without first removing the mirrors.
    I like it!
    If it ain't broke, don't break it.
    IBA #47122
    2020 RT Limited Asphalt Grey

  9. #9
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    I agree jetfixer, but there was a reason why they put a torx on the brake side, on the 2022 RT. I can’t use a socket on the brake side because the brake linkage is the way. It might b just me but I couldn’t. I did not have the trike in the air. It wasn’t bad.
    2022 Spyder RTL- Chrome , Larger brake pedal Deep Marsala Red

  10. #10
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    In my f3 with a low profile 36mm socket that is for oil filters and flexible rachet is piece of cake.

  11. #11
    SpyderLovers Ambassador Little Blue's Avatar
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    Default Diy days? ?

    ...The DIY DAYS.... are going away.
    Dealerships need more $$$$. .....

    Also definitely a hassle for us older guys to get something done on our Spyders.
    The getting up and down and doing a 'little thing' is very painful for me.
    Know your limitations and what you can do.

    Stay Safe and enjoy your Ryde Times.
    ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITH A SPYDER
    Ryde with a Friend and be Safe

    My Spyder .....'Little Blue-Boy'
    2016 RT Limited , Orbital Blue

  12. #12
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    I worked in auto manufacturing for over 30 yrs and a lot of things are designed so that you will bring your Auto in to the service dept so you will be charged

  13. #13
    Very Active Member bigbadbrucie's Avatar
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    I totally agree with you Blue. I would like to be able to do these things myself, but as the age of 80 is just weeks away, i have to rely on the expertise of my dealer (and he is one of the good ones) for even the “small” jobs. Ahhh THE GOLDEN YEARS!


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  14. #14
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    On my Mini Cooper I have to remove the windshield fluid container to get at the oil filter. It’s not a big deal.
    2021 F3 Ltd , Magna Red

  15. #15
    Active Member BUZZARD II's Avatar
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    I'm a geezer too, with much of the same complaints. However going back to simple oil changes also could mean points, condensers and plugs along with the oil change. Now that I think of it that wasn't a very big deal either. Makes me want to go out and buy a Shovelhead.
    2016 RT/S
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    2023 BMW 310GS

  16. #16
    Active Member linguine's Avatar
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    Speaking for myself, I thoroughly enjoy all the other geezers like me [coming up on 78] not ever wanting to "get out and get under." I'll pay my dealer, gladly.
    Ride safe; shiny side up, greasy side down.

    best,
    linguine


    2020 RT Limited , Chalk Gray

  17. #17
    Very Active Member safecracker's Avatar
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    On my Ford Transit, you have to remove the whole dash to replace struts. On my 2016 and 2018 Transits to replace the rear rotors, you had to pull the rear axles out. On my 2020 you do not have too. Bruce
    New to Sue and I
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    Gone but not forgotten
    RTS 2011 SM5, 95,000 miles


  18. #18
    Very Active Member IdahoMtnSpyder's Avatar
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    Well, IIRC in order to change a spark plug on the early Chevy Vegas you had to cut a hole in the fender wall! And back about 1958 my brother discovered the rear spark plug on his 1955 Ford V-8 F-100 pickup had never been changed. You couldn't get to it!

    2014 Copper RTS

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    2014 RTS , Copper! (officially Cognac)

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by safecracker View Post
    On my Ford Transit, you have to remove the whole dash to replace struts. On my 2016 and 2018 Transits to replace the rear rotors, you had to pull the rear axles out. On my 2020 you do not have too. Bruce
    I have a 2019 where the cost to switch out rotors is crazy high... So did they change that in 2020. I love the van but I'm thinking of getting rid of it for another Chevy express... My 2010 and 2009 express are getting old and need to be thinking of replacing. I'll have to check into it
    RiderDuke

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  20. #20
    Very Active Member Gwolf's Avatar
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    The manual said I had to take the brake reservoir loose to get the filter out, I have done all the oil changes without taking it loose. I just pack rags around the filter can to catch any drips.

    May not be the same for all models.......... mine is F3-S Special Series - 2019.

    Several places in the manual have things that don't seem to apply to my model. They just copy the manuals and send them out for a lot of different models.
    Last edited by Peter Aawen; 02-18-2023 at 06:28 PM. Reason: don't - don't ;-)
    2019 F3-S , Black & Silver

  21. #21
    Active Member slhanks004's Avatar
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    Or Harley-Davidson with a horizontally mounted screw-on canister oil filter (like a car) directly above the rectifier. You can't change the filter without making a mess.
    Scott (slhanks004)
    Gilbert, AZ USA


    2022 Spyder RT Limited - Carbon Black
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    2022 RT-L , Carbon black

  22. #22
    Active Member SkipH's Avatar
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    I'm pushing 80 and can afford to pay the dealer. I do everything on all our vehicles to keep active so old age doesn't set in faster. I'm currently installing a larger fuel tank in my Chevy 1500 3.0 Diesel. Crawling around under the truck doesn't seem like fun, but I still enjoy it.
    Adj removable backrest, KOTT radiator screens
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    Skip H.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jetfixer View Post
    ...unless the owner buys the replacement plugs that are 6 point hex.
    And how many points are there on all the other "hex" plugs? (TeeHee)

    Sorry, I just couldn't resist. Carry on, friends!
    NEW - 2015 RT Limited SE6 Intense Red Pearl - 07/21/15
    Retained the old mirrors with TricLed Signals
    General Altimax RT43 rear tire (at...17,000 miles) Ran for 36,500 miles
    Michelin Defender.......rear tire (at...53,500 miles) Ran for 60,700 miles
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    Vredestein Quatrac 5 front tires (at 70,500 miles, first new fronts!)
    Gear Brake Decelerometer Module

    OLD - 2012 RT Limited SE5 Pearl White - 01/31/13 - Traded in at 32,600 miles.
    BajaRon Anti-sway Bar
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    2015 Limited , Intense Red Pearl

  24. #24
    Active Member redrazor's Avatar
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    My 1956 Ford V-8's plugs are easy-peezy ..... since it's a small block Chevy motor!! LOL IMG_2603.jpg
    P1010455.jpg
    Last edited by redrazor; 02-17-2023 at 08:46 PM. Reason: add photo
    2014 RTL bought in 3/20 with only 6,000 mi.
    Came with Garmin 660
    Car tires in 5/20; Elka stage 2 front shocks in 10/21

  25. #25
    Very Active Member FrogmanDave's Avatar
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    I disagree with the premise of the thread title 'Engineering Idiocy'.
    2022 Petrol Metallic RT Limited / 'PYDER'
    There's no place like G28 X0 Y0 Z0

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