Melted Master Cylinder Reservoir

[bamaryder]

We have 2200 miles on our ST limited and when we got back from the Owner's Event the brakes started smoking. then we got a brake failure light. I took it to the dealer and they said that the master cylinger melted. Now they say that BRP told them to hold my Spyder until they can design a heat shield to prevent that from happening again. I've heard that this problem has happened to others and I am wondering why there hasn't been a recall? I am also thinking this could take a long time and I will be Spyderless.

[Kungfuspyder]

We have 2200 miles on our ST limited and when we got back from the Owner's Event the brakes started smoking. then we got a brake failure light. I took it to the dealer and they said that the master cylinger melted. Now they say that BRP told them to hold my Spyder until they can design a heat shield to prevent that from happening again. I've heard that this problem has happened to others and I am wondering why there hasn't been a recall? I am also thinking this could take a long time and I will be Spyderless.

Is your ST at Halls?

[Farmboy]

Not sure how the st's exhaust... if it has a 30 lb. cat or not but i can see if the wind blowing break fluid onto the cat, may have contributed to the rt's fire that was posted?

[Chupaca]

there is a problem. Don't know the changes made to the existing frame and design to come up with the ST but there seems to be a miscalculation somewhere. Hope they realize this and make the changes needed soon...

[DocRags]

Is your ST at Halls?

No, it's at Pensacola Motorsports.

[mjw930]

Not sure how the st's exhaust... if it has a 30 lb. cat or not but i can see if the wind blowing break fluid onto the cat, may have contributed to the rt's fire that was posted?

DOT 3/4 brake fluid will burn but it's not considered a combustible substance so wind blowing brake fluid onto the outside of the cat would most likely not ignite a fire.

[Sny]

DOT 3/4 brake fluid will burn but it's not considered a combustible substance so wind blowing brake fluid onto the outside of the cat would most likely not ignite a fire.

Probably not, but it sure makes a mess. That stuff's corrosive.

[Bob Denman]

[mjw930]

Probably not, but it sure makes a mess. That stuff's corrosive.

That is does..... I guess I need to check the wife's ST to make sure the master cylinder is in good shape and possibly fab a heat shield.

[Sny]

I'd just wait for BRP to make one. And avoid riding it in the meantime.

[Netminder]

You would think the engineers/designers at BRP would figure out by now that when you have a motor and exhaust enclosed in so much Tupperware, it is essential to control the heat under there? I think they better get things straightened out quickly as sales will drop if word spreads about dangerous heat levels on these machines! Hot to touch gas caps, burning Rt,melting master cylinders and hot seats are just not normal, I don't care what anyone says! I have owned a few bikes over the years and never had any of the heat issue that the Spyder is having. Luckily I have not had any with my 2012 RT, except a bit of a hot foot, but I wear good boots and it is bearable. But I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

[flamingobabe]

check the spark plugs...my are white...running lean

[mjw930]

I'd just wait for BRP to make one. And avoid riding it in the meantime.

Sorry but we didn't spend $24K to avoid riding it...............

[Netminder]

Sorry but we didn't spend $24K to avoid riding it...............

Dealer should take care of this ASAP!

[Cruzr Joe]

You would think the engineers/designers at BRP would figure out by now that when you have a motor and exhaust enclosed in so much Tupperware, it is essential to control the heat under there? I think they better get things straightened out quickly as sales will drop if word spreads about dangerous heat levels on these machines! Hot to touch gas caps, burning Rt,melting master cylinders and hot seats are just not normal, I don't care what anyone says! I have owned a few bikes over the years and never had any of the heat issue that the Spyder is having. Luckily I have not had any with my 2012 RT, except a bit of a hot foot, but I wear good boots and it is bearable. But I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

Harvey at Spyderpops can cure the hot foot on the 2012 RT for a real low price, give him a call 501 627-4008

Cruzr Joe

[Rayelljay]

I'm wondering whether anyone has thought of replacing that large black "cover" over the rear wheel with a grille...???

[Jeriatric]

I'm wondering whether anyone has thought of replacing that large black "cover" over the rear wheel with a grille...???

Like this

[Netminder]

Harvey at Spyderpops can cure the hot foot on the 2012 RT for a real low price, give him a call 501 627-4008

Cruzr Joe

Yes I have seen it. I have his bump skid, just haven't had a hot enough foot to put this mod on yet, but maybe soon! Thanks.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Like this

[Sny]

oh sweet! Put some hinges it and a latch and you can use it to grill Brats!

[Sny]

Sorry but we didn't spend $24K to avoid riding it...............

I don't know what to tell ya... I don't want to sit and make payments on something that's suicidal to ride in this condition either.

But I can tell ya, suddenly losing your brakes will change your mind real quick.

At least on the GS there was/is a parking brake which would do SOMETHING. If not eventually stop you.

I recommend calling BRP twice a day and asking for status.
File a complaint via NHTSA.
Call your dealer multiple times a week depending on how much you like them.
Call your insurance company and verify with them if they'll cover your medical expenses if you ride knowing that your brakes might fail any minute.

If you're comfortable with the responses you get from all of the above, ride on! It's completely up to you. I just recommended being safe because I would hate to see someone get killed because of this huge, obvious and dangerous flaw that I'm sure showed up in BRP's testing and went ignored (I'm sorry, de-prioritized.)

Yes, I'm frustrated. 3 weeks of the best part of my riding season so far. I expect it'll be months before they put a bandaid on this and another year before they finally fix it like the other dangerous design flaws in previous models.

[flamingobabe]

mine is parked in our m/c barn...I will not ride it until fixed...I enjoy life too much

[Rayelljay]

I was wondering if removing that large black plastic cover over the rear wheel, (only 7 screws holding it on), and, using a hole saw of the size you use for setting a lock and cut holes (leaving plenty of meat between) to allow the hot air to escape over the rear wheel. I offer this as a suggestion for an RS with this problem...I don't know if you could treat the RT the same way. I hate to hear of someone without their and this is only a wild suggestion to keep you on the road.

[billybovine]

I don't know what to tell ya... I don't want to sit and make payments on something that's suicidal to ride in this condition either.

But I can tell ya, suddenly losing your brakes will change your mind real quick.

At least on the GS there was/is a parking brake which would do SOMETHING. If not eventually stop you.

I recommend calling BRP twice a day and asking for status.
File a complaint via NHTSA.
Call your dealer multiple times a week depending on how much you like them.
Call your insurance company and verify with them if they'll cover your medical expenses if you ride knowing that your brakes might fail any minute.

If you're comfortable with the responses you get from all of the above, ride on! It's completely up to you. I just recommended being safe because I would hate to see someone get killed because of this huge, obvious and dangerous flaw that I'm sure showed up in BRP's testing and went ignored (I'm sorry, de-prioritized.)

Yes, I'm frustrated. 3 weeks of the best part of my riding season so far. I expect it'll be months before they put a bandaid on this and another year before they finally fix it like the other dangerous design flaws in previous models.

I am confused about about what you said. You say you suddenly lost your brakes. Do you mean that suddenly you had no brakes and you could not stop or you are surprised you had a brake problem. From your pictures it is clear that the plastic melted to the point that the reserve brake fluid for the front brakes leaked out. It appears that fluid path for the reserve fluid for the rear brake is intact and the rear brake should have worked as it should. The front brakes should have continued to work as well but air would have entered the high pressure side of the master cylinder after a couple of uses but still worked in a degraded level.

If I am in error and that is not correct, please explain what I am missing.

[quickster47]

Yes, I'm frustrated. 3 weeks of the best part of my riding season so far. I expect it'll be months before they put a bandaid on this and another year before they finally fix it like the other dangerous design flaws in previous models.

What exactly where the other dangerous design flaws in previous models you speak of?

Did you personally experience them?

Carl