RT Air Bag pump out..

[Roadster Renovations]

Our pump has pretty much give up the ghost. It will start to pump for 10 minutes and then go to manual. I have added air manually and it holds, so it pretty much has to be a bad pump. Going to try to get through the season if possible. What I need to know is what are the amount of pressures in the bag at the 5 settings? Does anyone know. That way I can still manually adjust it for 1 or 2 up. I have a plugin compressor that s stored with the bike so I can make changes whenever I need to.

[HamburgerHelper]

Short answer is the settings are not pressure driven.
The system reads the height. This method makes the rider and passenger weight immaterial.
I would just find a pressure that gave a smooth ride while riiding two up.
.

[Roadster Renovations]

Thanks....I figured it out! I need a new pump.

[JayBros]

Doc,
Sounds like a warranty issue to me.

[SpyderAnn01]

If you need the settings they are in the Owners Manual but you might need a magnifying glass to read the chart as it is a photo and a bit blurry.

[Roadster Renovations]

I am going to try to get through the season. I hate the fact that t takes so long to get stuff done. I figure come about November I will either ride it or trailer it down to Louisville (70 miles) and let them work on several issues. My seat is developing a bad spot in 2 places. The ignition switch has malfunctioned several times. And now the air bag pump. I had noticed it struggling a couple of months' ago and I stiffened the rear spring so that it wouldn't have to work so hard, but it appears enough damage was already done. If this one goes out I will go with a gas/spring in place of the airbag. Not sure if anyone has done that yet, but I am pretty sure I can figure it out....

[finless]

Doc, BAG the original pump... it just wears out too fast.

Here is an alternative pump that is almost bolt right in! It's cheaper than the BRP over priced part too!

compressor.jpg

compressor2.jpg

[KennW]

On the subject of air bag compressors. Mine has now basically burnt out.
Possible cause of this maybe the BRP (crappy plastic) one way valve has broken thus causing the compressor to run almost constantly causing it to fail. Have sourced a metal valve that is being installed with a new compressor.
Replacing plastic with metal valve may be worth considering whenever the compressor needs changing out.
Stay Safe

Regards
Kenn

[Roadster Renovations]

Thanks, Finless! Send me a link if you can!

I believe that the reason my pump wore out was being overworked. Every stop light we would stop at, the dump valve would kick in to try to adjust the height change due to stopping, then after a few seconds the pump would kick in a fill the bag back up. What they need to do is put a delay in the circuit so that the ride height has equalized from stopping before it activates the sensor.
Once the initial setting is done, unless there is a leak or additional weight has been added (hooking up a trailer or adding some items in storage, or a second rider, etc.) the pump shouldn't even come on. If BRP would listen to a few of us about some improvements we could save the company bunches of money and stop some of the stuff from wearing out.

Anyway, that's my take on why they burn out so quickly...

[ricford]

Doc wrote "My seat is developing a bad spot in 2 places." You really want to NOT replace the factory seat. You absolutely NEED one of the 'real' seats. I personally recommend Ultimate Seat. It has made riding a pleasure for me over the factory seat. But there are also many positive votes for Russel Day Long seat (you have to ship your seat to them to use as a base and when you park for the Winter, a good time to do it) and the Corbin. All are really really worth the money. Which one is mostly a personal choice. Getting a good seat is not a frivilous expense. It is an absolute necessity. I've told it before but one 600 mile ride on the factory seat when I first got the bike sent me to the Doctors' office the next day, unable to walk on my right leg. Cortisone fixed it up in a day, but I ordered the Ultimate Seat that day, got it in a couple of days, installed it in a half hour and I've never had a moment's discomfort since. Spend the money. Unless your Scottish in which case.... Alaska Leather sells sheepskin seat pads that are good... Air Hawk is good except on the Spyder it makes you feel as if you're slipping off the seat in turns.

[Roadster Renovations]

Doc wrote "My seat is developing a bad spot in 2 places." You really want to NOT replace the factory seat. You absolutely NEED one of the 'real' seats. I personally recommend Ultimate Seat. It has made riding a pleasure for me over the factory seat. But there are also many positive votes for Russel Day Long seat (you have to ship your seat to them to use as a base and when you park for the Winter, a good time to do it) and the Corbin. All are really really worth the money. Which one is mostly a personal choice. Getting a good seat is not a frivilous expense. It is an absolute necessity. I've told it before but one 600 mile ride on the factory seat when I first got the bike sent me to the Doctors' office the next day, unable to walk on my right leg. Cortisone fixed it up in a day, but I ordered the Ultimate Seat that day, got it in a couple of days, installed it in a half hour and I've never had a moment's discomfort since. Spend the money. Unless your Scottish in which case.... Alaska Leather sells sheepskin seat pads that are good... Air Hawk is good except on the Spyder it makes you feel as if you're slipping off the seat in turns.

I would like to get a custom seat, but every one I have checked out has been too slick. The wife is afraid she might fall off. Do they make one out of sharks skin??

[steviep]

I am on my third compressor since June. I bought a used rt2012. The first one was compressor bearings the second was the compressor electronics. It's still under warranty so no big deal . I usually set mine at high for 2 up or at mid for just me. I think they could have made the system a lot easier such as with manual just preadjust to your desired presure

[PW2013STL]

I would like to get a custom seat, but every one I have checked out has been too slick. The wife is afraid she might fall off. Do they make one out of sharks skin??

Doc,

Russell did offer a vinyl covering that is non-slippery. I had that on one of my Harley's and you did not slide with that. You could call them and see if they still offer it! I went with the leather inserts as I like to be able to move around.

I tried the BRP comfort seat and that was better then the stock, but removed too much room from the passenger side. Went to the Ultimate seat, nice seat, but did not fit me and they do not custom make their seats to fit. Went back to Russell (where I should have started) and now I can ride all day without discomfort.


Of the three main choices only Russell is made to fit each rider and has the best guarantee (check out their web site for details).


No I am not a paid spokesman - just a very happy customer.

[finless]

Thanks, Finless! Send me a link if you can!

I believe that the reason my pump wore out was being overworked. Every stop light we would stop at, the dump valve would kick in to try to adjust the height change due to stopping, then after a few seconds the pump would kick in a fill the bag back up. What they need to do is put a delay in the circuit so that the ride height has equalized from stopping before it activates the sensor.
Once the initial setting is done, unless there is a leak or additional weight has been added (hooking up a trailer or adding some items in storage, or a second rider, etc.) the pump shouldn't even come on. If BRP would listen to a few of us about some improvements we could save the company bunches of money and stop some of the stuff from wearing out.

Anyway, that's my take on why they burn out so quickly...

Doc, here you go.

http://performanceparts.com/part/Viair/00097

Bob

[Highwayman2013]

I am on my third compressor since June. I bought a used rt2012. The first one was compressor bearings the second was the compressor electronics. It's still under warranty so no big deal . I usually set mine at high for 2 up or at mid for just me. I think they could have made the system a lot easier such as with manual just preadjust to your desired presure

This can actually be done. There is a setting in BUDS to change the system to manual. When I got a new LCD screen the tech forgot to set the ACS (air ride) to automatic and my air ride was on manual.

[pegasus1300]

Bob do you remember what changes do need to be made to put in the aftermarket pump? That looks like something I may be doing soon as well.

[finless]

Bob do you remember what changes do need to be made to put in the aftermarket pump? That looks like something I may be doing soon as well.

You have to cut the connector off and solder on the BRP connector.
You need longer screws to mount this pump.
That's pretty much it.

Bob

[johnwinslow]

I would like to get a custom seat, but every one I have checked out has been too slick. The wife is afraid she might fall off. Do they make one out of sharks skin??

Shark!!! Ha Ha

[wengerda]

I am on my third compressor since June. I bought a used rt2012. The first one was compressor bearings the second was the compressor electronics. It's still under warranty so no big deal . I usually set mine at high for 2 up or at mid for just me. I think they could have made the system a lot easier such as with manual just preadjust to your desired presure

Do you have a Bajaron swaybar?

[wengerda]

Our pump has pretty much give up the ghost. It will start to pump for 10 minutes and then go to manual. I have added air manually and it holds, so it pretty much has to be a bad pump. Going to try to get through the season if possible. What I need to know is what are the amount of pressures in the bag at the 5 settings? Does anyone know. That way I can still manually adjust it for 1 or 2 up. I have a plugin compressor that s stored with the bike so I can make changes whenever I need to.

I will find out tonight if adding manually air will hold on my bike. I was told not to put more than 80 psi of air.