I am on my third instrument/gauge lens replacement due to some kind of substance that starts to run down behind the lens and causes an etching effect, and it has now happened again. The substance is not water or condensation, and seems to be some sort of an oily-like chemical coating. The bike is washed with a garden hose and Meguiars Gold Class soap, and I am careful to avoid the dash area altogether.
My dealer has promptly replaced the lens each time and now that it has happened a fourth time the issue has become a "case" with BRP. I am told that BRP is waiting for another picture of the most recently affected lens before making any recommendations. I have researched and read about this issue, or a similar issue, occurring here and there in the past with other Spyder owners. What I haven't read or heard about, however, is someone else having the same problem repeatedly. If anyone can shed any further light on this I'd appreciate it.
Do you have a picture of one of these affected lenses?
No, I don 't, and it's very difficult for me to get the whatever-it-is to show up in a picture taken with the lens in place on the bike. Maybe when the dealer takes their picture for BRP, if it can be seen there, I can get a copy.
Is this on the inside of the lens? On my 2010 I had what looked like a waterspot on the inside so I tried to clean it off and created more of a mess. It seemed like the inside had some kind of coating on it, maybe fog resistant goo, but when I tired to clean it I smeared it and it was not good.
2017 F3T-SM6 Squared Away Mirror Wedgies & Alignment
2014 RTS-SM6 123,600 miles Sold 11/2017
2014 RTL-SE6 8,600 miles
2011 RTS-SM5 5,000 miles
2013 RTS-SM5 burned up with 13,200 miles in 13 weeks
2010 RTS-SM5 59,148 miles
2010 RT- 622
Is this on the inside of the lens? On my 2010 I had what looked like a waterspot on the inside so I tried to clean it off and created more of a mess. It seemed like the inside had some kind of coating on it, maybe fog resistant goo, but when I tired to clean it I smeared it and it was not good.
Yes, it's been on the inside all four times. My dealer also tried cleaning it on two different occasions, neither time with any lasting success. I saw your old post about this issue when I was researching it, and I appreciate your response again now.
I think on the GS I had, I removed the lens from the panel at one time, as there was a protective clear sheet over the LCD that started bubbling. I assume the lens can be removed from the RT panel as well?
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Jive
Beckley, WV 2012 Pure Magnesium Metallic Spyder RTS SM5, SpyderPops Belt Guard
Let me know what you find out, and yes it is almost impossible to get a pic of it.
I sure will. Although I have no complaints about the way that my dealer has handled this up to this point, having to replace the lens 4 times seems excessive to me, especially since there is some history of this same issue out there. I have contacted BRP myself and directed their attention to this and as many historical threads as I could find. Thanks again.
I think on the GS I had, I removed the lens from the panel at one time, as there was a protective clear sheet over the LCD that started bubbling. I assume the lens can be removed from the RT panel as well?
Yes it can be removed, but I have not done it myself. I can turn a $5 project into a $500 project with no problem, so I've learned to leave most of that stuff to my dealer.
Well I decided to pull my cluster out and investigate this a bit more. The cluster comes out very easily, took all of 15 minutes to take it out, clean it, and out it back in. It does appear to be some sort of oily coating on the inside of the lens. Where it is coming from, I have no clue. I cleaned it with Windex, and then polished it with some Novus 2. Now it looks almost brand new, but if you look hard enough, you can still see something still on the inside. Almost like whatever it was distorted the plastic a bit.
I would've taken some pics of the removal process, but I was running out of daylight. Here is a pic of the Novus 2 for anyone that doesn't know. It works great to polish plastics, especially on helmet shields and pinball plastics! Pinball is my other expensive hobby!
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Jive
Beckley, WV 2012 Pure Magnesium Metallic Spyder RTS SM5, SpyderPops Belt Guard
I had the exact same problem on the inside of my 2014 RTL cluster. The dealer removed the lens and cleaned it but was not satisfied so ordered me a new lens. The replacement lens has been ok for the last 4 months. It looked like water had run down the back and dryed leaving a watermark....but as already said it is not water.
Well I decided to pull my cluster out and investigate this a bit more. The cluster comes out very easily, took all of 15 minutes to take it out, clean it, and out it back in. It does appear to be some sort of oily coating on the inside of the lens. Where it is coming from, I have no clue. I cleaned it with Windex, and then polished it with some Novus 2. Now it looks almost brand new, but if you look hard enough, you can still see something still on the inside. Almost like whatever it was distorted the plastic a bit.
I would've taken some pics of the removal process, but I was running out of daylight. Here is a pic of the Novus 2 for anyone that doesn't know. It works great to polish plastics, especially on helmet shields and pinball plastics! Pinball is my other expensive hobby!
Thanks for the follow up. Your description is consistent with what my dealer told me after their second attempt to clean the affected lens. They replaced it again due to the etching that you also experienced.
I had the exact same problem on the inside of my 2014 RTL cluster. The dealer removed the lens and cleaned it but was not satisfied so ordered me a new lens. The replacement lens has been ok for the last 4 months. It looked like water had run down the back and dryed leaving a watermark....but as already said it is not water.
Thanks for the information. Between these responses and the historical threads concerning this issue, it looks like this problem has been hanging around for quite awhile. That's helpful to know moving forward.
Thanks for the information. Between these responses and the historical threads concerning this issue, it looks like this problem has been hanging around for quite awhile. That's helpful to know moving forward.
Off topic...Nice Surly commuter fat bike. Not sure what the mirror brand is, but inexpensive and fold down Acerbis enduro mirror would be cool.
Thanks. I"ll check out the mirror recommendation. It's a now-old-school Pugsley that I bought a few years ago for winter riding. It's so much fun that it quickly became my daily rider. This summer I sold two of my other bikes because they were just sitting, so I'm now down to the Pugs and a Cannondale CX. Hands down, the Pugs is still my favorite.
2014 Cognac STL:Ultimate Seat, Nelson Rigg Tail Pack, Nelson Rigg RS/ST Half Cover, TL fender lights, Squared Away Laser Alignment, BajaRon sway bar and links, Akropovic Sport Silencer
2022 White Pearl F3T
Gone but not forgotten: 2019 F3S Special Series Liquid Titanium
I suggest that anyone who currently has this problem see their dealer for documentary and warranty purposes, on the outside chance that this issue has not made its way onto BRP's "repetitive failure" radar.
Instrument/Gauge Lens Issue
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Originally Posted by Bob Denman
