2020 RTL burning smell

[drkennedy61]

After riding my Spyder 2020 RTL with about a thousand miles on it. I smell something burning like a rubber or plastic burning smell. Any one else has this problem?

[trikermutha]

Probably off the cat. We have all smelled the burning rubber. Even on the older models.

[ButterSmooth]

Coming from the left side, near where the front pulley is? Mine did that until I tweaked the belt a little. Tomorrows task is to tension and align the belt, since it's raining here. It's currently against the outboard front flange and the inboard rear flange and at about 210 KriKit #, which agrees with the frequency (B0+ since I use a musical tuner). Bet yours is the same. I'll center mine up and go for A0, which is about 160#.

When your ride is over, feel the belt for heat and look for glazing or chamfering on the sides of the belt teeth.

[MONK]

I smelled the same thing today after I got home from the dealer on my new 2021 RT. I have to go back in 2 weeks so if it's still got the smell, I'll have them check it out then. I'm not worried about it. Absolutely worst case scenario, the belt breaks and has to be replaced under warranty.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I smelled the same thing today after I got home from the dealer on my new 2021 RT. I have to go back in 2 weeks so if it's still got the smell, I'll have the check it out then. I'm not worried about it. Absolutely worst case scenario, the belt breaks and has to be replaced under warranty.

I wouldn't count on them re-placing it " under warranty ". many, many folks here have learned that lowering the BRP recommended Belt tension to about 160lbs ( tire on the ground ) using the KriKit II usually eliminates belt vibes .... Mike

[Mikey]

I smelled the same thing today after I got home from the dealer on my new 2021 RT. I have to go back in 2 weeks so if it's still got the smell, I'll have the check it out then. I'm not worried about it. Absolutely worst case scenario, the belt breaks and has to be replaced under warranty.

To intentionally ride your machine with the belt out of alignment, I am sorry dose not make sense to me! If it's not out and your just smelling rubber than I guess I see your point! You will smell and feel all kinds of things with a new ride until it's broken in!! Good luck with your new RT ENJOY!!!!

[EdMat]

Still get the burnt rubber smell on occasion at just under 20,000 miles. Never have found the cause. Never had a hot belt.

[MONK]

I wouldn't count on them re-placing it " under warranty ". many, many folks here have learned that lowering the BRP recommended Belt tension to about 160lbs ( tire on the ground ) using the KriKit II usually eliminates belt vibes .... Mike

If the belt breaks after a few hundred miles, either they'll replace it under warranty or they'll feel the wrath of my public relations campaign. I know how to use the BBB/AG and social media as well as the news outlets. (Not kidding.)

I added a belt tensioner to my 2018 which fixed the 72-78mph buzz. This time around, I'll ask the shop to loosen the belt. If they refuse, I'll add a belt tensioner.

[MONK]

To intentionally ride your machine with the belt out of alignment, I am sorry dose not make sense to me! If it's not out and your just smelling rubber than I guess I see your point! You will smell and feel all kinds of things with a new ride until it's broken in!! Good luck with your new RT ENJOY!!!!

I doubt it's out of alignment. I'm guessing it's way too tight (although I'm sure it's within BuRP specs, unfortunately). Not sure if what I smell is rubber or catalytic convertor. I fully expect this to be "broken in" (600 miles worth, anyway) within a couple of weeks.

[ButterSmooth]

I have been paying attention to belt alignment at the dealer. Every machine on the floor has the belt hard up against the rear flange and I thus speculate hard up against the front outboard flange, just like mine was delivered. I wouldn't assume good alignment. I'm going out to adjust mine now -- wish me luck, but prepare for another disaster story.

[samewok]

Mine was the the panel above the rear tire had broken loose.

[Mikey]

I have been paying attention to belt alignment at the dealer. Every machine on the floor has the belt hard up against the rear flange and I thus speculate hard up against the front outboard flange, just like mine was delivered. I wouldn't assume good alignment. I'm going out to adjust mine now -- wish me luck, but prepare for another disaster story.

If you have it right it should about a credit card away from the flange! It will wonder back and forth some, like when you back out from a parking spot, but when you go forward some it will settle back!

[Possible]

I set the belt on Peggy's 2013 STS at 0.084" and after a couple hundred miles, it's back to about 0.015" away from the flange. It
stayed at 0.084" for a couple weeks, but has gradually moved back to nearer the flange. It started out snug up against the flange,
and I adjusted the tension and the alignment. Worked for a while anyway.

[MONK]

It stopped raining long enough today for me to go out to check the belt alignment. It's about a credit card thickness away from the flange on the rear sprocket. I'm ok with that. The smell might very well be from the cat. The belt is still too tight, though.

[drkennedy61]

Thanks for the help

[bluewoo]

Im confident its the rubber exhaust mounts getting hot. My f150 has the same smell when I run it hard,my past goldwing and so does my wifes rav4.
The cats get very hot!

[drkennedy61]

Will it eventually go away?

[drkennedy61]

I am not sure where the smell is coming from, I did feel the belt and it was cool. I have a krikit but will have to wait until I get home to check it.

[trikermutha]

Mine went away when the Cat was removed but I have a 14. They do put the cat close to the rear tire area.

[MONK]

I had the same smell when I first got my '18 although it didn't last long. I got it w/360 miles. You could be correct, bluewoo, but then why does the smell go away after a few hundred miles?

[bluewoo]

I had the same smell when I first got my '18 although it didn't last long. I got it w/360 miles. You could be correct, bluewoo, but then why does the smell go away after a few hundred miles?

I thought mine went away after the belt was adjusted on my old 2018, pushed it hard one day and It was smelling like hot rubber.

[Escorial]

I have a 2020 RTL w/ 500 miles on it and also have noticed the smell. I looked all over and could not find the source.

New car smell hehe...

[KAMJAM]

We still have the "burning rubber" smell with nearly 2k on the OD, though not as bad as it was.

The first couple days of riding there was a burning plastic smell, it was a large label (from manufacturing process?) stuck to the cat, I thought for sure a wiring harness was melting. After that burning plastic smell dissipated, thats when i could really smell the rubber stank.

I've had almost every panel off of both RT's, more than once adding different "stuff", no signs of any damage from excessive heat or rubbing anywhere to be found. I don't think it's the drive belt, it's never been more than warm to the touch after a ride. My vote is exhaust/cat mounting or shielding.

[spyderdave]

I wouldn't blame the drivebelt. The rear sprocket rotates with the belt and you can't get enough angle against that little flange to create enpough friction to cause the belt to burn. I had the same smell on my 2020; it went away when I ditched the factory cat for an RLS cat delete pipe and a Flowmaster.

[ButterSmooth]

I wouldn't blame the drivebelt. The rear sprocket rotates with the belt and you can't get enough angle against that little flange to create enpough friction to cause the belt to burn. I had the same smell on my 2020; it went away when I ditched the factory cat for an RLS cat delete pipe and a Flowmaster.

Just looked at my notes. The burning rubber smell on my 2020 went away at exactly 4737 miles. That's when I pulled the cat and put on an RLS cat delete pipe. 100% the smell was the cat.