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belt tension

:agree: ………. My 2014 RT has no vibes that I can feel ( now , it did at the dealer BRP setting ) ….. I also Don't have any shifting issues …. I'm a long time Spyder owner and remember when BRP guessed wrong on the tension setting for the drive belt ….. They ( and us ) discovered many BEARING failures, I think even with the New BRP settings - they are still too high...… If my ( & others lower settings ) aren't good, please tell me ( & others ) What BAD can this produce...… jmho …. Mike :thumbup:

To be clear, do you still feel engine vibration? I assumed I would still feel engine vibration if I got a belt tensioner.
 
I can assure you I won't be leaving the dealership until I'm completely satisfied. Thanks for the replies.

You might find the dealer will follow the tension spec per the bulletin, but the chances they will use a tension spec you provide with wheels on the ground is very unlikely. Asa home mechanic, wheels on ground may be a method to try, but in a shop environment, the consistent dimension of having the wheel at full droop is a repeatable hardpoint.
 
You might find the dealer will follow the tension spec per the bulletin, but the chances they will use a tension spec you provide with wheels on the ground is very unlikely. Asa home mechanic, wheels on ground may be a method to try, but in a shop environment, the consistent dimension of having the wheel at full droop is a repeatable hardpoint.

Yes PMK, they may tension the belt with wheel off ground, but TST 61Y014S05 recommends belt tension of 300n +/- 100n. At 400n with wheel off the ground, I haven't tried measuring this with a krikit when wheel is on the ground, but i think the tension will be too low. I may have to use the TST supplied by Bruce B which states tension of 775 +/- 150n. Setting the tension with wheel off the ground at 625n may be around 800n [180lb ] with wheel on ground. We'll see.
 
Yes PMK, they may tension the belt with wheel off ground, but TST 61Y014S05 recommends belt tension of 300n +/- 100n. At 400n with wheel off the ground, I haven't tried measuring this with a krikit when wheel is on the ground, but i think the tension will be too low. I may have to use the TST supplied by Bruce B which states tension of 775 +/- 150n. Setting the tension with wheel off the ground at 625n may be around 800n [180lb ] with wheel on ground. We'll see.

I do not have the belt tension specs per the bulletin on this computer. If it matters, on the 2014 RTS I set the belt tension to about 140 lbf, essentially the spec midpoint per the bulletin. This is wheel off ground tension.
 
I do not have the belt tension specs per the bulletin on this computer. If it matters, on the 2014 RTS I set the belt tension to about 140 lbf, essentially the spec midpoint per the bulletin. This is wheel off ground tension.

140lb equates to approx 620n. Which bulletin did you use?
 
To add a little clarity, I have the TST in my hands. It says the belt tension recommendations are;

2008-2012 GS/RS/RT 270 N +/- 100
2013-2015 RS/ST/RT 630 N +/- 100
2015 F3 300 N +/- 100

Since this TST came out in 2015 it, of course, does not mention any newer (future) year models..... However, I believe these recommendations should apply for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 models..... Good luck..... Jim

About 6 months ago, I contacted BRP to find out if the TST has been superceeded or recinded and was told there have been no changes.
 
To add a little clarity, I have the TST in my hands. It says the belt tension recommendations are;

2008-2012 GS/RS/RT 270 N +/- 100
2013-2015 RS/ST/RT 630 N +/- 100
2015 F3 300 N +/- 100

Since this TST came out in 2015 it, of course, does not mention any newer (future) year models..... However, I believe these recommendations should apply for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 models..... Good luck..... Jim

Ah, i now see why PMK uses 140lb. I was looking at the F3 tension. my bad. Thanks mate.
 
My two cents ….. I'm lazy so I don't lift my 2014 RT anymore ….. I have mine set at 160lbs - on the GROUND , this is about 140lbs OFF the Ground …. I'll bet I check my belt tension a lot more often than most because of this …… PS, I lowered my tension years before BRP did......PPS, and was soundly criticized by quite a few of the folks here :roflblack::roflblack:...……..Happy New Year …… Mike :thumbup:
 
My two cents ….. I'm lazy so I don't lift my 2014 RT anymore ….. I have mine set at 160lbs - on the GROUND , this is about 140lbs OFF the Ground …. I'll bet I check my belt tension a lot more often than most because of this …… PS, I lowered my tension years before BRP did......PPS, and was soundly criticized by quite a few of the folks here :roflblack::roflblack:...……..Happy New Year …… Mike :thumbup:

I check mine on the ground also. After many years of competitive racing off road & road racing + 53 years riding on the road, chain tension & alignment has to be right & may have the same outcome [ probably worse as the speeds are so much greater ] as over tensioned / misaligned belts.
 
To add a little clarity, I have the TST in my hands. It says the belt tension recommendations are;

2008-2012 GS/RS/RT 270 N +/- 100
2013-2015 RS/ST/RT 630 N +/- 100
2015 F3 300 N +/- 100

Since this TST came out in 2015 it, of course, does not mention any newer (future) year models..... However, I believe these recommendations should apply for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 models..... Good luck..... Jim

About 6 months ago, I contacted BRP to find out if the TST has been superceeded or recinded and was told there have been no changes.

That's 67.5LBs +/- 22.5LBs for the F3. Has anyone gone as low as 45LBs? My 2017 F3 Repair & Maintenance Manual - Updated 10/2017 states 775 N +/- 150 N (174LBs +/- 34LBs). That comes out to 140LBs min off the ground and about 160LBs on the ground. This is what I run with a damper. Still too much vibration for my liking. Came from dealer with 210LBs down and no damper. Worse, but not that much.


Regards,


Don
 
Seriously, I know some dealers will take the time to set proper tension on the belt. I suspect few dealers even own the sonic tester nevermind bother to use it. At a guess, most techs simply grab the belt and deem it good enough.

Saying that, as the Blueknight mentioned, he lowered his tension until he got the results of minimal vibration he expected. The Kriket tool is inexpensive. If you do much of your own work, try adjusting the tension lower until you minimize vibration. Take a reading with the Spyder raised, then compare to the published Can Am lower tension specs. Seems most of us without tensioners, and minimal vibration, have found a belt tension within the bulletin specs.
 
To add a little clarity, I have the TST in my hands. It says the belt tension recommendations are;

2008-2012 GS/RS/RT 270 N +/- 100
2013-2015 RS/ST/RT 630 N +/- 100
2015 F3 300 N +/- 100

Since this TST came out in 2015 it, of course, does not mention any newer (future) year models..... However, I believe these recommendations should apply for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 models..... Good luck..... Jim

About 6 months ago, I contacted BRP to find out if the TST has been superceeded or recinded and was told there have been no changes.

Just to add another level of confusion, my technical manual for my 2016 F3Limited (also applies to T) says to set belt tension to 775n (+/- 150n) lifted. I’m getting a service next week where I have asked them to check belt alignment. I’ll ask what belt tension they use for the F3-L, and where they get that figure from.

Pete


Pete
 
I have found that the BRP "official" tension in the manuals is different than that published in the TSB. The bulliten suggests that the tension be reduced for people who experience vibration at freeway speeds (65-75 MPH). The TSB does not seem to change the original setting, but rather addresses problems for those experiencing vibration at speed..... In other words, they don't admit that they are wrong about tension, they just suggest a cure..... Jim
 
:oldpost: Altho some of the 'most recent' posters in the thread (over a year since the last post) are still around & active, so you never know?!? :dontknow:
 
What you are referring to as a tensioner is not a tensioner. It is actually a belt damper. The damper is used to reduce belt vibration and it has some success in doing that. I put a damper on my bike but would not do it again. There have been reports of damper failures and when that happens, you can generally kiss your belt goodbye. Instead of a damper, just lower the belt tension as suggested above. Most people report good results by doing this. And, besides, it is less expensive to just adjust. Good luck..... Jim
 
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