Changed my Spark plugs/HCM filter/oil and filter/fuel filter - Shifts better now!

[Rdrnr]

Runs great and shifts a lot better Some have said it’s the fresh oil not the filter. The oil had 3000 miles on it. I am by no way advocating for the 9k mile oil change but would 3000 miles be enough to make it shift poorly?

 

[RayBJ]

Were you able to find a tear-down procedure or video?

 

[Rdrnr]

Were you able to find a tear-down procedure or video?

Nope. It wasn’t really hard. 10mm socket and push pin puller and 30 torx gets most of it off. I’m thinking now that I have done it might be able with a little less off but you have to get the air boxes out…

 

[jjc54]

Nope. It wasn’t really hard. 10mm socket and push pin puller and 30 torx gets most of it off. I’m thinking now that I have done it might be able with a little less off but you have to get the air boxes out…

Did you go with the upgraded spark plugs from BajaRon?

 

[Rdrnr]

Did you go with the upgraded spark plugs from BajaRon?

I did

 

[Knizar]

View attachment 251711
She shifts way better nowView attachment 251712

How many miles on the plugs that you took out?
Every time I change oil my shifting works better, have changed the HCM filter once and have 56,000 miles
Runs great but question the need for new plugs!

 

[Rdrnr]

How many miles on the plugs that you took out?
Every time I change oil my shifting works better, have changed the HCM filter once and have 56,000 miles
Runs great but question the need for new plugs!

Ya the picture of the HCM got . I just did the 28k service @32500

 

[Peter Aawen]

...

Runs great and shifts a lot better Some have said it’s the fresh oil not the filter. The oil had 3000 miles on it. I am by no way advocating for the 9k mile oil change but would 3000 miles be enough to make it shift poorly?

Sure, if the oil wasn't up to scratch for whatever reason, it could do that within 100 miles! Any chance the oil was the wrong grade; not JASO or Motorcycle rated; or had been contaminated by something?? No-one that you're aware of had ever added 'friction modifiers' or any 'oil life extenders' to the Spyder's oil, had they?? Not even a few oil changes back??

There was one fella here in South Oz having all sorts of clutch and gear shift issues (not that he ever really pushed it much! ) and we'd tried EVERYTHING we could think of to help, even changed the oil and filters a couple of times, and we'd get it to (apparently) work OK up here in the Hills when it was test ridden afterwards. But then the clutch slipping and gear change issues would come back just as soon as he got it home and started riding it around the city again - every bloody time!! I even went down there & test rode it just to make sure it wasn't simply due to him being too hesitant & slow on the changes - he really didn't ever go much over 35 mph (not even on the freeway!) and it was definitely having gear change issues, plus, once things warmed up, some clutch slippage.

Then finally, it all became clear when I thought to ask the ^ question at the end of my first para... to which he replied, "Sure, I've always added 'some proprietary brand of friction modifying stuff' to the oil in all of my cars, and they've lasted hundreds of thousands of miles without a problem. I want my Spyder to last that long too, so whenever I get the Spyder home after having had an oil change done, I suck out a litre of oil and top it up with friction modifier. Why do you ask?"...

Let's just say that the discussion that followed was very enlightening to him; he no longer adds any 'friction modifiers or oil life extenders' to his Spyder Oil; he does ride his Spyder a little harder; and he hasn't had any clutch slipping or gear changing issues ever since we finished the third 'full flush oil & filter change'!

So, is there any chance that someone might've used the wrong oil &/or added any additives to the correct oil in your Spyder?? If so, that certainly might have been contributing to your issues, and an oil change (or two, maybe even more) may have finally got all the nasty contaminants/friction modifiers/oil life extenders out, hopefully without damaging too much

Just a thought, tho!?!

 

[Rdrnr]

Excellent post. I bought the bike 5k miles ago and got all the service records as the previous owner bought it there, had it serviced there, and traded it for a new one there. I would doubt they didn’t use the Rotex oil change kit. I also know the previous owner didn’t do any servicing themselves. They even had the phone mount installed at the dealer…..

 

[TheMariner]

OK, if I'm reading this right:
- The previous owner had the biked serviced at the dealer he purchased it new from, which is the same dealer you purchased it from.
- You did the recent service yourself & used the BRP XPS Oil Change Kit.

If the service record don't specify what oil was used by the dealer, it's entirely possible they used the 44 gal. drum of 'one size fits most' engine oil they buy in bulk. That may be why you've noticed a difference in gear changing performance since you changed it. Maybe?

 

[Rdrnr]

OK, if I'm reading this right:
- The previous owner had the biked serviced at the dealer he purchased it new from, which is the same dealer you purchased it from.
- You did the recent service yourself & used the BRP XPS Oil Change Kit.

If the service record don't specify what oil was used by the dealer, it's entirely possible they used the 44 gal. drum of 'one size fits most' engine oil they buy in bulk. That may be why you've noticed a difference in gear changing performance since you changed it. Maybe?

You could be 100 percent correct.

 

[Rdrnr]

They do specify “Spyder oil change kit” if that is accurate…..

 

[TheMariner]

Part No. 9779249 Googles as the BRP XPS Oil Change Kit, so it looks like that's what they used. There goes my theory!

 

[Peter Aawen]

Part No. 9779249 Googles as the BRP XPS Oil Change Kit, so it looks like that's what they used. There goes my theory!

I dunno Phil, over the years there's been more than one dealer that we've heard of here on the Forum who has billed a Spyder owner for one of those service kits, but instead, they used whatever they had on hand - including that 44 gallon drum of 'one grade suits most' oils!! If you go digging, there's a few old threads with oil analysis reports that confirm this; and IIRC, there were even a few 'non-BRP filters' used back in the early days too, despite the owner being charged for the more expensive OEM kit!!

So just cos it 'says' they've used the BRP Kit, it doesn't necessarily mean that they truly DID use it!! That might take a little more investigation to confirm or otherwise...

 

[Rdrnr]

Well I’m happy the way it’s shifting now . Considered Amsoil but I’ll just stick with the BRP kit. It costs $25 more …..

 

[jjc54]

They charged you for 60 oz of brake fluid for a system that only holds 17 oz. I don't use buds when I do mine. I may have to rethink how I do mine.

 

[Rdrnr]

They charged you for 60 oz of brake fluid for a system that only holds 17 oz. I don't use buds when I do mine. I may have to rethink how I do mine.

They didn’t charge me hahahaha previous owner