RT SmoothSpyder Belt Tensioner

[finless]

My 2 cents......

If the bearing on the motor for the belt output shaft were to fail, and you had the tensioner, I could see BRP denying warranty claim for that failure. It does change the belt tension no way to deny that! But it will in now way violate other warranty claims that are not related to the belt system. That's the law! The add-on has to be involved with the failure to deny a claim.

With that said we all know it wont change the belt tension enough to cause an issue UNLESS your belt is adjusted at the total top end of the spec. This would be rare. The instructions do talk about this as well and to check your belt is not too tight.

Bob

 

[billrob71]

I have a custom made one and my dealer has already saw it and had problem with it being on there. As long it is not overtighten can only help you.

 

[DrewNJ]

About a week ago I purchased Smooth Spyder Belt Tensiiner for my 2013 RT SE5 as per the Spyder Lovers add page. While at my dealer for a oil change, I asked if I could get it put on next week. They informed me that it would Void the warenty from Can Am. Sent a E Mail to the vendor and asked why he dose not tell us that it Voids our warrenty in his add ? Glad I sent it back with confermed delivery, as he said had not got it. Sent him USPS delivery confermation and them he found it in his mail box. Did any one else know this ? :shocked:

Didn't you post this on the other spyder forum? What is your point? What response are you looking for?

Your dealer is ridiculous. Your entire warranty cannot be voided because you add a tensioner to a drive belt.[emoji57]

You really need to find a different dealer....

 

[DrewNJ]

I wouldn't be surprised if you said your dealer is also a Harley dealer. Sounds like something they would say. The belt tensioner would have to be the cause of the problem.

Play nice...my Harley dealer is just as good about mods as our can am dealer...[emoji106]

 

[capt.jim]

Didn't you post this on the other spyder forum? What is your point? What response are you looking for?

Your dealer is ridiculous. Your entire warranty cannot be voided because you add a tensioner to a drive belt.[emoji57]

You really need to find a different dealer....

I can tell you what's he's looking for.
He emailed me really nastily saying It would void his warranty and I should put that in the instructions because I'm ripping everyone off, as now he would have to pay the shipping twice, on and on.
He hassled me everyday threatening me to call Paypal if I didn't return his money right then.
I told him from the beginning I understood his concerns completely, just return it and I will return his full purchase price plus the shipping to his Paypal Acct.
His last email ended with "Since you can't be honest up front in your listing, as Ronald Reagan said, "if you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat!
I don't say much on here unless I have something to contribute to help someone, but this guy....

 

[jtoro1]

I can tell you what's he's looking for.
He emailed me really nastily saying It would void his warranty and I should put that in the instructions because I'm ripping everyone off, as now he would have to pay the shipping twice, on and on.
He hassled me everyday threatening me to call Paypal if I didn't return his money right then.
I told him from the beginning I understood his concerns completely, just return it and I will return his full purchase price plus the shipping to his Paypal Acct.
His last email ended with "Since you can't be honest up front in your listing, as Ronald Reagan said, "if you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat!
I don't say much on




how can this part void the warranty BS

 

[mtdoragary]

When you're in business , sooner or later you will run into a customer you can't please no matter how hard you try. Sounds like this was your first. It likely won't be your last. Sorry!

 

[DrewNJ]

When you're in business , sooner or later you will run into a customer you can't please no matter how hard you try. Sounds like this was your first. It likely won't be your last. Sorry!

Agreed, don't let it bother you Jim.

 

[iSpyder123]

I can tell you what's he's looking for.
He emailed me really nastily saying It would void his warranty and I should put that in the instructions because I'm ripping everyone off, as now he would have to pay the shipping twice, on and on.
He hassled me everyday threatening me to call Paypal if I didn't return his money right then.
I told him from the beginning I understood his concerns completely, just return it and I will return his full purchase price plus the shipping to his Paypal Acct.
His last email ended with "Since you can't be honest up front in your listing, as Ronald Reagan said, "if you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat!
I don't say much on here unless I have something to contribute to help someone, but this guy....

There is always two sides to the story and thank you for giving the second side.

Most people who mod their toys usually know about the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act and it should be pretty clear when purchasing aftermarket items.
If not, this is a good read that helps put things into easier perspective in helping people make easier buying decisions. Keeping Your Mod's Warranty Intact


I know I will be making the Smooth Spyder Belt Tensioner one of my "must haves" investments in the future.

 

[larryd]

I can tell you what's he's looking for.
He emailed me really nastily saying It would void his warranty and I should put that in the instructions because I'm ripping everyone off, as now he would have to pay the shipping twice, on and on.
He hassled me everyday threatening me to call Paypal if I didn't return his money right then.
I told him from the beginning I understood his concerns completely, just return it and I will return his full purchase price plus the shipping to his Paypal Acct.
His last email ended with "Since you can't be honest up front in your listing, as Ronald Reagan said, "if you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat!
I don't say much on here unless I have something to contribute to help someone, but this guy....

Jim, I'm larryd and I talked to you earlier this week about using your product on my 2014 RTS due to belt vibrations around 72 mph....In light of one persons bad experience with his dealer, I WILL STILL BE PURCHASING and installing your product...Thank You for making a product that makes our Spyder's even more of a pleasure to ride...larryd

 

[Ronbo]

Warranty...etc...

Hum, I read, Damages Resulting from use of parts or accessories not manufactured or approved by BRP . Will not be warranted under any circumstances.

I am a 100% disabled Viet Nam Veteran, had to fight dam hard for years to get my benifits. I love my spyder, and do 4 PGR missions a month. As stated before, it is 70 miles to my closet BRP dealer in Charleston, 150 miles to the next dealer in Columbia. Who is the same dealer that is in Charleston. With all fights with corp. you have to have time, money, and a dam good lawer. Sorry brothers can't risk my warrenty at my age. Thanks, and good luck :banghead:

My 2014 RT has been a delight since day one except for some ocassional belt vibration. Capt Jim's SMOOTH SPYDER BELT TENSIONER has really made a big difference! Thank you capt Jim for a great product and fast, friendly service
Ronbo

 

[PistonBlown]

Well hopefully this guy now realises his attempt to flame Jim's excellent products has had the opposite affect.

Don't have the SmoothSpyder belt tensioner yet but it's on my list of must haves and I have no worries about it affecting my warranty when I fit it. Have the SmoothSpyder backrest (via Martin at Australian Spyder Riders), that's certainly a quality product and I'm very happy with it.

All I can say is it sounds like he and his dealer are well suited and will make a lovely couple.

 

[capt.jim]

Thanks, glad your enjoying the backrest.

 

[cedarmeadow]

Don't Kill The Messenger !

A new Form member asked if the Smoothey Belt Tenisioner Voids the Factory Warranty ?

AWNERS

Your dealer is a Po Po Head
Find Another Dealer
I love Mine
Jim is a Great Guy
I have no regrets
Dealer put mine on
Write or Call BRP

Best Awnser: Call or Write BRP

BRP Awnser

At Best (Legal Jargon)

Put in English: Conservatively

Any parts, not manufatured by BRP Voids those affected parts by said products, and the part itself.

Conclusion

1. Those of you that baught and instaled this product are MAY be not backed with a warrenty from BRP. On those effective parts for service or parts by BRP. Dose Smoothey back you ?

2. Smoothey now knows to inform any future buyers of said Void of BRP warrenty, and to get his legal staff in place.

3. Any FUTURE BUYERS ARE MADE AWARE of the good and bad of this product.

THE REST OF THE STORY :yikes:

I contacted Jim, and told him I had contacted my dealer and asked why they were so fixed about not using this part ?
They had recived a Maintenance Buliten, that many dealers had sold, or installed this product. And that it had caused great amount of stress on the front and rear bearings and seals. That BRP would not pay for any repairs where this failure was found due to this problem. With the MANY Dealerships, they own. They found it only right by letting there customer made aware.

I want to thank all the open minded, helpfull Fourm members for there many opinions . I hope to ride with you on any PGR missions. :banghead:

 

[finless]

I contacted Jim, and told him I had contacted my dealer and asked why they were so fixed about not using this part ?
They had recived a Maintenance Buliten, that many dealers had sold, or installed this product. And that it had caused great amount of stress on the front and rear bearings and seals. That BRP would not pay for any repairs where this failure was found due to this problem. With the MANY Dealerships, they own. They found it only right by letting there customer made aware.

I am not buying they got a service bulletin about Jim's product!
If this was true, all dealers would have this AND service bulletins are usually posted on the BRP web site (though buried and hard to find). I have seen no such bulletin myself and I try to stay up on them all.

However as I posted, your dealer is correct that IF you had a failure of the front seal AND you were running this product, you "could" be denied warranty work. This is what most people did say. If the add-on was proven to cause the failure related, then you wont be covered. Even then if you did have a seal failure, it might be a little iffy to prove it was caused by the Smooth Spyder. But it could cause a debate and in the end chances are you would be denied. BRP's choice here unless you took them to court and fought it which would not be worth it in the end.

But let me just say in a nice way. Many have this device on their spyder including me. I have had no issues in 5K miles. Others I am sure have a lot more miles with this device than I do with no issue. In fact I have not seen ONE REPORT of someone having a front seal failure when using this product.

So in the end, you can decide not to put it on if your worried your seals will fail. Or you can decide to put it on and "maybe" have an issue which I doubt you will.

Bob

 

[jcthorne]

Don't Kill The Messenger !

A new Form member asked if the Smoothey Belt Tenisioner Voids the Factory Warranty ?

AWNERS

Your dealer is a Po Po Head
Find Another Dealer
I love Mine
Jim is a Great Guy
I have no regrets
Dealer put mine on
Write or Call BRP

:banghead:

Perhaps you would find life a bit more worth living if you were driving a Honda....

 

[DrewNJ]

Don't Kill The Messenger !

A new Form member asked if the Smoothey Belt Tenisioner Voids the Factory Warranty ?

AWNERS

Your dealer is a Po Po Head
Find Another Dealer
I love Mine
Jim is a Great Guy
I have no regrets
Dealer put mine on
Write or Call BRP

Best Awnser: Call or Write BRP

BRP Awnser

At Best (Legal Jargon)

Put in English: Conservatively

Any parts, not manufatured by BRP Voids those affected parts by said products, and the part itself.

Conclusion

1. Those of you that baught and instaled this product are MAY be not backed with a warrenty from BRP. On those effective parts for service or parts by BRP. Dose Smoothey back you ?

2. Smoothey now knows to inform any future buyers of said Void of BRP warrenty, and to get his legal staff in place.

3. Any FUTURE BUYERS ARE MADE AWARE of the good and bad of this product.

THE REST OF THE STORY :yikes:

I contacted Jim, and told him I had contacted my dealer and asked why they were so fixed about not using this part ?
They had recived a Maintenance Buliten, that many dealers had sold, or installed this product. And that it had caused great amount of stress on the front and rear bearings and seals. That BRP would not pay for any repairs where this failure was found due to this problem. With the MANY Dealerships, they own. They found it only right by letting there customer made aware.

I want to thank all the open minded, helpfull Fourm members for there many opinions . I hope to ride with you on any PGR missions. :banghead:

IMHO-This attitude is just part of the growing problem with modern day society.
Unfortunately, we are becoming a society looking for everyone else to TELL us what is right/wrong, good/bad and take responsibility for that, instead of figuring it out for ourselves and taking responsibility for our own actions.

 

[iSpyder123]

Don't Kill The Messenger !


THE REST OF THE STORY :yikes:

I contacted Jim, and told him I had contacted my dealer and asked why they were so fixed about not using this part ?
They had received a Maintenance Bulletin, that many dealers had sold, or installed this product. And that it had caused great amount of stress on the front and rear bearings and seals. That BRP would not pay for any repairs where this failure was found due to this problem. With the MANY Dealerships, they own. They found it only right by letting there customer made aware.

I want to thank all the open minded, helpful Forum members for there many opinions . I hope to ride with you on any PGR missions. :banghead:

Looking at this from the outside:

That's a huge problem if it's been proven without a shadow of a doubt that the front and rear bearings and seals stressed and failed because of the tensioner. That would than be a definite voided warranty. That in itself would require some kind of product disclaimer.

There are always two sides to a story. I definitely heard your side and understand your concerns.

Can they post that Maintenance Bulletin? With this being the biggest Spyder forum around, I'm sure it can be produced.
Someone with inside BRP mechanical knowledge can chime in and put this to rest. While they are at it they can also put that Kuhmo tire debacle to rest as well.

Without it or a second side to the story most of us don't believe it until we see if for our own eyes.

 

[capt.jim]

Mr Cedarmeadow started calling me the day after I shipped it about the warranty issue. I said don't even open the box, just send it right back which he did, he never looked at the directions.

I state in the instructions verbatim "this tensioner will add small amount of spring loaded tension to the static tension setting, so it is preferable to have the static tension setting on the low to mid end of the Spec's so as not to exceed the 1200N maximum".

Almost all of the ones I have checked on the 13-14's are on the low side at 900-950N. Chances are if they were set at 1100N or more they would not be needing one as much or at all, as they would probably be less prone to the vibration, but more likely to have a high static tension stress related failure. I can't see any reason for it to affect the seals in any way.
My 13 ST came with 770N, under tensioned by BRP Spec's.

I am sure one day someone will have a front output shaft failure with the tensioner installed, even though it is set below the maximum BRP spec's, and someone will say "there you go! The tensioner has caused a failure!
Output shafts fail very occasionally and would have probably failed either way.
There are thousands of these in use and fortunately I haven't had to face this issue.

I also am concerned about someone not mechanically inclined doing the installation and not getting the belt aligned or the bolts tight, if it ever came off and got fed into the rear sprocket it would not be good to say the least.
For this reason I use all grade 8 nuts and bolts, include locktite on the U.S. manufactered grade 8, 1/2" bolt that goes into the tapped 13-14 brackets.
I also include a new grade 8 locknut and include locktite for the rear shock mount model. In the instructions, "Apply a small amount of Locktite on the bolt near the bracket using the new 15MM locknut. I use the best components and locktite, all I can to eliminate a parts failure from the product or installation.
In addition to all my efforts, I do have a disclaimer at the bottom of the instructions.
"If you are unsure of your mechanical abilities, please have the installation performed by a certified motorcycle mechanic. End user assumes all liability in the use of this product.

 

[iSpyder123]

I am sure one day someone will have a front output shaft failure with the tensioner installed, even though it is set below the maximum BRP spec's, and someone will say "there you go! The tensioner has caused a failure!
Output shafts fail very occasionally and would have probably failed either way.
There are thousands of these in use and fortunately I haven't had to face this issue.

I also am concerned about someone not mechanically inclined doing the installation and not getting the belt aligned or the bolts tight, if it ever came off and got fed into the rear sprocket it would not be good to say the least.
For this reason I use all grade 8 nuts and bolts, include locktite on the U.S. manufactered grade 8, 1/2" bolt that goes into the tapped 13-14 brackets.
I also include a new grade 8 locknut and include locktite for the rear shock mount model. In the instructions, "Apply a small amount of Locktite on the bolt near the bracket using the new 15MM locknut. I use the best components and locktite, all I can to eliminate a parts failure from the product or installation.
In addition to all my efforts, I do have a disclaimer at the bottom of the instructions.
"If you are unsure of your mechanical abilities, please have the installation performed by a certified motorcycle mechanic. End user assumes all liability in the use of this product.

I know some dealers are very mod friendly some are strictly by the book.
With the thousands out there I wonder how many people read the disclaimer and/or took it to a mod friendly BRP dealer service department to have installed.
I would like to see the document that Cedarmeadow states is out there.

I still like the tensioner idea and don't understand why BRP did nothing to remedy the excessive slack for the 2014 models.