2013 RT Heat Issue - Also Exists With 2010, 2011 & 2012 RT?

[stewartj239]

I already asked this question in a different thread, but wanted to start a new one to get more visibility on the topic.

I have a 2013 RT-S and personally have not experienced any of the heat related horror stories that I have read about - melting master cylinder, boiling gas, roasted seat, roasted right foot, fire, etc. However, I am trying to determine whether the issue is there, but hidden to me for my ride and whether I need to be concerned.

My question is this, what changed on the 2013 to cause the claimed heat problems that wasn't already there in the 2010, 2011 & 2012 RT models? Weren't the motors the same and the exhaust routed the same way? Shouldn't the previous year RTs be having the same issue?

As a precaution, is there anything I can change on mine, such as some kind of vented panels or something similar that is available to dissipate the heat?

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I responded to you on the other posting but I'll say it again here. I did not have any issues with a hot right foot or excessive heat around the seat/glove box area on my 2013 and mine burned to the ground. There were some pretty significant changes to the RT for 2013 but I'll let one of our more technical members fill you in on those.

I just want to be sure that you understand that the possibility of your Spyder starting on fire is very real even if you haven't experienced any of the typical things that people have complained about. So please be sure to have the recall work completed.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I forgot about this part of your question as to were there problems with the other years and yes there were but they were mostly about heat on the right foot. And this could be corrected with the install of either Spyderpops heat shields or the ISCI fan can. Also, the removal of one of the belly pans helped a lot to reduce heat.

 

[stewartj239]

I responded to you on the other posting but I'll say it again here. I did not have any issues with a hot right foot or excessive heat around the seat/glove box area on my 2013 and mine burned to the ground. There were some pretty significant changes to the RT for 2013 but I'll let one of our more technical members fill you in on those.

I just want to be sure that you understand that the possibility of your Spyder starting on fire is very real even if you haven't experienced any of the typical things that people have complained about. So please be sure to have the recall work completed.

Thank you Ann. Yes, I had the recall work performed this past Monday. The dealer said that there were no signs of any heat related problems. By breaking my question out into this thread is to get a better feel for whether the prior year RTs are having the same issue and what can be done to make it better. I would rather be proactive and do something about it rather than do nothing.

 

[stewartj239]

I forgot about this part of your question as to were there problems with the other years and yes there were but they were mostly about heat on the right foot. And this could be corrected with the install of either Spyderpops heat shields or the ISCI fan can. Also, the removal of one of the belly pans helped a lot to reduce heat.

That's the type of info I'm looking for! I'll research the fan, but what about the belly pans? I think there are two. Could / should they both come off?

 

[SpyderAnn01]

That's the type of info I'm looking for! I'll research the fan, but what about the belly pans? I think there are two. Could / should they both come off?

Well, that is a good question and I was never able to get a good answer. The changes to the suspension for 2013 changed the front end and the belly pans are different than they were on earlier models. I at first was going to remove one on mine but decided against it since there were wires that looked like they could get damaged if left exposed.

 

[Bob Ledford]

2011-RTL

I have a 2011 RTL SE-5 5975 miles on it

Truthfully I like your concept proactive not reactive. I have ridden it during 2 Daytona Bike Weeks and Biketoberfest weeks one hot winter followed by one cold winter and a scorching hot 2013 summer. If you have ever been to Daytona for a biker event you know what kind of traffic we have. My right leg gets hot in sneakers to almost uncomfortable from my knees to the soles if my feet. But so does the rest of me to the point of sweating on a 85 degree day while sitting or moving.

i have exercised the radiator fan well all year around. I have heard the gasoline bubbling in the gas tank and I have experience with gaseous fuel bogging the engine down on moving out during a red light cycle. But the Spyder has never gotten the temperature gage to the top yet and the fan does cycle off and on while sitting in traffic. Personally if the fan switch came on early and ran longer I think the problem just might go away.

i just solved the problem my riding bud was having with her right ankle getting hot to first degree burns. Simply put heat tape over the RF passenger board hieght adjustment upper slot. I think the engine compartment does not have sufficient air flow in or out of it to keep the heat level tolerable for the summer temperatures in the SE region of the USA.

i only ride between 32 and 86'degrees F. Because its to uncomfortable for me to ride in the heat of the day. That is why I have a Silverado parked in the driveway with a working AC unit.

My next experiment is to wrap the exhaust pipes with heat tape this fall when it's cooler in the garage.

 

[Magdave]

BRP moved both the electric E-Brake and EVAP Canister on the 13. The canister is being wrapped during the recall because it sits next to an exhaust pipe. Bad placement IMHO. No other vehicle on the road places the EVAP canister near any exhaust it should have been placed in a much cooler spot and I suspect that is why some of us smell fuel vapors when we are done riding. What ever remaining heat from the exhaust continues to heat the canister after shut down. the movement of both of these may have restricted what little airflow that is available under the Tupperware.

 

[Bob Denman]

I think that it may have been a combination of component moves due to the new frame and BRP's attempts to deal with perceived heat issues...
The 2010 to 2012 bikes s don't seem to have generated anywhere NEAR the same amount of complaints.

 

[stewartj239]

This is all good information. After reading Bob's comment about his 2011, I spent some time tonight searching old threads and indeed found quite a few with people having the same issues with the prior year RTs. So it would seem to me that the RTs have always had heat issues, but they are more prevalent on the 2013 due to the changes as outlined by Magdave.

So with the recall work done on my 2013, I've got to assume that the immediate fire risk has been eliminated by the new heat shield. Now, I plan to look for other updates to help with the cooling. I did find a thread where the belly pans were removed with out issue. I've also seen where people are wrapping the exhaust. I've also heard that removing the cat will reduce the heat quite a bit too .....

 

[Pennyrick]

This is all good information. After reading Bob's comment about his 2011, I spent some time tonight searching old threads and indeed found quite a few with people having the same issues with the prior year RTs. So it would seem to me that the RTs have always had heat issues, but they are more prevalent on the 2013 due to the changes as outlined by Magdave.

So with the recall work done on my 2013, I've got to assume that the immediate fire risk has been eliminated by the new heat shield. Now, I plan to look for other updates to help with the cooling. I did find a thread where the belly pans were removed with out issue. I've also seen where people are wrapping the exhaust. I've also heard that removing the cat will reduce the heat quite a bit too .....

Stewart:

You will find a lot of good ideas for controlling heat when you go back through the posts. It is more difficult to remove or modify (drill escape holes) in the pans on the '13 but some folks have done this. Just bear in mind that the machine you are sitting astride generates heat.... a lot of it!

Harleys, Victorys, Triumphs and Honda do too but they do not have the entire powerplant wrapped in tupperware like the Spyder is. Some of that heat that we feel is normal given the way the Spyder is designed.

 

[stewartj239]

I came across a couple more threads talking about engine temperature. At first, you would think the heat is coming from the engine running too hot, but it is a liquid cooled engine. I lost sight of that. It sounds like the focus needs to be with moving air out of the enclosure. I'm going to check mine out today and look for some new ideas. I have been finding some good ones on the forum as well.

 

[rc51ny]

Well, I have a 2012--not 2013. However, I removed both bottom plastic panels to help reduce the heat (also makes oil changes easier). When I put on the forward cruising pegs, I was getting a hot right foot--so I also put on the Sypderpops block off plate. Now--i rarely have any heat issues what so ever. Not sure if that will help a 2013, but worked like magic on my 2012--a very inexpensive remedy!

 

[stewartj239]

So I've spent the last few hours now finding some really good tips. From what I've seen, it looks like the best modification for removing heat from the Tupperware is to do the cat removal, followed up by the deflectors. Is it really that easy of a fix? I have no problem dropping the money if it is truly that simple. I have read nothing but great reviews with claims that the scorching heat that boils the gas and roasts the rider / passenger is all but eliminated with these mods. Any thoughts?

 

[MouthPiece]

I will speak ONLY to the right foot issue. I think it's because most of the 2013's bought are either the RT-S or Limited (no empirical evidence to support this statement). Because those two models of "13's" have floorboards which allows for a foot placement directly behind the "lower black hole of heat", the rider experiences this heat issue more than a rider with foot pegs that are standard with the 2010's through 2012's.

I still haven't tried any of the suggested fixes for this issue save changing the coolant/distilled water ratio. I do believe there are other options already suggested that I'm going to have to try. I have noted a minimal decrease in the riding temp of my spyder since I performed the above coolant ratio.

As I said earlier, my post is directed solely to the right foot issue and nothing else.

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[stewartj239]

I will speak ONLY to the right foot issue. I think it's because most of the 2013's bought are either the RT-S or Limited (no empirical evidence to support this statement). Because those two models of "13's" have floorboards which allows for a foot placement directly behind the "lower black hole of heat", the rider experiences this heat issue more than a rider with foot pegs that are standard with the 2010's through 2012's.

You now what? I think you're on to something. I have always said that I don't have the issue with my right foot getting baked and could not understand why so many people claimed that their's were. Well, I have a 2013 RT-S, but it is an SM5, so I do not have floorboards, I have the pegs! My foot is nowhere near the fan. Awesome observation! Thank you!

 

[Pennyrick]

You now what? I think you're on to something. I have always said that I don't have the issue with my right foot getting baked and could not understand why so many people claimed that their's were. Well, I have a 2013 RT-S, but it is an SM5, so I do not have floorboards, I have the pegs! My foot is nowhere near the fan. Awesome observation! Thank you!

I might argue that point. I guess it depends on the floorboards. Mine is a '12, not a '13 but note the way the board flips up on the end and fully directs the bottom outlet to the ground. The combination of this plus the blocking plate on the upper outlet (plus the removal of the pans) keeps my right leg and foot from any degree of heat.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Personally if there was more air flow under the skin it would have to help with every thing except setting a land speed record. I would like to find an engineering drawing on the under skin airflow to study.

 

[OldCowboy]

Well, that is a good question and I was never able to get a good answer. The changes to the suspension for 2013 changed the front end and the belly pans are different than they were on earlier models. I at first was going to remove one on mine but decided against it since there were wires that looked like they could get damaged if left exposed.

Ann is correct. The critical component which is protected by the right-hand belly pan is an electrical connector which would be exposed to the elements. However, it is at the front end of the area covered by the right-hand belly pan, so I removed the right-hand belly pan and fabricated a shield out of aluminum sheet that covers the connector and is held in place with industrial strength velcro and zip ties.

The reason I went to all this trouble is because I installed Spyderpops upper block-off plate to keep hot air off my foot when I used my Lamonster highway pegs. That meant I had to cut a hole in the right-hand radiator molding to provide adequate ventilation for the radiator. Unfortunately, this increased the heat under the tupperware. I started getting really strong gasoline smells when I shut off the engine. By removing the right-hand belly pan I got more ambient air under the right side of the tupperware and no longer have the gas smell. When I do the 4600 mile service, I'll probably remove the left-hand belly pan too.

 

[papagolf]

Replace Floorboards?

OK, the idea has been floated that maybe the stock floorboards on the 2013 could be amplifying the right foot heat problem. Could I replace the floorboards with pegs on a 2013 RT-L?