I think the dealers should go by the book and latest service bulletins for their own protection, warranty and otherwise, they are selling BRP's product and the mechanics have been trained and expected to adhere to BRP's service spec's. I didn't say 700 or 800 newtons above the spec's, I said they might have to bump it up to 700-800 total. The dealers are between a rock and a hard spot, they can only do what the book says.If the customer isn't satisfied, they will have to look to BRP for answers, but I don't think they have much in the way of belt vibration answers, except those are "normal and inherent characteristics". The belts will stretch some from new as they heat up and cool down and take a set, but it seems the belts are set up very tight from the factory so you don't feel this "normal and inherent characteristic" until the belt is broken in and readjusted, or they probably wouldn't sell too many, especially to a gold wing rider. Maybe the belts are like many other features of the spyder, as in no two react the same to the same setting, as in one spyder gets 28 mpg and one gets 34, one gets oil in the box and the next doesn't. If 10 lbs. of tension is working well for most and their belt is set to 'spec' by the dealer then the rest should work also at that tension it would seem. Then there are plenty within the spec range with no tensioner or vibration at all, go figure. When I asked the tensioner parts manufacturer why some pulleys will have a whistle or whine and many don't, he said most likely the cooling ribs going across the pulley combined with a lower or different belt tension, but there are many variables in the belt manufacturing process for the belts to vary slightly also. If 10-12 lbs. isn't eliminating all the vibe's, or whatever is livable for the rider, it is unlikely that 14 lbs. will make a difference, it is easy enough to try and see, and great if it stops it, but the static tension may need to be raised a hair rather than more on the tensioner. I'm no technician by any means, and I think BRP has done a great job with most of the safety features to save us from ourselves, but I have to wonder about some of BRP's techs, like whoever designed the "highway limp mode", but I think they jumped the gun when they went to 450 Newtons, the previous 750 was a more reasonable setting on a belt that long and still a safe setting, again, these are just my thoughts and observations, I'm not suggesting anyone deviate from the spec's, and for those wanting to stay completely in spec, the tensioner will factor in about 20 lbs. to the overall static tension, so keep that in mind if shooting for 600 newtons. The vibration damper on the front sprocket was a nice addition to absorb some of the vibration to the sprocket and shaft, not sure how many spyders with loose front sprockets and shaft damage were from over tight belts or belt vibration itself, but that front sprocket must be taking a beating from the vibration as that is it's first contact point before it resonates through the rest of the bike. Also check the tensioner bolts for tightness occasionally whenever you have the panels off, it is absorbing the vibration and is the spyders first line of defense. In the end it all boils down to how much vibration is acceptable to you and how comfortable you feel going over the manufacturers recommended spec's a little if you have to, to achieve your vibration comfort level. I feel comfortable, but change my rear bearings at every tire change, needlessly I think, but I feel better. I think there are many spyders out there still running 800+ newtons or there would be many more complaints than there are, again, I'm no expert, these are just my thoughts.
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