Belt tensioner Roller failed, ruined my belt.

[AY4B]

That roller mounting bolt looks like it's loose. Did you find it that way on inspection? If so, that's the problem.

Yes it was just hanging. the head off the bolt you see threw the hole.The other side has a loose spacer then a washer then the main bearing with a metal collar then the outer nut.

 

[AY4B]

 

[AY4B]

The warranty was just 2 years as opposed to a Spider extras is warrantied for life.

 

[h0gr1der]

My opinion only, but as I see it a major issue with most of the dampeners I looked at was the small roller. If you look at an automotive style serpentine belt tensioner, you will see a much larger roller. Of course due to limited space, the small size is required to fit in there. But that little roller is going a gazzilion revs per hour. If there was a way to increase the diameter of the roller it would reduce the wear on the bearings.

 

[YIRYDE]

It is a RR Damper Purchased in January of 2018 with 20,000 miles on it. It was one of the first things I bought for my new F3L. I did not hear any noise but my Spyder has a loud RLS exaust and I am an aggressive ryder that is hard of hearing. Doc is sending me another roller because it is still within the 2 year warranty. Also I was offered a Spider extras Damper at half price which I will get. I asked Doc what is the life of his roller supposed to be, hes said 25,000. I would recommend having it changed at 10,000-15,000 IMO.It looked like the barring froze up which caused the failure. I guess it can be taken apart and lubed but replacing it would be better or go without one. I did also have my front sprocket replace the first of this year due to red dust.

Did Doc offer a reimbursement for the belt? If not, he should at least offer to pay for half.

 

[AY4B]

Did Doc offer a reimbursement for the belt? If not, he should at least offer to pay for half.

No, He was just going to send me a new roller, but after inspection, the hole that the bolt goes threw is wallowed out. He would need to replace the whole thing. I am just going with a Spiders Extras damper this time. Much better quality and lifetime warranty. Honestly I did not expect him to replace the belt but If he chose to go that route, fix all the damage the failure caused.

 

[treva]

My opinion only, but as I see it a major issue with most of the dampeners I looked at was the small roller. If you look at an automotive style serpentine belt tensioner, you will see a much larger roller. Of course due to limited space, the small size is required to fit in there. But that little roller is going a gazzilion revs per hour. If there was a way to increase the diameter of the roller it would reduce the wear on the bearings.

Lamonster garage sells a much bigger diameter roller to fit the OEM damper. In desperation [ see post 7 ] I purchased 2 & with some lathe work fitted them to the RR dampers hoping they would not move the belt out of alignment. No such luck. Now the dampers sit in a draw.

 

[Mikey]

The down and dirty thing is, no matter witch roller system you go with, you have to reach down there every so often and check that wheel for play! It's a bearing and bearings wear out and loose there grease then by, by! It will happen with the BRP style, as well as all the rest! Good luck, happy ridinghyea:!!!

 

[007james]

No, He was just going to send me a new roller, but after inspection, the hole that the bolt goes threw is wallowed out. He would need to replace the whole thing. I am just going with a Spiders Extras damper this time. Much better quality and lifetime warranty. Honestly I did not expect him to replace the belt but If he chose to go that route, fix all the damage the failure caused.

Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. ( those of us who have installed the Dampeners ) After seeing the photo of the damaged $300 Belt and Roller failure, I decided I am finished with all Dampeners. I had Doc’s on my 2016 RTL, and Removed it yesterday. The Roller still rolled, but not freely, and the spring didn’t have much spring left in it, and is probably why there was still any blue material left on the Roller at all. I really hated spending another 2 hours removing the panels to get to the Dampener. That was the 3rd time, I.e. installing it, then broken spring replacement, and now, removal. In truth, I took a 100 mile cruise yesterday after removing the Dampener, and have to honestly confess, I never noticed any difference in the Belt Chatter at all, with out the Dampener. I know there will be others who say,...” My Spyder has never had Belt Chatter”,...but for me, as just a Spyder owner that has logged almost 100,000 miles between my 2012 & 2016 RTLs, and don’t sell any Spyder parts and have no skin in the game, other than sharing Spyder experiences with other Owners, you Can believe me when I say, I have ALWAYS had Belt Chatter, with, and with out the Dampener. After seeing the photo of the damaged belt, I wouldn’t install ANY Dampener on my Spyder again, even if it was offered free.
007 James

 

[jcthorne]

The down and dirty thing is, no matter witch roller system you go with, you have to reach down there every so often and check that wheel for play! It's a bearing and bearings wear out and loose there grease then by, by! It will happen with the BRP style, as well as all the rest! Good luck, happy ridinghyea:!!!

No, there is one that does not wear out and fail like this. It also existed long before the BRP version, RR, Spyder Extras etc. Unfortunately quality costs money. The tensioner from Smooth Spyder uses a 3 inch diameter automotive belt tensioner and bearings. Mine currently has over 45,000 miles on it and its running as smooth as the day I installed it well over 4 yrs ago. Smooth spyder does not sell many as its more expensive than the other options but when folks ask me which one I use, I don't mind recommending it.

 

[LifeLongRider]

No, there is one that does not wear out and fail like this. It also existed long before the BRP version, RR, Spyder Extras etc. Unfortunately quality costs money. The tensioner from Smooth Spyder uses a 3 inch diameter automotive belt tensioner and bearings. Mine currently has over 45,000 miles on it and its running as smooth as the day I installed it well over 4 yrs ago. Smooth spyder does not sell many as its more expensive than the other options but when folks ask me which one I use, I don't mind recommending it.

JC . . take a look at their website https://www.smoothspyder.com/belt-tensioners/ Current production rollers from Smooth Spyder look to be about the same diameter or only marginally larger than other makes (unless the pictures are deceiving) and have a two year warranty on the roller . .

I considered the Smooth Spyder tensioner but decided on the Lamonster unit instead (due to the cost). Ran it for six months and like others it resides in the drawer right now. Couldn't feel any difference with or without. Not saying it doesn't have it's benefits, just my experience.

 

[jcthorne]

JC . . take a look at their website https://www.smoothspyder.com/belt-tensioners/ Current production rollers from Smooth Spyder look to be about the same diameter or only marginally larger than other makes (unless the pictures are deceiving) and have a two year warranty on the roller . .

I considered the Smooth Spyder tensioner but decided on the Lamonster unit instead (due to the cost). Ran it for six months and like others it resides in the drawer right now. Couldn't feel any difference with or without. Not saying it doesn't have it's benefits, just my experience.

Looks are deceiving. It may not be 3", perhaps its 2.75 but its close. MUCH larger than the 1" roller from BRP or RR. The smooth spyder versions were around long before any of the others came to market and have never had these problems posted above. Long before there was even an F3....

They last. I have one and we have sold several to customers. None have failed or worn out. Belt tensioners in automotive applications last for hundreds of thousands of miles and these are much more lightly loaded than fan belts.

 

[Mikey]

No, there is one that does not wear out and fail like this. It also existed long before the BRP version, RR, Spyder Extras etc. Unfortunately quality costs money. The tensioner from Smooth Spyder uses a 3 inch diameter automotive belt tensioner and bearings. Mine currently has over 45,000 miles on it and its running as smooth as the day I installed it well over 4 yrs ago. Smooth spyder does not sell many as its more expensive than the other options but when folks ask me which one I use, I don't mind recommending it.

Knowing some of your reply's:cheers: on here I will bet the farm you check it every now and then, don't you?? That is what I was getting at!!!

 

[SpyderAnn01]

My RR tensioner took out my belt at 50,000 miles, he advertises it as a 1,000,000 mile tensioner. When I sent him photos he replied with a thumbs up emoji. It happened early this year and my F3T only turned 2 years old in August. I don’t remember what the price of the tensioner was, but it became quite expensive when I had to replace my belt.

We had my belt adjusted so it no longer vibrates but after the repairs for the oil leak I had on this trip, it is back to an annoying level. I will have Joe adjust it and I’m sure a tensioner will not be needed.

 

[Nobodyjj]

First farkle i put on the used ST-S I bought. Smoothspyder all the way.

 

[UtahPete]

JC . . take a look at their website https://www.smoothspyder.com/belt-tensioners/ Current production rollers from Smooth Spyder look to be about the same diameter or only marginally larger than other makes (unless the pictures are deceiving) and have a two year warranty on the roller . .

I considered the Smooth Spyder tensioner but decided on the Lamonster unit instead (due to the cost). Ran it for six months and like others it resides in the drawer right now. Couldn't feel any difference with or without. Not saying it doesn't have it's benefits, just my experience.

$265 including U.S.A. shipping

 

[jcthorne]

Knowing some of your reply's:cheers: on here I will bet the farm you check it every now and then, don't you?? That is what I was getting at!!!

Absolutely.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. ( those of us who have installed the Dampeners ) After seeing the photo of the damaged $300 Belt and Roller failure, I decided I am finished with all Dampeners. I had Doc’s on my 2016 RTL, and Removed it yesterday. The Roller still rolled, but not freely, and the spring didn’t have much spring left in it, and is probably why there was still any blue material left on the Roller at all. I really hated spending another 2 hours removing the panels to get to the Dampener. That was the 3rd time, I.e. installing it, then broken spring replacement, and now, removal. In truth, I took a 100 mile cruise yesterday after removing the Dampener, and have to honestly confess, I never noticed any difference in the Belt Chatter at all, with out the Dampener. I know there will be others who say,...” My Spyder has never had Belt Chatter”,...but for me, as just a Spyder owner that has logged almost 100,000 miles between my 2012 & 2016 RTLs, and don’t sell any Spyder parts and have no skin in the game, other than sharing Spyder experiences with other Owners, you Can believe me when I say, I have ALWAYS had Belt Chatter, with, and with out the Dampener. After seeing the photo of the damaged belt, I wouldn’t install ANY Dampener on my Spyder again, even if it was offered free.
007 James

2 Hours?

 

[JKMSPYDER]

Like jcthorne I have the Smooth Spyder belt tensioner. I have 49000 miles on it and it still works as well as the day I installed it. Some might consider it expensive, but you get what you pay for!

 

[AY4B]

It looks like I replaced my belt just in time. After further inspection, beside the deep groves on the top of the belt all the way around I found a tear that had gone threw maybe a quarter of the way threw the belt.