Belt Tensioner

[oldguyinTX]

FYI I got a call from BRP yesterday about the ongoing problems with my 2013 RT Ltd SE5. I ask the rep about installing an aftermarket belt tensioner, and if it would affect my warranty. I was told that installing the tensioner would not affect the warranty BUT, if it affected any other parts of the bike such as sprockets or the belt itself, those repairs would not be covered by the warranty. Just wanted to let everyone know. ray:

 

[RBS66]

Good to know I just installed the smooth spyder a couple weeks ago works great. What did they say about the issues with your spyder?

 

[oldguyinTX]

Good to know I just installed the smooth spyder a couple weeks ago works great. What did they say about the issues with your spyder?

Glad to hear that you are having good luck with the SmoothSpyder. Since I have the bike winterized & put away, they said to wait until spring when the bike comes out of storage, take it to the dealer, and have them try to figure things out. Probably cost $$$$$$ at $90.00 per hour labor plus an evap canister and who knows what else. By the way, I was told that BRP has nothing in the works themselves for a belt tensioner. Makes you wonder if they really want to address the issues that many Spyder owners are having. I think that they are breathing a sigh of relief now that a lot of Spyders are being put away for the winter so that they do not have to deal with the heat issue and the problems that it is causing.

 

[Chupaca]

So..!!

they are saying it voids affected parts....good thing it does not damage anything and helps with the vibrations. Don't see why they don't do something having probably the longest unsupported belt drive in the market. I'm sure they will eventually...:dontknow:

 

[oldguyinTX]

they are saying it voids affected parts....good thing it does not damage anything and helps with the vibrations. Don't see why they don't do something having probably the longest unsupported belt drive in the market. I'm sure they will eventually...:dontknow:

Do you have one installed on your Spyder, and if so, which one (there are a couple of them out there) and for how long? My take from my phone conversation with BRP was that they had no interest in doing this.

 

[jerpinoy]

Will the belt tensioner maker cover the damage what BRP mentioned?

 

[oldguyinTX]

Will the belt tensioner maker cover the damage what BRP mentioned?

I wouldn't count on it.

 

[lwrydr]

Belt tensioner

I just order a belt tensioner and have not received it yet. When I do it will be install and will post
how well it works.

 

[SNOOPY]

Can you all explain more clearly this vibration you are feeling?

Wondering how you pinpoint the belt?

 

[Jeriatric]

The response regarding the use of a belt tensioner would have been worded the same had you been asking a question about adding any non authorized aftermarket product to your spyder.

Knowing that.

Any aftermarket product you wish to add should only be done after you are satisfied it will do what you want it to do, without the probability of it causing any issue as it relates to your warranty.


Due diligence.

FYI I got a call from BRP yesterday about the ongoing problems with my 2013 RT Ltd SE5. I ask the rep about installing an aftermarket belt tensioner, and if it would affect my warranty. I was told that installing the tensioner would not affect the warranty BUT, if it affected any other parts of the bike such as sprockets or the belt itself, those repairs would not be covered by the warranty. Just wanted to let everyone know. ray:

 

[RBS66]

I just order a belt tensioner and have not received it yet. When I do it will be install and will post
how well it works.

I put a smoothspyder tensioner on my 2013RT a couple of weeks ago. It worked wonders. Here is a review from the thread I started.

Hi guys I installed the new and improved Smoothspyder on my 2013 RT last week. First off right out-of-the-box I could tell it was built very well has some nice weight to it. Second the installation was pretty straightforward pretty simple. You remove the nut on the bottom of the rear shock bracket, Slide on the new belt tensioner bracket which also acts as a belt guard, Install the new Grade 8 nut that is supplied with Loctite then bolt on the spring and pulley. Set the tension and you're good to go. Now for the test ride. I was having some serious vibrations due to belt slap especially when the bike was underload like going up a hill or riding two up. Sometimes going up a hill I would have to ride in third gear to get rid of the vibrations bike would feel like it was lugging. On highways at highway speeds always had to ride in fourth gear fifth gear would be too much vibration. Well all that is gone now. Now while riding shifting seems much smoother I'm riding in higher gears than I normally used to WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Just want to give a shout out to Capt. Jim spoke to him on the phone a couple times very nice gentleman to speak to. Customer service was great I ordered it had it in a few days.

 

[oldguyinTX]

Can you all explain more clearly this vibration you are feeling?

Wondering how you pinpoint the belt?

The vibration is felt in the floorboards - the whole bike shakes when first taking off , and them will vibrate in higher gears unless I keep the revs up. I rarely get to 5th gear. I am not a Spyder mechanic, but it seems to me that since so many other Spyder owners have felt the same vibration and have been able to eliminate it by installing a belt tensioner, one would think that this is the solution. Too bad taht an aftermarket company had to come up with a fix.

 

[oldguyinTX]

I put a smoothspyder tensioner on my 2013RT a couple of weeks ago. It worked wonders. Here is a review from the thread I started.

Hi guys I installed the new and improved Smoothspyder on my 2013 RT last week. First off right out-of-the-box I could tell it was built very well has some nice weight to it. Second the installation was pretty straightforward pretty simple. You remove the nut on the bottom of the rear shock bracket, Slide on the new belt tensioner bracket which also acts as a belt guard, Install the new Grade 8 nut that is supplied with Loctite then bolt on the spring and pulley. Set the tension and you're good to go. Now for the test ride. I was having some serious vibrations due to belt slap especially when the bike was underload like going up a hill or riding two up. Sometimes going up a hill I would have to ride in third gear to get rid of the vibrations bike would feel like it was lugging. On highways at highway speeds always had to ride in fourth gear fifth gear would be too much vibration. Well all that is gone now. Now while riding shifting seems much smoother I'm riding in higher gears than I normally used to WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Just want to give a shout out to Capt. Jim spoke to him on the phone a couple times very nice gentleman to speak to. Customer service was great I ordered it had it in a few days.

Great news on your Smoothspyder. I am really leaning towards installing one the consequencies Be @@@@@@!! It would be nice to actually get into 5th gear without feeling like I was beimg shaken like a bad martini. Please post your feelins as you put on more miles.

 

[Spyderdale]

Smooth Spyder

After I got my belt tensioner installed I wasn't able to check it out for a couple of weeks because of a flu bout. It was definitely better except I still had a serious problem between 50 and 55 mph. I suspected a bad front tire. I contacted the dealer (Renos in Martin city, Mo.)and asked them to call BRP to see if they would replace a bad tire. BRP said ok but swap wheels first to confirm. Long story short it was a bad left front tire which Renos promptly replaced. Spyder is now smooth at all speeds thanks to the belt tensioner and having gotten rid of the defective tire. Plug for Renos, they have been great at promptly addressing any problem that my spyder has had.

 

[3 Wheel Addict]

Either my bike don't have this vibration or it does and I don't know what it exactly feels like?? The only vibration that I think is abnormal is if I slightly lug the engine a bit, like rolling up a huge grade at too low a speed and just adding throttle without downshifting then I get a bad vibration felt through the whole bike, my clue to downshift. Is that it???

 

[Chupaca]

Smoothspyder..!!

Do you have one installed on your Spyder, and if so, which one (there are a couple of them out there) and for how long? My take from my phone conversation with BRP was that they had no interest in doing this.

Have had the smoothspyder installed for over a year now, 15,000 miles and working fine. I installed for two reasons 1. Vibrations, although not that bad and 2 holding the belt tighter to the rear sproket helps keep junk from getting in under...:thumbup:

 

[RBS66]

Either my bike don't have this vibration or it does and I don't know what it exactly feels like?? The only vibration that I think is abnormal is if I slightly lug the engine a bit, like rolling up a huge grade at too low a speed and just adding throttle without downshifting then I get a bad vibration felt through the whole bike, my clue to downshift. Is that it???

My bike had vibrations at certain RPM ranges. I had to either add more throttle or decrease throttle to ride out of it.
At highway speeds the vibes were much worse I couldn't really use 5th gear my bike felt like it was going to vibrate apart. Now with the new tensioner that is gone. I also ride in higher gears now than I use to because it is so much smoother. Hope this helps you understand what I was feeling maybe your bike doesn't have this issue.

 

[Jeriatric]

Best guess there are enough smoothspyder tensioners installed on spyders that their combined mileage would exceed a million miles(likely a conservatve number), and if memory serves me. No one has reported that their use of it has been questioned in a warranty claim. That said, whether to use one or not is still your choice.

 

[NancysToy]

I've always been intrigued by this.

Some people seem to have severe problems with vibration and others (me included) have not.
Much like that "other" subject that I'm not bringing up.

I wonder if the vibration is due to differences in the belt (maybe from different manufacturers) or adjustment or maybe it's all in the heads of the ryder :joke:

I think it is often a matter of perception and expectations. I am an old Brit bike and fuel bike rider, so anything that doesn't make my vision blur is pretty acceptable. People coming from a luxury car, with no bike experience at all, may think even a tiny bit is unusual. It could be the princess and the pea syndrome. That's not saying that there isn't vibration, or that it may not be objectionable. It's justr that every rider views it and perceives it a bit differently.

 

[Jeriatric]

My concern has always been less about myself and more about how the entire drive system likes being vibrated unnecessarily. To my thinking it's the cumlative probability of the vibration over the long term. It's not like we tear them down after a few runs and start over again. jm2c