Ok, I had my head too far forward. Looking down the top of the belt I don't see one.
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Do the 2021 RT Ltd's have a belt idler? If not, which one fits? Best?
- Thread starter Dakota Jim
- Start date
Ok, I had my head too far forward. Looking down the top of the belt I don't see one.
K80Shooter
New member
If you order one the one that Lamonster has a bigger roller and bearing and last's much longer.
How difficult was the removal of panels on left side if you did it yourself? I watched a video and the steps here but not sure I want to get into that. I did remove right side to wire my GPS and that wasn't bad but the left side seems a different animal. I have an RT June '20 build and it doesn't have it. What did you notice in ride after install?
Jetfixer
Well-known member
It's not difficult to install, just time consuming getting the panels removed. If, and that's a big if, you have a belt vibration, at usually around 70-75 MPH, you would benefit from the belt idler. Not all Spyders develop this vibration for some reason. You'll know you need it if at say, 73 mph you get a strong vibration but it goes away at 76 mph or higher, or 70 mph and slower. A belt idler rides on the top, smooth surface of the belt and is spring loaded. That allows it to absorb the bouncing of the belt at certain speeds that you feel as vibration. If your bike doesn't give you that vibration, or if you don't spend a lot of time at highway speeds, you really wouldn't benefit from installing an idler.
Very informative. I do spend some time on interstates out of necessity 75-80. With 700 miles so far I'll have to notice specifically next time I'm out. With a new machine it is hard to know what is normal or not.
My dealer suggests that if I add the idler when they add the updated pulley then I wouldn't know which one helped. Does it matter, since they are adding the pulley makes sense to add the idler at same time, otherwise if they do it later it will be costly labor. We'll see. Interesting that some folks here believe their idler is coming from factory on '21s. So there must be a reason. Would be nice for clarification from BRP that we can show the dealer.
EdMat
Well-known member
If you read jetfixer's post he makes it pretty clear what it does and the problem it solves.
K80Shooter
New member
The Idler Pulley Kit is just the part to upgrade your existing idler/tensioner pulley if you have one. Both the roller and the bearing is bigger than the oem, no problem to install. If you do not have a belt tensioner already you'll need the complete unit.
Some people say that it will quieten the whine down a little and also if you have any belt vibration it will take care of that. For me it did nothing for the noise but I was able to virtually eliminate it by adjusting the belt alignment, what's left I can live with but the dealer is getting me a new style replacement front pulley.
Is it worth the cost.... I think so.
First I've heard of belt alignment. How did you check and adjust it? If belt is fully seated in each pulley isn't that perfect alignment?
K80Shooter
New member
Visually look to see if the belt is running against the pulley flange, if it is then it needs to be adjusted. Mine was off when I 1st got it and after talking with the dealer repair shop I found that I had rather do it myself as the shop help seemed lacking to me. (I did by the way run a repair shop myself for close to 30 years, just not for bikes.)
In my 2020 Owners Manual it's on page 121 so the 2021 should be the same or close. Also if you just had the front sprocket replaced then they should have got it right then.
There are several threads on here about it just do a search on belt adjustment. It took several tries for me to get it right. I finally got the belt where I wanted it then lowered the machine to the ground then tightened the bolt to the required specs. Before I did it this way the belt always moved back against the flange when I tightened the bolt. Also when you look at it make sure that you had just went in a straight line before shutting it down. If you had just made a turn or something you will get a false reading as the belt does move in and out when doing so.
Dakota Jim
New member
I just picked my 2021 RT Ltd up yesterday and it came with a belt idler, build date of Feb. 2021
That video was interesting. Seems I heard that maybe the later '21 standards were coming with the idler but no confirmation on that. If its needed on the limiteds seems it's needed on all of them.
PW2013STL
Active member
It also shows that the idler is mounted in a different spot than before. It's now mounted further back and on top of the floorboard mount.
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