I’m getting frustrated with the belt vibration - any ideas to help?

[EdMat]

I've put this on here before, but my experience has been:

I would pass thru a speed range that would cause a tremendous vibration coming up thru the floorboards. From recommendations I tried both lowering and raising the tension on the belt. Got quite good at it. All it did was change the speed that the vibration occurred.

Installed the dampener from Lamonster and it was the end of the problem. I didn't find any other way to handle the situation. Dealer was absolutely no help. it adds a small amount of work to periodically reach under and lift the arm and manually roll the roller to check the bearings, but that is so much better than the vibration.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I've put this on here before, but my experience has been:

I would pass thru a speed range that would cause a tremendous vibration coming up thru the floorboards. From recommendations I tried both lowering and raising the tension on the belt. Got quite good at it. All it did was change the speed that the vibration occurred.

Installed the dampener from Lamonster and it was the end of the problem. I didn't find any other way to handle the situation. Dealer was absolutely no help. it adds a small amount of work to periodically reach under and lift the arm and manually roll the roller to check the bearings, but that is so much better than the vibration.

Did you have a belt damper installed before you put the Lamonster damper on?

 

[Mikey]

The vibration and noise I'm experiencing is not as you say small. I get belt fluttering sounds and vibration at the same time. I'm having to learn how to lessen the effect at the same time always remembering what rpm range I'm in and also what gear. If I'm in 6th gear I can't just wack the throttle. If I do I will be rewarded with vibration and noise. So it ain't a small inconvenience.

Then in your case go the dampener, and see if it helps, but make sure you put that on your check sheet to keep an eye on the bearings in the roller!! Hate to see you beside the road with no belt!! Good luck

 

[troop]

F3S's come with the flimsy OEM belt isolator. I'm ordering a Lamonster one in a few weeks.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

F3S's come with the flimsy OEM belt isolator. I'm ordering a Lamonster one in a few weeks.

I'll probably do the same after we get back from California. I like the Lamonster damper, but I think I'll try the Slingmod version. It says it's 2 inches longer than stock. Not sure if Lamonsters is. Not sure if the Slingmod version has a replaceable roller like Lamonsters does.

 

[EdMat]

Did you have a belt damper installed before you put the Lamonster damper on?

Nope. Found it this way when I got it new.

 

[Poppie65]

In regards to the dampener, I had the OEM and changed to Lamonsters version and saw absolutely no change.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

In regards to the dampener, I had the OEM and changed to Lamonsters version and saw absolutely no change.

Hey Pal, thanks for the info. Is the Lamonster dampener the same length as the stock one?

 

[Poppie65]

Hey Pal, thanks for the info. Is the Lamonster dampener the same length as the stock one?

Honestly, I don't know if there's any difference in length or spring tension. I think the biggest difference between them is the bearing. The guys at the shop mentioned that Lamonster had his designed with a more resilient bearing that could be replaced independent of the assembly, saving user cost in the long run.

 

[troop]

I'll probably do the same after we get back from California. I like the Lamonster damper, but I think I'll try the Slingmod version. It says it's 2 inches longer than stock. Not sure if Lamonsters is. Not sure if the Slingmod version has a replaceable roller like Lamonsters does.

I had the Slingmod version, which is a Spyder Extras version, on my past F3S. It is a stout, beautifully made piece. Prior to that, I installed the Lamonster roller onto my OEM belt isolator. I really liked the Lamonster roller, very big and beefy. I have no idea if the Lamonster roller is longer lasting than the roller on the Spyder Extras? The Spyder Extras roller looked like a much-improved roller compared to the OEM roller. The Lamonster belt isolator wasn't available until after I purchased the Spyder Extras. Who knows if the added length will make a difference? The Lamonster piece is $60 cheaper than the Spyder Extras, although sales do pop up on the Spyder Extras unit. I should also note that I NEVER had any belt vibration on my F3S. The sole reason for the Lamonster roller/Spyder Extras belt isolator was for improved longevity over the cheap OEM plastic arm/roller, which is why I'll do it again. I can tell you that the tension on the Spyder Extras arm felt quite a bit stiffer than the OEM arm tension.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I had the Slingmod version, which is a Spyder Extras version, on my past F3S. It is a stout, beautifully made piece. Prior to that, I installed the Lamonster roller onto my OEM belt isolator. I really liked the Lamonster roller, very big and beefy. I have no idea if the Lamonster roller is longer lasting than the roller on the Spyder Extras? The Spyder Extras roller looked like a much improved roller compared to the OEM roller. The Lamonster belt isolator wasn't available until after I purchased the Spyder Extras. Who knows if the added length will make a difference? The Lamonster piece is $60 cheaper than the Spyder Extras, although sales do pop up on the Spyder Extras unit. I should also note that I NEVER had any belt vibration on my F3S. The sole reason for the Lamonster roller/Spyder Extras belt isolator was for improved longevity over the cheap OEM plastic arm/roller, which is why I'll do it again. I can tell you that the tension on the Spyder Extras arm felt quite a bit stiffer than the OEM arm tension.

Wow! Thanks for that info. Really appreciate it.
I called Lamonster about his roller and he told me the replacement roller he has wouldn't work on the stock arm.
I think if I do get a new belt damper it'll be the Slingmod version, just because it's longer. Thanks again.

 

[troop]

Wow! Thanks for that info. Really appreciate it.
I called Lamonster about his roller and he told me the replacement roller he has wouldn't work on the stock arm.
I think if I do get a new belt damper it'll be the Slingmod version, just because it's longer. Thanks again.

I wonder if Lamonster changed something? Prior to him coming out with his own belt isolator, he only sold the roller as an OEM replacement.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I actually emailed him the question because it was after hours, but whoever wrote me back said, "Sorry, it won't work." I left it at that.

 

[ollicat]

I have read through this thread and am wondering if my minor issue is the same. I also switched to the Altimax tire and from time to time, I get a rubbing sound from the belt area under my seat or a little further back. I hear it in 6th gear around 45 - 50 mph . At faster speeds, either the engine vibration drowns it out or it goes away. It is not a vibration so much as a mild sound about once a second of a rubbing. I probably feel it more than I hear it. Is this what others are experiencing? And It doesn't happen all the time either.

 

[ricford]

The SIMPLE solution is Lamonster IPS Idle Belt Tensioner. I had mine installed at about 2K miles. Had the same belt vibration. Since and at 47K miles, have had zero vibration.

 

[Poppie65]

The SIMPLE solution is Lamonster IPS Idle Belt Tensioner. I had mine installed at about 2K miles. Had the same belt vibration. Since and at 47K miles, have had zero vibration.

If it truly were that SIMPLE then the problem would have gone away after the belt vibration DAMPER was replaced with the Lamonster version. The cause of your vibration was obviously different than what most everyone else is reporting here.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Just a bit of a thought out of left field here, but for those of you running an Altimax rear tire and thinking this vibration issue might be related, can you tell us all what pressure you normally run in that tire?? :dontknow:

 

[Haze]

I run an Altimax rear tire on my 2016 F3T.
Tire pressure is 20 - 22 psi.
Belt tension is 140 on the ground with a Krikit gage.
No vibration.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I run an Altimax rear tire on my 2016 F3T.
Tire pressure is 20 - 22 psi.
Belt tension is 140 on the ground with a Krikit gage.
No vibration.

I've done the calculations for quite a few of these tires/sizes etc for a number of Spyder Owners now, and I haven't yet found anyone who has been putting enough of a load on their rear tire to warrant running anything much more than 18 psi in any of their non-Kenda tires for the majority of their riding (long, hot, &/or high speed miles for hours at a time running at close to or over the Spyder's full load excepted! ), so I wonder if running that (potential over-inflation??) sort of pressure in the tire juuust might be contributing something to the vibrations those of you running Altimax tires & posting in this thread are still experiencing? :dontknow:

From my calculations to date, for anything up to the recommended max load on the Spyder itself, running 20 psi in just about any non-Kenda rear tire is very likely to be at least a 10% over-inflation; and as such, it's a level of over-inflation which could have a significant (adverse) impact on your Spyder's ride, traction, handling, tire life, and yes, even on tire induced vibrations! :shocked:

It'll be interesting to hear if any of the others with Altimax rear tires who have already lowered their belt tensions but are still having vibration issues might be running the same sort of (potentially over-inflated?) pressures??



And while I'm here, just as a side note about the tire weight difference mentioned earlier - there really isn't all that much difference between the weight of the 'lightly constructed' Kendas and that of most other 'real' car tires that are almost always constructed 'better' and with a higher quality/attention to quality! :lecturef_smilie:

It's the construction itself that's 'light' about the Kendas, and the manufacturer's attention to producing a high quality product; not necessarily the weight of all of the materials put into them; so the Kendas really don't tend weigh all that much differently from most other better quality tires of similar sizes - in fact, they are actually a couple/few pounds heavier than at least some of the better, longer lasting, and higher performance car tires that are often suggested as alternatives here - altho the Kendas are still seemingly being made of lesser quality materials and definitely with less attention to consistently producing a high quality product! :gaah: :banghead:

If you want to see some of the numbers/comparisons of tire weights, just enter 'tire weight' into the Search field; click on 'Search Titles Only' in the drop down box; submit the search; and have a bit of a read - there's at least one thread with that title showing some comparisons! :thumbup:

 

[hoghead55]

I installed an Altimax on my 2012 RT Ltd this summer & now have a very noticeable vibration that can be heard & also felt through the left footboard at times.
Did not have any vibration with the Kenda.
Tire pressue is between 20-22 psi & currently my belt tension is at 28 HZ/175 lbs on the ground.
I have been adjusting belt tension lower & higher to reduce or eliminate the vibration but just moves to different speeds & rpm.