New issue with Spyder

[dltang]

Here is one I haven't seen before and of course it has to happen to me. I have heard about the screws coming loose on the back fender and I've heard about the license plate cover coming off but never this. The brackets that hold my back fender are splitting. I started hearing this noise yesterday like something was loose when I would go over a bump. I couldn't see anything hanging or dangling and nothing felt loose. After I got home yesterday morning from some errands and this is what I found when I went to investigate my strange noise.

Brian and I, (mostly Brian went out to fix it today by using some of his brackets that he had taken off his spyder. Here is a couple of photos after we took the bracket off.

 

[bjt]

And what a pain it is to R&R those fender brackets. I would have preferred socket head bolts or hex head over the Torx button head screws they use. Locktite and Nylock nuts (along with 20,000 miles of road grime) also make the screw removal a lot more difficult.

On the bright side, I guess I'm glad that they don't come out easy or we'd have loose parts falling off while riding down the road.

When we were swapping out my fender brackets for hers, we noticed that mine also had the beginnings of the sheet metal tearing also, about 1/2" or 3/4" long. I drilled a couple of small holes at the end of the metal tear and then tried to put a little weld on the tear to hold it together. Times like that I would like to have a MIG welder as stick welding on the thin sheet metal was tough. I didn't have small enough rod to get the amperage down to make a decent weld on that stuff.

 

[Firefly]

Might want to just yank them and ride without (move the plate somewhere else). Wonder if they will cover this under warranty?

 

[Bersquack]

I've seen this on a French forum. I'll go check again to see if there was some resolution to this problem.

What is your suspension set to?

 

[NancysToy]

I thought someone here reported this earlier, too. Glad you found it before your fender joined Brian's license plate alongside the road somewhere.
-Scotty

 

[spyryder]

Running higher tire pressures could certainly exacerbate this problem.:doorag:

 

[bone crusher]

I've seen this on a French forum. I'll go check again to see if there was some resolution to this problem.

What is your suspension set to?

French forum? The only thing I follow French is the Tour de France...

 

[bone crusher]

Running higher tire pressures could certainly exacerbate this problem.:doorag:

Great point....I'm at 18/28...

20/30 really is uncomfortable and it makes your bike jump around..a little softer makes for a much better ride...

 

[spyryder]

Great point....I'm at 18/28...

20/30 really is uncomfortable and it makes your bike jump around..a little softer makes for a much better ride...

For sure....I've only got 23 in the rear and it'll bounce around corners with surface breaks, causing the engine to sputter when the nanny cuts in.

 

[Bersquack]

French forum? The only thing I follow French is the Tour de France...

A French spyder forum!:spyder:

 

[Bersquack]

Deb,

From what I gathered on another forum, you are not the first one with this issue. There seems to be two different ideas as the cause of this:

1) some think the suspension is too soft when two up. But someone with the Elka shocks had that problem too

2) Others think the excessive vibration may have caused the metal to bend and unbend slowly cracking it. Some suggested that could be more prevalent in areas with a lot of pot holes.

I'm sure you can get your dealer to fix it under warranty.

 

[vt228]

:lecturef_smilie: some of the guys and gals have took the back fender off if they have the parts still aske them if they would sell you them or give you the parts you nead you got a fast fix :lecturef_smilie:

 

[Smylinacha]

Hmmmm, well if it happens to me I'll just eliminate the back fender. Was thinking of doing away w/ the front ones too.:thumbup:

 

[Lamonster]

:yikes:

 

[dltang]

Deb,

From what I gathered on another forum, you are not the first one with this issue. There seems to be two different ideas as the cause of this:

1) some think the suspension is too soft when two up. But someone with the Elka shocks had that problem too

2) Others think the excessive vibration may have caused the metal to bend and unbend slowly cracking it. Some suggested that could be more prevalent in areas with a lot of pot holes.

I'm sure you can get your dealer to fix it under warranty.

There are a boatload of pot holes in MI, we have some of, if not the worst roads in the nation. I don't ride two up so I doubt that is the cause. I only just before this trip upped the setting on my rear shock. I will take these parts to the dealer and see if they will cover them. I don't have to buy used ones, I have Brian's for now.

 

[BRPjunkie]

There are quite a few higher mileage riders out there, but you two may be among the Michigan leaders. Potholes and winter riding may be contributing factors. Stress cracking is commmon with all metal, but these clearly should be replaced under warranty.

 

[McGone]

rear fender bracket

I had posted a picture of my rear fender brackets cracking last fall with about 18,000 miles.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7653&highlight=mcgone

When I took it to the dealer they found that the I7 PLX Givi saddle bags bracket was hitting the top of the rear fender bracket. The PLX then squeezed the read fender brackets in and the bracket cracked at the rear fender.

I replaced the rear fender brackets and ground off the PLX portion to get more clearance.

Did you have bags mounted? I see you ahve a hitch now.

 

[Smylinacha]

There are a boatload of pot holes in MI, we have some of, if not the worst roads in the nation. I don't ride two up so I doubt that is the cause. I only just before this trip upped the setting on my rear shock. I will take these parts to the dealer and see if they will cover them. I don't have to buy used ones, I have Brian's for now.

We have them here too along with frost heaves. The ride we took on Sunday - after going down this bumpy pot hole filled road I had to pee so bad. I don't understand why the people we ride with like this road - they go down it constantly - actually they don't go anywhere new - it gets pretty old. I think I'm gonna break away from it. I want rides where I'm not in 3rd gear and 4th gear - I want fast, smooth roads. 5th gear, crank it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tatt2r]

We ride all winter deb salt snow potholes still worth it

 

[Buelldog]

Locked In Stress

This should definetely be covered under warranty.These fender brackets are a rather involved metal stamping with some degree of forming stress present in the finished component.I think alot of us have felt the drive belt harmonics and most are aware of the V-Twin buzz vibration through the foot pegs and bars....all normal V-Twin quirks.
So....take a stressed component in to a zone of constant vibration and the slightest imperfection in a stamped or welded joint.......crack propagation will occur.With out knowing the specs on the steel and having a visual inspection on the bracket before it was powder coated it is just speculation as to what is causing the component to crack.....but no matter....should not fail unless subject to stress from add on mods that these brackets were not designed to accomodate.