No Power Stearing

[BajaRon]

It was a cold day in January....

Finally took my Spyder in for warranty work (Alcoa Good Times in East Tennessee). I've owned my Spyder since January 31, 2008 and have over 7600 miles on it.

My Spyder was a bit hard to steer right from the dealer. But never having ridden a Spyder I figured it was normal. After all, the dealer set-up guy rode it before giving it to me and you'd think he would have noticed.

A few months ago I left my Spyder at Lamont's house. During its stay there Lamont tore down his Spyder (a common activity) and decided to ride my Spyder to town for parts (which is good because he usually just takes the parts off mine hoping I won't notice). All it took was backing it out of the garage and he thought I had 2 flat tires. Checked inflation... not the problem. But why was it so hard to steer?

He called me up and said "What's with your power steering?". I told him I didn't think the PS feature on the Spyder was much to brag about. He said "That's because you don't have any!".

He checked everything he could, all appeared fine but no PS!

The guys at Alcoa were friendly and seemed knowledgable about the Spyder. They said they'd check it out and let me know. So far I have a good feeling about it.

I'm hoping to get the finicky parking brake recall fix too but that may be in doubt because my vin number isn't showing in the spread. We'll see.

 

[ataDude]

...My warranty expiration is getting close so I figured I'd better get on it...

??? Base warranty is 24 months. ???

Good luck on the power steering!

.

 

[M2Wild]

Keep us posted on the PS.:read:

 

[BajaRon]

??? Base warranty is 24 months. ???

Good luck on the power steering!

.

Really!? Well, to tell you the truth, didn't pay much attention. Just assumed a 12 month warranty.

In any case, I needed to get that PS fixed and it was good checking out the dealership I'd like to use in the future.

I've heard good things about Alcoa Good Times. I usually try to do all my own work (or leave my stuff at Lamont's so long he fixes it for me). But there are times when Dealer Service is the only way to go.

I'll keep you posted...

 

[Magic Man]

Ron,

I'm sure Lamontster told you the deal with mine as it was just like yours from day one also. I never really noticed it until like Lamont I got on our new SE5 which has the PS working normal. As soon as I drove it 2 feet I knew the SM5 was not right.

The dealer replaced the whole PS unit as directed by BRP and still nothing!

They finally replaced the gear indicator switch and did a new software download, now it works. :clap:

I would recommend you share this info with your dealer as the switch and download are but a few minutes to do as compaired to the PS unit and all that is involved with that. :thumbup:

MM

 

[M2Wild]

Maybe we should all go borrow Lamontster's Spyder fer a ride to make sure ours are working correctly ay? :2thumbs:

 

[trikester]

Maybe we should all go borrow Lamontster's Spyder fer a ride to make sure ours are working correctly ay? :2thumbs:

Darn! Another thing I should have done when Lamonster and I rode Palomar Mountain last August.

 

[BajaRon]

Ron,

I'm sure Lamontster told you the deal with mine as it was just like yours from day one also. I never really noticed it until like Lamont I got on our new SE5 which has the PS working normal. As soon as I drove it 2 feet I knew the SM5 was not right.

The dealer replaced the whole PS unit as directed by BRP and still nothing!

They finally replaced the gear indicator switch and did a new software download, now it works. :clap:

I would recommend you share this info with your dealer as the switch and download are but a few minutes to do as compaired to the PS unit and all that is involved with that. :thumbup:

MM

Yes, Lamont told me about your situation, as you said, same as mine. I did let the dealer know what happened to you. Alcoa has already done at least 1 other NO PS fix, same senario, replaced everything with no improvement until the gear indicator switch was addressed.

I hope to hear from them tomorrow and I'm hoping for a quick solution since Daytona is coming up soon.

By the way, really love the new lighting kits you're producing. Great quality and function. The fender and mud flap areas have been screaming for a lighted upgrade since day one!

Keep it up Magic Man!

 

[BajaRon]

Maybe we should all go borrow Lamontster's Spyder fer a ride to make sure ours are working correctly ay? :2thumbs:

:agree:
Great idea! Line forms to the Right!

But we should wait until he mounts that new rear tire don't you think?

 

[GA-SPYDER]

"I'm hoping to get the finicky parking brake recall fix too but that may be in doubt because my vin number isn't showing in the spread. We'll see."

What is the vin number range? Every time I ride mine in the rain or wash it, my parking brake refuses to release. Spray it with degreaser and blow dry it, then spray it with silicone. It's the only nagging problem that I have.
Oh, and when i saw the PS problem the first time, I did a little test on mine. Before starting the :spyder:, grab the handlebars and put a little turning pressure in one direction or the other. While holding pressure, start er up and you will feel the PS kick in.

 

[TONI]

Power steering ?

Just wondering how I would know if mine has power steering or not. Only had it a month and only ridden a couple times (waiting on windshield) but it seems to me its really hard to steer especially in the turns. I really have to exert alot of muscle. Is there a simple way to determine if mine has power steering, or wait until the 600 mile check & ask the tech at the dealer?

 

[Lamonster]

Just wondering how I would know if mine has power steering or not. Only had it a month and only ridden a couple times (waiting on windshield) but it seems to me its really hard to steer especially in the turns. I really have to exert alot of muscle. Is there a simple way to determine if mine has power steering, or wait until the 600 mile check & ask the tech at the dealer?

One easy way to check is to put a little pressure on your bars and start the Spyder. If it moves chances are it's working.

 

[M2Wild]

it seems to me its really hard to steer especially in the turns. I really have to exert alot of muscle.

Get buff while riding :spyder:. What more can you possibily hope for? It's the best of both worlds.

 

[bjt]

One easy way to check is to put a little pressure on your bars and start the Spyder. If it moves chances are it's working.

:agree: Or turn the handlebars full left and full right with the Spyder off. Start the Spyder and turn the handlebars full left and full right. It should be noticeably (a lot) easier to turn the handlebars with the Spyder running.

Get buff while riding :spyder:. What more can you possibily hope for? It's the best of both worlds.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade...

 

[dogtired]

Darn! Another thing I should have done when Lamonster and I rode Palomar Mountain last August.

Is it possible to program the steering so that it steers faster/easier? I've ridden Palomar countless of times since 1989 on my motorcycles and based on the SE5 test-ride I took, I imagine a spirited ride up and down the east and south grades would be an arm and shoulder work-out....never mind trying to rail it at motorcycle speeds in the esses and hairpins.

I'm also imagining trail-braking in high-speed left turns/curves would be a challenge with the sole right-foot brake pedal when lifitng your butt off the saddle and shifting your body weight to the inside of the the turn/curve....I could be wrong.

Easier steering and hand-brakes.....two "must haves: for truly fast and technical riding on a Spyder in the twisties.....I would think.

 

[BajaRon]

"I'm hoping to get the finicky parking brake recall fix too but that may be in doubt because my vin number isn't showing in the spread. We'll see."

What is the vin number range? Every time I ride mine in the rain or wash it, my parking brake refuses to release. Spray it with degreaser and blow dry it, then spray it with silicone. It's the only nagging problem that I have.
Oh, and when i saw the PS problem the first time, I did a little test on mine. Before starting the :spyder:, grab the handlebars and put a little turning pressure in one direction or the other. While holding pressure, start er up and you will feel the PS kick in.

The dealer had a range of VIN numbers that the parking brake recall applied to but I did not see it. He said my VIN was not within the range. I guess that means I don't have a problem???? Does that mean I already have the new part?

If I do have the new part then I can tell you it doesn't fix the problem. My PB hangs at least 50% of the time. I keep pushing it down further and further as it keeps latching at the harder pressure rather than releasing.

The service writer showed me the old stamped steel part that the parking brake ratchets on (removed from a serviced Spyder) . One edge is sharp and square but the other edge is rounded (from the stamping process).

The part was probably 1/8" to 3/16" thick but showed contact of less than 1/16" with the ratchet mechanism, and this was at the of the rounded edge side.

He said the small contact area at the rounded edge was the problem. The new part (which we did not see) was cut and not stamped giving it a square edge on both sides and more than twice the contact area with the ratchet.

Depending on how the part mounts and which way it needs to go, seems to me you could shim it out and get the additional contact area. But shimming might push it the wrong direction. Don't know.

I will see if I can get the VIN range for the recall when I go back to the dealer.

 

[GA-SPYDER]

Parking Brake

Thanks for the PB info. I'll look at my :spyder:when i get home and see what the part looks like. It seems like that little spring does not always " click over".
Thanks again.:thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

Thanks for the PB info. I'll look at my :spyder:when i get home and see what the part looks like. It seems like that little spring does not always " click over".
Thanks again.:thumbup:

If you can get a look at the area on the stationary piece where the ratchet teeth are it should be easy to tell if you have the old stamped part or the new cut part. I only saw the old part but I'm sure the difference will be obvious.

 

[BajaRon]

Update:

Talked to Alcoa Service today. They told me there are 3 recalls that apply to my Spyder.

1. Brake reservoir caps (Old news, got that done months ago but obviously my stellar dealer in Florida did not report the repair)

2. Parking Brake. GREAT! I guess the innitial statement that my VIN number was not in the spread for this recall was in error. I will be glad to get a functioning PB!

3. Gear Position Sensor. This is a new one on me. Anyone else heard of this recall? I"m not sure if this is the same part that fixed Magic Man's power steering problem or not ("gear indicator switch" in his case). Different terminology for the same part or different part?

The service tech said they had not determined what my PS problem was yet. Don't know if that means they haven't looked at it yet or if they looked but couldn't find a problem.

If I had to guess I'd say they want to replace the GPS (Gear Position Sensor) first and see if that fixes it before they waste time troubleshooting an illusive issue.

I'll update again with any additional news.

 

[Magic Man]

Update:
3. Gear Position Sensor. This is a new one on me. Anyone else heard of this recall? I"m not sure if this is the same part that fixed Magic Man's power steering problem or not ("gear indicator switch" in his case). Different terminology for the same part or different part?.

Yes the GPS is what finally fixed mine along with a new software download. :thumbup:

MM