No Power Steering at Idle

[spydermanstever]

I have an observation and a question. I have a 2015 Spyder RTL and I have noticed when it is at idle it takes a lot of effort to steer. My friend's identical same year and model Spyder is the same. I checked it to eliminate the possibility that it was just my machine. Then I checked my other friend's 2016 Spyder F3 and it is the same as our RT's. Then I checked a lady's new 2017 F3 Limited and the steering assist was there at idle. How many of you have noticed this problem? It is more obvious when you are trying to back up and manoeuvre a trailer hooked to the Spyder. Has anyone with this problem had a dealer rectify it by increasing the power steering assist using BUDS?

 

[DGoebel]

How is it a problem? Are you rolling or moving at idle and not able to push/pull on the bars, going out to check my '13 RTL now but have never noticed it.

 

[JayBros]

I cannot say about the 2017 F3 but on the 2014 and following years, to some point, the power steering assist does not go into action until the Spyder begins to move. The system may have been changed for MY 2017.

 

[ARtraveler]

I believe that the Spyder has to be moving for the PS to kick in. :thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

POWER STEERING

I believe that the Spyder has to be moving for the PS to kick in. :thumbup:

:agree::agree:..... I agree , I've owned three and none were easy to turn until they were moving .... even just slightly ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[spydermanstever]

How is it a problem? Are you rolling or moving at idle and not able to push/pull on the bars, going out to check my '13 RTL now but have never noticed it.

As I said, it is more noticeable when you are backing up a trailer (mine is a BRP RT622) slowly and have to make quick steering adjustments to manouevre trailer in place. Another time you may notice it is when you are stopped and want to turn your steering to the lock position before you turn the machine off and lock the steering and glove box. I have seen many people crank their steering to get it to the lock position after the machine is off as there is not much difference in the assist running at idle or off.

 

[Buckeye Bleau]

The steering is properly labeled as Dynamic Power Steering, this by definition means that as the speed increases the assist does change, when still, static or not moving it is not engaged.

Joe

 

[irvin48]

then what good is it . you dont need it when rolling. polaris has all
time ps on their atvs. i believe arctic cat uses their technology. my
honda rubicon has ps which doesnt work until rolling. its neede most when
stopped. especially with a plow. so, again i ask, what is the advantage, beside no steering kickback ? just asking , not whining.--irv

 

[Malathion]

I also noticed that about the 17 s . They have made some steering changes.

 

[Bob Denman]

Question: How much power steering do you need, if the bike isn't moving? :dontknow:

 

[Easy Rider]

Question: How much power steering do you need, if the bike isn't moving? :dontknow:

The man SAID that already......twice.
For the third time, he has a trailer attached.
If you have never tried to back a trailer without power steering, I guess you wouldn't understand.

AND.....typical "dynamic" power steering gives the most assist when stopped and at low speeds and then the assist decreases with speed.
It almost looks to me like the Spyder design has that backwards.

I would REALLY like to turn the assist completely OFF on mine and see how it handles.

 

[Bob Denman]

It'll handle exactly the same... but it'll just take more effort to turn the bars! :clap:

 

[Jetfixer]

The description of the power steering system in the shop manual says that the amount of assist is proportional to vehicle speed with greater assist at lower speeds like it should be. Also, assist is decreased with speed in reverse.

 

[3 wheeler]

My 2015 F3 has no power steering at idle, hell I don't even feel when it ever has power steering lol! :dontknow:

 

[jaherbst]

This is NORMAL. It's called DPS and provide no ps at idle.

Jack

 

[Spyderjuice]

PS assist

That's the way they work. No power steering when idle. I've complained about this awhile back when I ask if the programming could be changed to give less or no effort under 5 MPH or when idled. In a parking lot when it is tight and you need to turn the wheels before you move, it takes Gorilla arms to turn. Seems to me a computer program could be changed. However, I never got an answer. BRP, are listening?

Stan

 

[Easy Rider]

T BRP, are listening?

Maybe. At least one owner of a 2017 reports that his power steering assist DOES work at idle.

If they have made a design change, it's not likely that they are going to admit that they initially made a mistake........and left it like that for about 18 years. :yes:

 

[irvin48]

maybe we paid for something we never got. dealer says it is working normally.:banghead:

 

[ruralgirl]

I always figured the reason my RT-S is hard to steer when I'm sitting still is simply BECAUSE I'm sitting still. The friction of two, nearly treadless, flat-belted and relatively wide tires (with the resultant generous surface contact) at a standstill is greater than when they're allowed to roll. My quad, OTOH, which has no PS at all, is easy to steer at a standstill with its narrower, more roundly-belted, and extremely deep and knobby treaded tires, which reduce contact (on smooth, hard surfaces) by a good 50%.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: I'm waiting to see who will call this a "design flaw", and a "serious safety issue"; that requires an intervention from NHTSA... :banghead: