Ok, Weird thing happened this morning

[Wahrsuul]

First day it's not raining so I got to ride in. I'm still fairly new to the tryke so I was working it a bit hard - hit 70-80 once or twice on the straights, but mostly cruising at around 65-70. Got to my exit, downshifted and stopped at the light so I put it in neutral. I noticed it smelled a little hot, but the gauge showed the 3 bars so I figured it was ok. Light changed, I hit the + button... and nothing. It stayed in neutral. Hm, hit it again and still nothing. Now I'm on a slight incline so I had to hold the brake so keep from moving so that wasn't it. I rolled to the side of the road, turned it off, waited a moment, then started it back up. Seems to be running fine, although I did notice the temp gauge was up to 4 bars and the fans kicked on. But not issues after that. Just a fluke?

On another note, when the fans kicked in, I hear the left side one, but not sure I could hear the right side. Is that normal?

I haven't had it but two weeks, hoping it's not dying already.

 

[4 MARIE]

do you shift your car into neutral at every stop sign/light? Is your RT an SE or SM?
Of course you can't get out of neutral without foot on brake, Fans or fan kicking on is perfectly understandable
If you have been sitting there a while idling. I don't think you have any real issues here, but that's just my guess.
4 bars on temp gauge? That sounds like the gauge in the cluster. Not the analog one ?

 

[Pirate looks at --]

I am pretty sure that this is not the problem but you do not need to shift into neutral. Not sure what may have caused the issue but worth a trip to the dealer to investigate.

 

[JayBros]

From what I recall in the MSF course for your own safety one should not be in neutral at a stoplight/sign but should be in first in case one has to make a getaway from the moron behind who may not be able to stop before rear ending you.

 

[Chupaca]

Possibly....

These machines are prone to tossing out little glitches that after a re-start are not to be found. It it did give a code you did not see it will be stored and only when on the BUDS system at the dealer can be seen. If it happens again have it checked out. As to the heat smell etc most times if not ryden in a while there is a certain amount of dust and debris that will burn off on the initial run. As long as the temp and fan are in the normal range and working your fine. You can see if both fans are working by letting it heat up while stopped and checking both sides....:thumbup:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

I think the message here is "DO NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL" at a stop light or similar situation, this transmission is similar to your car transmission, only go into neutral to change from forward to reverse or to push it around a parking lot.

:agree:

Cruzr Joe

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

:agree: about Not shifting it into Neutral …. and my SE won't go into gear when in Neutral …..you have to have your foot on the Brake … your Spyder is new , so there will be some un-familiar odors for awhile ….. any Strong odors need to be identified tho ..Mike hyea:

 

[Wahrsuul]

You know, I tried to put my tryke info into a sig line, and apparently it didn't work. Its a 2014 RT-S SE6.

Yes, when I drove a manual car, I shifted into neutral at most lights. My father used to tell me it wasn't good for the throw out bearings to sit at lights all the time with the clutch in.

Honestly, I'm not sure how it got into neutral, I must have down shifted one too many times. Normally I'd let it downshift for me, but I was testing the limits some and shifting up and down throughout the ride. I've only had it a couple weeks so I'm still feeling things out.

Yes, I use the digital gauges - the PO pulled the mechanicals and swapped them for volt meter and oil pressure gauges. One of the things I liked about it when I bought it. Got a few other handy farkles, and some useless (to me) ones as well.

Strange - as I post this, the sig line shows up.

 

[Gwolf]

The strange odor is the mouse that went to sleep in your exhaust pipe cooking.

 

[Bfromla]

You may have shifted down as the SE was already about to. Been there done that, you do need to check the oil level. My SE 5 would fail to shift when only 1/2 qt low or so(not enough for warning ). Can only guess the SE6 follows closely.

 

[JayBros]

If you have a 2014 RT-S the Spyder isn't going to die on you. It is a very reliable machine. I suggest you take it out and on a plain old road and try to replicate the situation you described. For your own safety the 1330 ACE engine will not shift out of neutral, either into first or reverse, unless the operator first steps on the brake. Read pg 13-14 of your operator's guide.

Regarding Bfromla's comment about transmission performance in a low oil situation, you 1330 Ace engine does not use ANY oil. If you properly check the oil level and it is no lower than the Min bulb mark on the dipstick your Spyder will run and shift fine until the cows come home. If you notice the oil level going down the engine is not using it, you have a leak.

 

[4 MARIE]

you cannot, in my experience, downshift into neutral.
Neutral can only be found with a half/shift, or light touch, up from first..

 

[JayBros]

you cannot, in my experience, downshift into neutral.
Neutral can only be found with a half/shift, or light touch, up from first..

I do it every time I pull into my garage. I'm in first to climb the grade to the garage and as I roll in I tap the lever one more time to downshift and it goes into neutral. Top of pg 14 of OG. I guess we could quibble about whether a light tap on the downshift lever when in first is really downshifting but we both probably have more productive things to do.

 

[Wahrsuul]

Well, rode some 2 up on Saturday, and rode to work this morning with no issues. It may well be that I let go of the brake and started coasting (as I would on a "regular" bike), then tried to shift. I can't say for certain. Just something to keep watch on I guess. But I've only had it a couple weeks, so I'm still adjusting. Nanny caught me this morning trying to slide onto the entry ramp, but it was a very smooth reduction in power and didn't cause me any undue issue.