rear air-ride bag and compressor gone - is protector still avail?

[Wahrsuul]

You say you never adjusted the air, but the system did it for you. larryd found that the system was constantly adjusting over bumps and such so he went with a manual system. It's annoying to me that BRP didn't think far enough ahead to realize that a leak in the system would cause the compressor to kill itself - that's poor design.

I'm thinking for me, Id like to get the Elka set up for my ride and have the air bag with manual compressor as back up for the rare case when she rides with me. Going straight from the schrader is all well and good, but it's a PITA for me to have to drag out the compressor and extension cord, wait for it to fill, get the air bag where I want it, then put it all away. Much easier to have a gauge on the tryke and a button to add/release it.

 

[Mikey]

You say you never adjusted the air, but the system did it for you. larryd found that the system was constantly adjusting over bumps and such so he went with a manual system. It's annoying to me that BRP didn't think far enough ahead to realize that a leak in the system would cause the compressor to kill itself - that's poor design.

I'm thinking for me, Id like to get the Elka set up for my ride and have the air bag with manual compressor as back up for the rare case when she rides with me. Going straight from the schrader is all well and good, but it's a PITA for me to have to drag out the compressor and extension cord, wait for it to fill, get the air bag where I want it, then put it all away. Much easier to have a gauge on the tryke and a button to add/release it.

You could fill it with one of those small bike pumps, cheap and you could stow it away in one of the trunks, but I really think you will not need that bag if you tell the people from Elka what your trying to do, they are going to build the shock with a duel spring set up, one spring will be the main ride spring the other will be like a overload basically, I know I am not explaining it well! Your not going to need that air bag as much as you think!! Think you may be over thinking it, call them and talk to them, your not the only one that been here! Good Luck:cheers:

 

[Myron Ah]

I did get the fernco cap. I had a hard time lining it up. I took it out and put just the cap in with the bolt going down thru from the top to line it up. I took a small paint brush and painted four lines at the base to line it up and put things back inplace. worked great. thanks for the air hose idea. I probably won't do the rocker switch. I have the toggle switch in place so I'm good. to much work to redo that.

 

[fulltimer]

The biggest thing is most people over think this system and there is a lot of different things you can do, and money you can spend! When my bag or shock blows up on my ride it will get a nice Elka2 or M2 shock on her! They are adjustable, and rebuildable, easy, pezzey!! My compressor burned up last year I bypassed it for now, works great didn't cost me a thing! Have a good day!!

OK, this is the second mention of replacing with Elka Stage 2. C A U T I ON !!! I currently have Stage 2 all around on my ST. The rear has been flawless and wouldn't trade it for anything, but Elka stage 2s have a very large failure rate. I have had to have my fronts repaired 3 times in 3 years, on a road only machine.

 

[Wahrsuul]

Is it just the front Elka's that have been having issues? I have Fox shocks on the front now and was thinking to replace all three at once, but it's not necessary. I do need to replace the weak rear shock. Some have suggested M2, but I understand they're pricey.

 

[trikermutha]

https://www.m2shocks.com/canam-spyder-products

Call Marcus and talk with him he will answer your questions.

 

[spyderryder53]

I ordered all 3 stage 2 shocks but with Clovis they are 3 to 4 weeks behind.

 

[spyderryder53]

This will replace the air system completely

 

[Mikey]

Is it just the front Elka's that have been having issues? I have Fox shocks on the front now and was thinking to replace all three at once, but it's not necessary. I do need to replace the weak rear shock. Some have suggested M2, but I understand they're pricey.

I would keep the fox shocks if I was you, they make a good dependable shock that you can adjust and rebuild!!!

 

[fulltimer]

Is it just the front Elka's that have been having issues? I have Fox shocks on the front now and was thinking to replace all three at once, but it's not necessary. I do need to replace the weak rear shock. Some have suggested M2, but I understand they're pricey.

I can only speak for my self. As mentioned before, the rear has been flawless. But the fronts have been a nightmare.

 

[spyderryder53]

We have bypassed the compressor and valve, making a straight shot from Schrader valve to air bag. All the parts are already there, so it is just labor. Check it when you check your tires. Works great. The 2020 STD RT is a manual fill.

Can you get to the air bag from the side panel removal or do you have to remove the trunk?

 

[al0vely]

I agree with Mikey, i would go from air bag to shrader valve and be done with it. From what i have seen, the usual culprit is the check valve gets really dirty/gummy from the road. This causes the compressor to go bad. Earlier compressors had a set screw that would come loose and the piston rod would disconnect from the crank. Good luck on what you decide to do.

Is there a special process that must be done to block off the flow to the pump or are you just filling thru the valve manually?

 

[Mikey]

Can you get to the air bag from the side panel removal or do you have to remove the trunk?

Did mine from the side

 

[spyderryder53]

Did mine from the side

Will the air line from the Schrader valve reach the air bag or did you have to add to it?

 

[Mikey]

It's been a while, but follow the line up from the bag to the end, unhook it from there, just push in on the end of the fitting while you pull and wiggle side to side! then see if you have enough slack in that air line to reach the schrader, if there isn't you buy a coupling and add some air line to reach it, they sell everything you need at most good auto parts store that would have parts for most large commercial truck parts! I think I had enough line to reach with mine. It's a tight fit and hard to reach but is really doable. Good luck!

 

[Wahrsuul]

No, the air line from the schrader does not reach the air bag, nor will the one from the air bag reach. I'm glad some people didn't have issues, but we had both sides the plastic removed and COULD NOT get the hose off of the air bag. Ended up getting a coupler to connect the line from the valve to the one on the bag.

 

[Myron Ah]

Just realized you asked a question!!! Yes I did put a fernco cup on. was not easy. had to undo and make paint lines to line it up for bolting

 

[Myron Ah]

REMOVED EVERY PANEL. I hooked up a swtich and compressor and gauge