HowTo: RT seat and trunk shock strut replacement

[Arion]

Today turned out to be the day I replaced the trunk lift strut on my 2015 RT-S and the trunk and seat lift struts on my wife's 2021 Sea to Sky. All three are Show Chrome heavy duty struts available from Lamonster Garage and several other vendors. Both trunk struts include detailed instructions and are straight forward requiring no more than 10 to 15 minutes (without breaks). And both function as advertised - the lids open easily and stay open.

The 2020+ RT seat strut replacement is a bit more complicated. The instructions are adequate, but I found an excellent video by Pierre at canamspyderaccessories.com was very helpful. It's very well done and offers tips that make the task easier than some other forum members have experienced. The best way to release the bottom of the OEM strut from its post is with a long narrow flat bladed screwdriver as described in the Show Chrome instructions. It may take a few attempts, but it does work better than Pierre's "from under the Spyder" technique, at least for me.

Attachment of the lower end of the new strut using Pierre's technique works exactly as he demonstrates. The best way to understand is to watch the video but, with more than a few words, here's how it works. Standing on the left side of the machine facing to the rear, align the strut socket with the lower post. Grasp the body of the strut with the left hand and the upper attachment point with the right thumb and forefinger. While pushing to the rear with the left hand, pull sharply toward the front of the machine with the right hand until you hear a distinct snap. That's the hardest part; attach the upper strut screw, replace the passenger seat and the driver backrest if appropriate. The driver's seat will now remain in the up position when you want it to. Another improvement that's worth the cost of the items.

 

[safecracker]

Arion, glad you were successful. I added a spring to my seat shock and I did replace the trunk lid shock. Both work like they should, now. You would think BRP would install stronger struts than they do. Since they have not done so since 2010 they probably wont. Bruce

 

[pegasus1300]

I added a stronger seat strut when I put the back rest on the seat several years ago and it has worked like a charm even with the new heavier seat from Mark Hart. I got it from McMaster Carr. I also got my new trunk lid strut from them also as well as a second strut and mounting hardware from them. My trunk lid now stays up even with the rack on there and a slight load. It is worth doing and I am glad I did it. All the part numbers can be found here in the forum, you will just have to do a little searching. It may be that Lamonster has all the parts also.

 

[Arion]

Arion, glad you were successful. I added a spring to my seat shock and I did replace the trunk lid shock. Both work like they should, now. You would think BRP would install stronger struts than they do. Since they have not done so since 2010 they probably wont. Bruce

i bought the spring for the seat strut fix but never did get around to installing it. I misplaced it in the garage and then completely forgot about it. Oh well, the new gas struts were a good fix. I agree with you regarding BRPs weak struts. They must have managed a spectacular deal on tons of borderline adequate struts.

 

[TroubledJuan]

When I went to replace my Seat Strut, I watched both Pierre's and Martin the Vlogger's videos and Martin showed doing the bottom release with a long screw driver, it took a couple of times, but it was pretty easy..

 

[bikerbillone]

Safe Cracker, that spring idea sounds very interesting, can you be more specific, like spring size, how the install goes, maybe a pic? Thanks.

 

[ES44AC]

A long thin flat blade screwdriver is definitely a key tool for that seat shock.

I want to say that Show Chrome knocked this offering out of the park! Better than the OEM!

 

[blacklightning]

Safe Cracker, that spring idea sounds very interesting, can you be more specific, like spring size, how the install goes, maybe a pic? Thanks.

I too would like to hear more about this spring idea. Sounds like something that would be useful. My trunk lid is fine (for now), but the seat strut is a pain.

 

[bikerbillone]

Finally broke down and ordered the seat shock from SpringMods. Ordered springs to go on the cheap and alll I did was cause myself a lot of grief trying to make it work. I'm sure it must work for some, but not me. After having the OEM shock replaced free of charge by my dealer, and it too failed in a couple weeks, I gave up on that plan, not going back. In desperation I fashioned a stick to keep the seat up when fueling, but that too got old. So I gave up, bit the silver bullet, parted with the $44 just gonna do it right. BRP must have a boat load of defective shocks in stock and already on Spyders in owners hands. Don't get me wrong, I do like my 2020 RTL, but surely BRP can do better selling a $30K machine with seat shock that works. Rant over.

 

[2dogs]

Being what it is BRP built a machine that's kept us diehard M/C riders on the roads much longer than we should be, possibly. :roflblack: One of the things I can not justify is BRP's choice to install cheap A$$ components on their machines that owners have to randomly replace with quality parts within a short time after purchase. Struts, sprocket, and tires are to name just a few. Rotax was probably their best choice of all thank God. Great power plant.

 

[bikerbillone]

Well said 2dogs. One would think BRP would get the message, they don't. They sell enough without getting the message.

 

[pegasus1300]

Unfortunately, this is true. Back in the day when my antique was built (2012) you could excuse some of this as part of the learning curve, but we have long past that peak. I don't remember where now it has been so long ago, but I know I bought a replacement strut with a heavier support poundage for less money than a replacement OEM part. It worked great on the stock seat even after I put a backrest on it, and it continues working great on the custom seat and backrest I replaced the stock seat with when it wore out. The Rotax engine manufacturer is actually owned by BRP and goes to show that they do have access to quality engineers and manufacturing facilities. Their reputation is so stellar that other manufacturers, including BMW, have had no hesitation in buying powerplants from them. As far a Spyder goes, I am still impressed by the quality of the concept and the execution of the larger parts but some of the detail stuff really falls down.

 

[tntnj]

I bought this for my seat and it works great

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7S2SVPW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Peter Aawen]

Being what it is BRP built a machine that's kept us diehard M/C riders on the roads much longer than we should be, possibly. :roflblack: One of the things I can not justify is BRP's choice to install cheap A$$ components on their machines that owners have to randomly replace with quality parts within a short time after purchase. Struts, sprocket, and tires are to name just a few. Rotax was probably their best choice of all thank God. Great power plant.

I gotta agree! :agree: - But maybe that bit ^ was not such a hard choice, given that Rotax is basically owned by a Canadian Company - Bombardier Recreational Products, more commonly known as BRP!

But it does show that the parent company BRP IS capable of overseeing the development and production of a quality piece of kit, even if they seemingly more often bundle up & try to ruin some bloody great concepts by using cheap arsed, poorly made components, and then backing them up with some astonishingly crappy customer service & dealers who don't give a rats, at least not once they've milked you of as many of your hard earned $$ as they can!! :gaah:

Just Sayin' - Again!

 

[Snakeyes]

I bought this for my seat and it works great

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7S2SVPW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Does anyone know if the seat strut size is the same for a 2019 RTL and a 2020 RTL? Are the seat strut and trunk strut the same size?

Thx

 

[Bangorbob]

Finally broke down and ordered the seat shock from SpringMods. Ordered springs to go on the cheap and alll I did was cause myself a lot of grief trying to make it work. I'm sure it must work for some, but not me. After having the OEM shock replaced free of charge by my dealer, and it too failed in a couple weeks, I gave up on that plan, not going back. In desperation I fashioned a stick to keep the seat up when fueling, but that too got old. So I gave up, bit the silver bullet, parted with the $44 just gonna do it right. BRP must have a boat load of defective shocks in stock and already on Spyders in owners hands. Don't get me wrong, I do like my 2020 RTL, but surely BRP can do better selling a $30K machine with seat shock that works. Rant over.

Good rant! It is BS that these struts or whatever they are called are junk. Anyway, I am looking for the website and part number that you ordered. Maybe then I can get it right.
Thanks, Bob

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Good rant! It is BS that these struts or whatever they are called are junk. Anyway, I am looking for the website and part number that you ordered. Maybe then I can get it right.
Thanks, Bob

Or do what I did .... I have MANUAL struts for both the seat and trunk, struts that will continue to work 100 years from now! :roflblack: ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[K80Shooter]

Does anyone know if the seat strut size is the same for a 2019 RTL and a 2020 RTL? Are the seat strut and trunk strut the same size?

Thx

Not the same.

 

[2dogs]

From time to time, I bump into guys who own ATVs and ride 2-wheel motorcycles and the consensus out there among them is that Can-Am Spyders are an unreliable expensive piece of crap. Coupled with their dealer network, Can-Am Spyders will be long in coming to a good foothold in the 3-wheeled market if they continue on this course of poor product and service reputation. Right now, it appears there are only two viable competitors in the 3-wheel market in the US - Harley and Can-Am; and Harley seems to be leading the race, at least in my neck of the woods and at this point in time. It takes years to develop a good reputation and only a couple of years to destroy it. Inexpensive unreliable components and poor or hard to find service will lead a potentially good product to an early grave. I belong to two M/C organizations, one local, and one worldwide, and I'm just say'n what I'm seeing and hearing. There's a Can Am/Polaris dealership in a neighboring town and I stop by there from time to time. They don't stock or sell Spyders, and they jokingly tell me to park around back when I come in, because they don't want that thing (my Spyder) sitting in front of their business. :roflblack:

 

[bikerbillone]

Sadly 2dogs what you post is true. I keep saying I sure like my 2020 RTL, on the long ride I always have that uneasy feeling this thing is gonna crap out on me a long way from nowhere but that can happen with the TriGlide or whatever. Not that I am partial to HD, not so, just they seem to be dealers everywhere.