Spyder Fire

[Firefly]

My wife did in fact have a couple of DPS lock-up episodes, and we had a rather impressive pressurized fuel leak spraying on an exhaust header in the suspect fuel canister area, that fortunately we caught before anything catastrophic occurred.Does that qualify me enough to report on the issues?

With all due respect, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you replace your fuel hose clamps with worm-type hose clamps that came loose and therefore spewed fuel? Kind of hard to blame BRP for your fuel leak when you made modifications to the clamping system.

Problem with those kinds of clamps (and I have used them on a few places on my Spyder) is that when you mix them with a V-twin the vibrations will eventually loosen them. They need to be checked often.

 

[Firefly]

You are correct, I did replace the original Oetiker clamps with worm type because I had found one of the OE clamps at the fuel filter to be loose. The leak I experienced had nothing to do with vibration, it was the result of a third party replacing the fuel filter, and failing to re-tighten the clamps. I never blamed BRP for that. Many here have also found the OE clamps to be loose or leaking.

The location of the fuel filter, and the canister, within a confined space and just inches above a red hot exhaust header are what I find problematic. That is what I find fault with BRP for. The original short turn down canister vent hose, the location of the canister, and a questionable choice of hose and clamps for the OE fuel delivery system are all items that BRP is responsible for.

Yup-- I'm not a fan of the canister at all - and the short turn vent hose was a terrible idea -- which is why entire canister is gone.

For whatever reason my fuel filter has one Oetiker clamp and one worm-style --- came that way -- or was changed by someone other than me. Checking them every so often is a good idea.

I also had a fuel line rubbing against the rear head to the point of taking some of the rubber off. They have since started covering those hoses with plastic hose guard and making them a bit longer.

For sure some design issues, but I believe most of the fires were on the early models--- can't remember offhand if any 09 or 10 Spyders have melted.

 

[pitbull]

Did you have the 'second' update done prior to the fire?-- the one where they re-routed the evap canister vent hose?

We have yet to confirm that any of these fires have happened AFTER this update was done.

Sorry for your loss and problems -- glad your insurance took care of you --- but in order to 'fix what caused the fire' --- you will first have to figure out what caused it. BRP isn't going to admit to any cause -- what you need is to use your government safety reporting system to get action.

Please file a complaint here if you have not already:

https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/PCDB-BDPP/fc-cp.aspx?lang=eng

You should also do a search of the US version --- you might get some important data there --- but not everyone bothered to file reports on their fires.

You can search on the US NHTSA site here:

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

I totally agree firefly. I would really like to know this........This could make or break alot of theroys.......If I can get the Vin numbers I could tell you.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Yup Yup ...

I knew I was going to draw someone's RED text fury about what happened two summers ago (Summer 2008, I presume. I was watching a lot of vehicles of two-and more-wheels burning in Iraq. Sorry I missed the fun).

Yes, I do believe a manufacturer will do a volunteer recall to field a significant system improvement, especially when past a certain timeline, all Spyders will come standard with that upgrade. No need to ROFL in sneering disbelief. It is very possible that with only three years of Spyders in the field it is practical to keep as many as possible to the same mechanical standard (recall 12,000 after three years, vs. 30,000 after five years). Keep in mind that previous DPS problems have been mainly computer based. This recall is mechanically based, with some BUDS adjustments. I simply do not see any "proof" of lack of integrity on the part of BRP. Mixing steering recall issues with something else about the fuel cannister purge valve (actually two separate tech bulletins) doesn't proove anything.

It's interesting in that I ryde an RT-S, I've been a little frustrated that aftermarket hasn't jumped in with a lot of mod options. That said, I'm kinda thankful too, because at SITS, before and after, I've seen all manner of mod'ed RS's. Most are very cool. Most are well-engineered. But, some of those mods cause me anxiety when I think about having them on my machine.

For example, I've ridden with RS's that, while 227 pounds lighter than the RT-S, burn 15% more fuel because of strange exhaust/fuel system modifications ... and there are ALOT of them out there. So with no real data, when one hears of a Spyder burning, one must ask what else is going on. Also, BRP has been real good about not voiding warranties because we mod our machines. However, if I were BRP, I wouldn't be rushing in to take responsibility of issues that I (BRP) might not have manufactured into the bike, AND, if I don't have good after-fire inspection, with no data and especially no NHTSA filing, exactly what is it BRP should be puttng its toucas on the line for? Surely this doesn't represent all cases, but certainly some; hence the stated BRP comments on mods.

Yes (sorry if I didn't reinforce), if one has a fire or a major safety related problem ... of course ... report to NHTSA. But as Firefly points out, few if any have ... few if any have provided or posted any real data! The data beginning to surface here reflect some level of mod and fuel clamp replacement issues. (Note to self: Keep the engine, fuel, exhaust and O2 stuff as stock as possible). There are also some dealer mechanics out there who don't know what they're doing ... or the mechanic forgets to double check, outside of BRP supervision -- another variable.

I am not saying that BRP is pure as the driven snow here either; however, we should be focused on more light in this issue than heat. When we talk about fires without objective, empirical supporting data; and then bash BRP on this forum in a conspiratorial context on the level of who shot President Kennedy, we're doing our Spyder community a disservice. When a qualified mechanical analysis ever springs forward from one of these incidents, I'd like to see it posted in this thread, for sure.

 

[Smylinacha]

Sorry about the fire! Please report it. Also maybe print out any of the fire reports from the NHTSA and your Canadian equivalent. Maybe even print out the posts from those Spyders that got toasted from here and the other Spyder forums.

I agree w/ the others - evap canister.

Our Spyder is an earlier model and HDX removed the canister and we had no problems, except for the fuel leak but that was due to clamps not being tightened. Still, I was about to hop on the thing with a cig in my mouth as it was spewing fuel all over the driveway - glad HDX noticed it! I was on the other side of the Spyder so I had no clue.

I don't get it, people have reported fires but I haven't seen any answers as to why being reported and I have no idea what mods were done. Only thing I have seen is what's on here - removing the evap canister and the whole purge valve thing and the updates. This is pretty much the only place where you can find all the good tech stuff of what others have done for precautions. Cuz BRP surely ain't gonna tell you how to stop your Spyder from becoming toast.

EDIT TO ADD: I've seen more posts about Spyders catching on fire in this forum and in other Spyder forums. There are only 5 in the NHTSA - actually six but I think one was put in twice. Only 2 I saw were 2009, other 3 were 2008.

 

[tweeder]

I thought that someone who did have a fire, after the insurance investigated came up that it was the evap canister?

 

[wyliec]

Eventually, the canister vent line extension upgrade was offered, and the incidence of reported fires has seemed to have tapered off.

This is what I find amazing (on BRP's part, not on what HDX has said here). There was a s/n break that went along with this warranty/quality bulletin leading me and possibly others to believe it had nothing to do with the length of the vent line on their spyders. Since I covered this previously (above) I won't bore anyone with anymore of what I was told.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

This is what I find amazing (on BRP's part, not on what HDX has said here). There was a s/n break that went along with this warranty/quality bulletin leading me and possibly others to believe it had nothing to do with the length of the vent line on their spyders. Since I covered this previously (above) I won't bore anyone with anymore of what I was told.

I have a '09 GS. When I asked the dealer about the vent hose extension I was told my S/N, VIN was not part of the recall so they will not change it for me:gaah:. I have the bulletin number and will try again if they ever get a new DPS for me. I know the update was not done on this unit and often hear air blow out from the right side as well as the intake when the bike backfires.