Spyder RT Reverse Gear

[Snoop]

Yesterday, I couldn't get my RT into Reverse gear. It's a new bike, about 7 months old. The problem is intermittent. The first time it happen was about a month after I got it. I thought maybe I was new to the bike and was doing something wrong. After trying several times, it shifted into reverse. It happen again a few months later and I thought the same, especially after several touches of the paddle, it shifted. Yesterday, it never shifted.

Took it to dealership this morning and explained the problem. Wouldn't you know after trying to duplicate the problem several time, it shifted into reverse every time. The tech said he never encountered that problem, but he believed me. Since it's still drivable, I didn't leave it. I have an appointment to bring it back in once a tech is free to troubleshoot the problem.

Anyone every experienced this issue? Interested in knowing your story and fixes.

 

[Warlock]

Yesterday, I couldn't get my RT into Reverse gear. It's a new bike, about 7 months old. The problem is intermittent. The first time it happen was about a month after I got it. I thought maybe I was new to the bike and was doing something wrong. After trying several times, it shifted into reverse. It happen again a few months later and I thought the same, especially after several touches of the paddle, it shifted. Yesterday, it never shifted.

Took it to dealership this morning and explained the problem. Wouldn't you know after trying to duplicate the problem several time, it shifted into reverse every time. The tech said he never encountered that problem, but he believed me. Since it's still drivable, I didn't leave it. I have an appointment to bring it back in once a tech is free to troubleshoot the problem.

Anyone every experienced this issue? Interested in knowing your story and fixes.

If it does it again record it on your phone to show them.JAT
David

 

[Little Blue]

Reverse Gear

If you lived in a colder area I would question oil Temp. Usually Temp lower than 50 degrees might cause a problem in the first 5 minutes. Do a search on this FORUM for 'REVERSE GEAR'. Maybe you will found something to help. MY2 :thumbup:

 

[PW2013STL]

I have to ask - did you have your foot on the brake peddle every time. I know once I could not get it to shift, and it turned out that I did not have the brake on :banghead:

 

[JayBros]

I have to ask - did you have your foot on the brake peddle every time. I know once I could not get it to shift, and it turned out that I did not have the brake on :banghead:

I too have stupidly tried to shift w/o my foot on the brake, more than once rolling backwards out of a parking spot.

If your problem is not an operator error brake problem I would suspect something amiss with the gear position sensor system but that's a warranty problem that takes B.U.D.S. to fully diagnose and correct, I believe.

 

[ottawa-rider]

Make sure you firmly and completely depress the "Reverse" button, I've had the same problem a few time until I realized that I was only hitting the edge of the button and it was not being depressed enough to engage.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

REVERSE

Make sure you firmly and completely depress the "Reverse" button, I've had the same problem a few time until I realized that I was only hitting the edge of the button and it was not being depressed enough to engage.

:agree: .... Also it must be done in sequence .....ie, press and hold down reverse button ... then Paddle shift ( - ) into reverse ..... while having foot fully depressed on brake peddle .................this always works for me ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Arion]

:agree: .... Also it must be done in sequence .....ie, press and hold down reverse button ... then Paddle shift ( - ) into reverse ..... while having foot fully depressed on brake peddle .................this always works for me ..... Mike :thumbup:

What Mike said. I can attest the sequence is important. How would I know? It's a case of been there done that, more than once!

As James May once said, "There are procedures. I like procedures." He wasn't talking about Spyders, but it still matters. :yes:

 

[Snoop]

Thanks for all the posts. To answer some of the questions :
1. Yes, I had my foot on the brake pedal each time.
2. I firmly had the reverse button press.
3. Had the sequence correct each time.

Did some more research and things are pointing to the gear position sensor being the problem.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

REVERSING PROBLEM

:agree: .... Also it must be done in sequence .....ie, press and hold down reverse button ... then Paddle shift ( - ) into reverse ..... while having foot fully depressed on brake peddle .................this always works for me ..... Mike :thumbup:

Yes I know I'm on my previous post about your issue ..... I researched and discovered you have a 2017 RT ( and you should always list what Spyder you are talking about ) ...... You didn't say if your dealer did a computer log search .... I say this because most of the GPS failures have been on older models and most of those have been with the V-twins ....... I had one fail on my 2011 RSS .... the dealer couldn't find that the Paddle shifter was failing .... But a Tech from BRP located 240 + codes of it failing in the computer files ........ You Spyder is under warranty .... I would make look into this possibility ..... anything the registers into the computer files ... REMAINS THERE FOREVER ... this is a fact with all computers ... the info can't even be deleted unless you use " bleach - bit " ( ala Hillary ) or a BFH ........ good luck with this issue ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[trikermutha]

Thanks for all the posts. To answer some of the questions :
1. Yes, I had my foot on the brake pedal each time.
2. I firmly had the reverse button press.
3. Had the sequence correct each time.

Did some more research and things are pointing to the gear position sensor being the problem.

I would guess that if it was the sensor it would act up going forward too?

Could be a paddle ,rev switch or brake light switch just to mention a few other things..

Well good luck

 

[Easy Rider]

If it does it again record it on your phone to show them.JAT
David

That might be a tad difficult.......as it requires TWO hands to engage reverse.
Unless you have VERY long and flexible fingers.

 

[Easy Rider]

Did some more research and things are pointing to the gear position sensor being the problem.

If that is the case, shifting from N to 1 and the back to N might solve the problem.

 

[Easy Rider]

( and you should always list what Spyder you are talking about ) ......

anything the registers into the computer files ... REMAINS THERE FOREVER ... this is a fact with all computers ...

For the first part, you can solve that "problem" by listing your Spyder in your signature.

And for the second part......absolutely, totally false.

 

[billybovine]

Do you really need to have your foot on the brake to shift into reverse? I have not driven a that many miles on 1330 engine models. So maybe I never noticed. For sure there is no need to have your foot on the brake to shift into reverse on 998 engine models. In fact I often shift from 1st to reverse while still rolling because it shifts better. The OP stated that his RT is only 7 months old so I would guess it has a 1330 engine.

 

[JayBros]

If that is the case, shifting from N to 1 and the back to N might solve the problem.

But that shouldn't be necessary except in a case where one has to get the Spyder home or to the dealer for repair.

 

[ruralgirl]

When I bought my newly assembled 2015 RT-S SE6 from the dealer, they'd successfully had it in reverse a few minutes before I arrived to pick it up. But when I immediately test rode it in their parking lot, it refused to go into reverse. They too could no longer get it to reverse, so they replaced the entire command cluster.

I had no issues engaging reverse until last summer. Now, she occasionally refuses to reverse, usually when I've just fired her up after being parked for an hour or so. What has worked so far is to put her in 1st gear, and then reverse. If I'm already in 1st, putting her in neutral, then 1st again works. If the problem persists after hibernation, I'll be taking her in for evaluation to placate my stomach who hates being tied in knots when the only way out is rearward and reverse isn't looking like an option!

 

[Mad Mac]

PROBLEM SHIFTING INTO REVERSE

I believe there is a cable adjuster below the left foot board. If you look up underneath, you will see the shift shaft and cable. Only problem is that I could not find the adjustment length of that cable in the "Green Manual", so I am at a loss. I have been told by my service guy that the cable can affect shifting into reverse if it has too much "slack". Mad Mac:doorag:

 

[Lew L]

Good tips

good to know------ Thank you.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I believe there is a cable adjuster below the left foot board. If you look up underneath, you will see the shift shaft and cable. Only problem is that I could not find the adjustment length of that cable in the "Green Manual", so I am at a loss. I have been told by my service guy that the cable can affect shifting into reverse if it has too much "slack". Mad Mac:doorag:

That would be for manual shift Spyder. He mentions the paddle so that is the SE model. No cables on the SE.