Thanks to Joe & Ann @ Squared Away

[FalconAF]

Seeing a different "shout out" posted today for one of our vendors, I figured Joe & Ann deserved one too for the assistance they provided Monday that saved my road trip to get my new Russell seat.

I had left my house Monday morning to ride to Shasta Lake, CA for my Russell ride-in appointment on Wednesday. The new parking brake motor my dealer ordered the first time my parking locked up a couple weeks ago hadn't arrived yet, so I was making the trip with the 2 wrenches I would need to disconnect the parking brake if needed. Accordingly, Murphy's Law strikes again and at my very first gas stop my parking brake locked up on me and I broke out the wrenches and crawled under the muffler (which isn't fun for me since my neck surgery). Regardless of how much I loosened the 2 nuts the cable would not budge to release from the parking brake mechanism. Another rider came over when he saw me and he tried to do it and couldn't get it to work either. I was in semi-panic mode. If I didn't get to Russell Day Long by 8 AM Wednesday I would lose the ride-in deposit and not get the seat after waiting 3 months for the appointment.

So I called Joe and Ann's Squared Away phone number. Ann answered and after I told her what was happening she put Joe on the phone and he talked the other (obviously more mechanically inclined) rider through removing a much larger bolt then repositioning the parking brake mechanism. Worked like a charm! I could then shift into gear and ride the Spyder again. Just had to make sure I always "blocked" the wheels one way or another when parking so it wouldn't roll away on me.

Joe and Ann went above and beyond to help me, and I sincerely appreciate it. They saved my Russell Seat ride appointment and I now am the proud owner of my second Russell seat, this one on my new 2018 Spyder. I just rode it back home 650 miles from Shasta Lake CA to Las Vegas today. 11 hours with no butt burn or other discomfort whatsoever.

Thanks Joe and Ann! Drinks are on me when able. :clap:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Joe and Ann are really good helpful folks :clap:

Cruzr Joe

 

[Woodaddict]

Spyder Strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


looks very similar stitching to the NT seat. I have both NT and Spyder from Russell.



did you notice "spyder" stitching in any of there sample photos. I have that. AND I don't think you got sunbrella?

 

[RICZ]

What was the Larger bolt" that was loosened that released the brake?

 

[cptjam]

Where the arm connects to the parking brake shaft. His cable was so tight, even with the cable free of it’s connection, they could not get it free. By removing the arm, the shaft could spin, and release the brake. Then put the cable back in it’s mounting location, so nothing gets damaged. We have seen several of these, and released them. Seems to be on a rise. Not sure what’s different, but Ann told me about 5 of them! So, carry 2, 12mm open end wrenches. A wheel chock (small, folding) and something soft to lay on. Hot roads!
Always happy to help, Rick! Thank you for the kind words. We appreciate it!

 

[oldgoat]

I live on the other side of the continent but always feel good when I read about Joe & Ann helping people out from the goodness of their hearts. Thank you!

Wifey & I always fly to LV each late Aug to do a SW tour in a rented Hertz SUV so hopefully will not need to disturb them
Oldgoat.

 

[FalconAF]

Joe,

Along with the 2 12mm wrenches I had, what was the size of the ratchet head to remove the bolt on the arm? Luckily the other rider had a tool set that had the ratchet and head to fit the bolt. Or is there already something in the toolkit that came with my Spyder for that bolt?

 

[FalconAF]

looks very similar stitching to the NT seat. I have both NT and Spyder from Russell.

did you notice "spyder" stitching in any of there sample photos. I have that. AND I don't think you got sunbrella?

It's the basic "Moon" stitch pattern from Russell. Same pattern I had on my NT too. I liked it because it has a lot less stitching and with my choice of full leather it reduces the possible water seeping places water can seep into the seat (the leather stitching is not waterproof, so I always carry the rain cover and use it when riding in the rain). Plus, when I maintain the seat with a good coat of leather cleaner and conditioner periodically, there are a LOT less seams I have to get excess leather cream out of.

When you do a same day ride-in appointment, you are limited in your choices of stitching patterns and "special" materials like the sunbrella. Some patterns and materials take a lot longer for the seat builder to incorporate them into the seat build...more than just one day to build the seat. That was OK with me. I did the ride in to get the seat measurements as close to perfect as possible, so I chose the patterns and materials they could build the seat with in one day. And Russell nailed them again this time just like on my first ride-in for my NT seat in 2011. The Russell website has examples of what you can and can't have done during a ride-in appointment. The Spyder stitching takes more than one day for them to do. It's fairly time-consuming for the seat builder.

 

[RICZ]

Where the arm connects to the parking brake shaft. His cable was so tight, even with the cable free of it’s connection, they could not get it free. By removing the arm, the shaft could spin, and release the brake. Then put the cable back in it’s mounting location, so nothing gets damaged. We have seen several of these, and released them. Seems to be on a rise. Not sure what’s different, but Ann told me about 5 of them! So, carry 2, 12mm open end wrenches. A wheel chock (small, folding) and something soft to lay on. Hot roads!
Always happy to help, Rick! Thank you for the kind words. We appreciate it!

Thank you Joe for that well written explanation. Are there any symptoms you know of that indicate a parking brake lock-up is going to occur?

 

[cptjam]

Sadly, usually little to no warning. It might mess up once, and you get lucky, cycling the switch on and off. If that happens, open a case right away. If enough fail, then the supplier might be made to make it right.
I’ll look tomorrow and double check the bolt size on that arm. Thanks for the kind words. Joe

 

[FalconAF]

:agree:

I've had no prior warning the two times it has happened. The first time I was on my way to Joe and Ann's across town and had stopped at my bank on the way. When I came out to my Spyder the parking brake wouldn't release. Totally random event. I tried turning off/on the key several times and allowing the digital dash to cycle through it's startup configuration. About the 4th or 5th time doing that the brake released. My dealer ordered a new parking brake motor under warranty 2 days later, but it hadn't arrived prior to last Monday when I left for California. When it locked up again at my first gas stop on Monday I tried the on/off restarting the Spyder about 10 times but the parking brake stayed locked. No amount of pushing the parking brake button made a difference. That's when I broke out the 2 wrenches and loosened the nuts but we couldn't get the cable to release at all. It felt like it was stretched tight and wouldn't budge. So like Joe said, you probably aren't going to get any advance warning if it's going to happen. Plus you might want to make sure you have a socket and ratchet that will fit the arm bolt in case your cable is as tight as mine was if it happens to you.

 

[Mikey]

:congrats: That's one nice looking seat you got there!!!!!

 

[cptjam]

Joe,

Along with the 2 12mm wrenches I had, what was the size of the ratchet head to remove the bolt on the arm? Luckily the other rider had a tool set that had the ratchet and head to fit the bolt. Or is there already something in the toolkit that came with my Spyder for that bolt?

Just checked: 13mm on the bolt that connects the arm to the shaft. Joe

 

[RICZ]

Thanks Joe. I will add one to my "stuck brake" kit along with two 12mm wrenches and the Harbor Freight folding chocks.

 

[R FUN]

Thats Ann and Joe for you. A great couple you wouldnt find better when you have a problem. They have helped me also.
Roger