• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

What did you do to your Spyder today?

Shortly after I bought our F3L, I tapped a concrete wheel stop and fortunately ended with only a small hairline crack in the chin piece. Wanting to make a bumper that looks good, is minimal and does the job, here's what I came up with. The longitudinal bars are 1/4" X 1" aluminum bar and the bumper is 1/2" X 1/2" channel. The bumper is fastened to the bars with one screw per side from the bottom, so the top is smooth. Shined it with Flitz.

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Today I installed a +2 kit for the footrests. I bought them from Hotspyderacccesssories.com. I tried twice to order from BRP. Never again. Both times I got the email saying I would get an email when shipped and when the dealer received them. Never happened! Both times I call customer support and they had no record of the purchase. Anyway, I took it for a ride after the installation. Wow!! What a difference! Everything was bettter. My seating position was much improved and the shifter and brake pedal were easier to use. I wish I had ordered from HSA earlier. It's the best thing I've done to it.
 
Shortly after I bought our F3L, I tapped a concrete wheel stop and fortunately ended with only a small hairline crack in the chin piece. Wanting to make a bumper that looks good, is minimal and does the job, here's what I came up with. The longitudinal bars are 1/4" X 1" aluminum bar and the bumper is 1/2" X 1/2" channel. The bumper is fastened to the bars with one screw per side from the bottom, so the top is smooth. Shined it with Flitz.

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I like DIY projects, looks good
 
Fitted my new Spyder Extras belt tensioner. Bought it a few weeks ago to fit before my last trip but didnt get to it..

And used my Big Bear Ezylift for the task. Doesn't fit under my '17 RTL, so I have to use my ATV lift to get it onto bricks, then get the Big Blue under the RTL and jack it up. Has anyone got a source on say Amazon for a 1/2" Square drive to hex spindle that will fit a 1/2" drill chuck? I had to resort to using a speed brace and while awesome exercise for my arms i'd rather use the power drill.

My small amount of trepidation was confirmed, does anyone know of a belt tensioner that tensions the return side of the belt. The one I bought does help but not as well as I had hoped. I was perplexed when the instructions showed it had to be mounted on the drive side.

Being a Mechanical Fitter who worked in a Power Station for 19 years belt/chain/cable-drive tensioners were always fitted on the return side to reduce the amount of jumping around it does due to less tension on that side (the drive side is under load so tends to flap around less).
 
My small amount of trepidation was confirmed, does anyone know of a belt tensioner that tensions the return side of the belt. The one I bought does help but not as well as I had hoped. I was perplexed when the instructions showed it had to be mounted on the drive side.

Being a Mechanical Fitter who worked in a Power Station for 19 years belt/chain/cable-drive tensioners were always fitted on the return side to reduce the amount of jumping around it does due to less tension on that side (the drive side is under load so tends to flap around less).


I hope it helped
 
My small amount of trepidation was confirmed, does anyone know of a belt tensioner that tensions the return side of the belt. The one I bought does help but not as well as I had hoped. I was perplexed when the instructions showed it had to be mounted on the drive side.

Being a Mechanical Fitter who worked in a Power Station for 19 years belt/chain/cable-drive tensioners were always fitted on the return side to reduce the amount of jumping around it does due to less tension on that side (the drive side is under load so tends to flap around less).

The opinions seem to vary, but some of the builders do iterate they are "harmonic dampeners", not "belt tensioners".
 
Not really, to me a "belt tensioner" would serve a different purpose than a "belt dampener". One would keep the belt taut,
and the other would merely dampen the harmonics in the belt. Different definitions, different purposes.
 
The serpentine belt on your car's/truck's engine has a belt tensioner. In my book, what you put on a Spyder is a vibration damper.
 
Today I installed my volt meter/usb outlet in the dash of my ‘14 RTS, replacing the temperature gauge. I bought it 3 weeks ago and just installed it today. Looks good and seems to work ok, but only time will tell for sure. Easy install.
 
The serpentine belt on your car's/truck's engine has a belt tensioner. In my book, what you put on a Spyder is a vibration damper.

I too have seen it described both ways, the dampener/tensioner is only half as effective as it could be if it was mounted on the portion of the belt not under load.
Screenshot_1.jpg. It didn't matter if it was set of V pulleys driving a crusher, a flat toothed belt driving a fan, or a chain driving a 1400 Ton Coal Reclaimer bucket wheel, we'd fit the dampener/tensioner to the opposite side to stop the unloaded portion from jumping about.

https://www.smoothspyder.com/belt-tensioners/ found this today
 
They show only a drawing of a tensioner that applies pressure to the bottom (slack) run, but all the photos and info are for top mounts. If belt vibration ever becomes a concern for me, I love DYI projects and will make my own bottom mount.

Yes if I were still on the tools as a fitter I'd be doing the same.
 
2 new Vredestein Quatrac 5 165/60R15 front tires installed to go with my already installed rear General Altimax RT43 215/60-15.

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Balanced using Ride-On tire sealer. Now I have to wait till spring to try it :sour:

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It was a nice day in NW Iowa, about 50 degrees, so I took my F3L for a nice ride. Today high will be in the 30’s with high winds. Riding season might be over here.
 
Nice here so I got the wife spyder an my spyder out of the shed's an we went on a ride. Stopped first an filled our coffer mugs up an got a desert to go. Went the old hwy to Prosser. Picked up lunch to go an went to the rest area. Sat at a picnic table, ate the lunch, had coffee an the desert. Rode the old hwy back to Yakima. Around 3 1/2 hrs round trip. Took our time an enjoyed the ride.
 
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