Where does this spring belong?

[vimocam]

Hello group,

I was working on the installation of the Lamonster sway bar and noticed something sticking out from the bottom/front of the Spyder. When I removed the front plastic pan, I found this spring. Does anyone know what it's for and where it belongs? I looked at the service manual, but I don't see this part. I have a 2021 Spyder F3-S.

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[Peter Aawen]

I'm not positive, cos I don't have one here to compare it with, but that looks a lot like the spring used to apply some tension to the roller arm on one of the belt vibration dampening devices (often incorrectly called 'belt tensioners' ) If your Spyder has/had one fitted, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for it to come off, fall into the under-belly tray/s, and end up where you found it.

I'd suggest you check the upper chord of your belt, just ahead of the swing arm pivot - if there's a roller there, or bracket carrying an arm that looks like it should hold a roller, check to see if it's got a spring on it that would allow the roller to apply a light pressure onto the top of the belt. They're intended to stop the harmonic belt vibrations that some experience, and some Spyders of your vintage have OEM versions, others have a/mkt offerings, while many don't have one at all! But they WERE NOT fitted to ALL Spyders at the factory - it seems to be rather a hit & miss random choice thing instead, much like the belt vibration issue itself! Some have it within a fairly limited speed range, many don't!

So if it IS that, then it's not really a critical piece of kit, but it IS pretty critical that you make sure any belt tensioner/vibration dampener arm IS NOT FLOPPING AROUND IN THE BREEZE!! That could cause some rather expensive damage to your drive belt and possibly other stuff too!!

Good luck finding the source of that spring.

 

[vimocam]

I'm not positive, cos I don't have one here to compare it with, but that looks a lot like the spring used to apply some tension to the roller arm on one of the belt vibration dampening devices (often incorrectly called 'belt tensioners' ) If your Spyder has/had one fitted, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for it to come off, fall into the under-belly tray/s, and end up where you found it.

I'd suggest you check the upper chord of your belt, just ahead of the swing arm pivot - if there's a roller there, or bracket carrying an arm that looks like it should hold a roller, check to see if it's got a spring on it that would allow the roller to apply a light pressure onto the top of the belt. They're intended to stop the harmonic belt vibrations that some experience, and some Spyders of your vintage have OEM versions, others have a/mkt offerings, while many don't have one at all! But they WERE NOT fitted to ALL Spyders at the factory - it seems to be rather a hit & miss random choice thing instead, much like the belt vibration issue itself! Some have it within a fairly limited speed range, many don't!

So if it IS that, then it's not really a critical piece of kit, but it IS pretty critical that you make sure any belt tensioner/vibration dampener arm IS NOT FLOPPING AROUND IN THE BREEZE!! That could cause some rather expensive damage to your drive belt and possibly other stuff too!!

Good luck finding the source of that spring.

I just the checked the belt tensioner and the spring is attached and much bigger. The one I found is smaller (2'' x 2'')

 

[Peter Aawen]

I just the checked the belt tensioner and the spring is attached and much bigger. The one I found is smaller (2'' x 2'')

Hmmm... Are you the original owner of the Spyder?? Is that the original Vibration Dampener on your belt?

It could be that you've found the spring off the original Dampener, after it got dropped into the under-body trays when the original was removed and replaced with a bigger/better unit. Or maybe it's something else entirely...

 

[vimocam]

Hmmm... Are you the original owner of the Spyder?? Is that the original Vibration Dampener on your belt?

It could be that you've found the spring off the original Dampener, after it got dropped into the under-body trays when the original was removed and replaced with a bigger/better unit. Or maybe it's something else entirely...

I'm not the original owner but yes it is the OEM tensioner. It only had 1700 miles when I bought it. The only way for this spring to end up in the bottom front pan is to fall from somewhere behind the frunk liner. I removed it and I don't see anything missing. There is no access back to front of the plastic pan where I found the spring. It has to have fallen top to bottom. This spring almost looks like if it would be used to hold the frunk open but I don't see how it would be installed.

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

I'm not sure but that looks like the spring for the shifter linkage.

 

[vimocam]

I'm not sure but that looks like the spring for the shifter linkage.

Yes it looks similar but the one for the shifter is smaller (1'' x 1'') and is in place. This one is around 2'' x 2''

 

[ned64]

I'm probably way off in left field here. But to me it looks like the spring off of a clothes pin. I knew breathing all that diesel smoke would mess with my brain someday.

 

[vimocam]

I'm probably way off in left field here. But to me it looks like the spring off of a clothes pin. I knew breathing all that diesel smoke would mess with my brain someday.

LMAO! It does resemble that but it's much larger. It would be quite the clothes pin .

 

[rjinaz86323]

I'm probably way off in left field here. But to me it looks like the spring off of a clothes pin. I knew breathing all that diesel smoke would mess with my brain someday.

First thing I thought of. LOL

 

[Peter Aawen]

I'm probably way off in left field here. But to me it looks like the spring off of a clothes pin. I knew breathing all that diesel smoke would mess with my brain someday.

First thing I thought of. LOL

Now come on, RJ, you can't just out and say that!

Besides, I wouldn't think that it was all that obvious from Ned's post that his brain might've been messed up by breathing too much diesel smoke?! Maybe a little, but surely not enough to be the very first thing you thought of!!

 

[Mikey]

I ride old iron, but dose the F3 have a spring assist on the front trunk hinge?

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

I'm probably way off in left field here. But to me it looks like the spring off of a clothes pin. I knew breathing all that diesel smoke would mess with my brain someday.

Sour Diesel or NY Purple Diesel?

 

[EdMat]

Maybe one of those large plastic bag clips like you close chips with????