Will my 2024 F3T need a belt vibration damper?

[petegtsv10]

My wife just traded her 2015 F3 for a 2024 F3T.
We had a belt tensioner/vibration damper on the 2015 that did solve a vibration issue.
Has BRP resolved this issue since 2015 or will we still need a vibration damper on the 2024?

 

[JKMSPYDER]

It depends. Some riders report no vibration with their Spyders and do not use a belt dampener. But others swear by them. Me? I have a 2020 F3 Ltd that had a belt vibration at about 55 mph and the Lamonster belt dampener solved it.

 

[AndysF3S]

My wife just traded her 2015 F3 for a 2024 F3T.
We had a belt tensioner on the 2015 that did solve a vibration issue.
Has BRP resolved this issue since 2015 or will we still need a tensioner on the 2024?

I don't know about your 2024 F3T but my 2022 F3S has a factory belt vibration dampner and it is difficult to find. Run your hand from the back of the machine behind the belt guard (on the top part of the belt) towards the front; you can feel the roller on the belt. It quite close to the front drive pulley and my SWAG is that your machine has one.

I have just over 3000 miles on mine since new and it has no noticeable belt vibration. Good luck.

 

[Woodaddict]

It all depends on how tight belt is. Higher belt tension = more vibration felt

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

My wife just traded her 2015 F3 for a 2024 F3T.
We had a belt tensioner/vibration damper on the 2015 that did solve a vibration issue.
Has BRP resolved this issue since 2015 or will we still need a vibration damper on the 2024?

If you LOWER the belt tension to 160 lbs. (measured with tires on the ground) the vibes may disappear. Mine did & others here can confirm this ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

I have a 2023 F3 LTD Special Series and I added a belt tensioner/vibration dampener which I bought from Lamonster.

I had some vibration on the belt which this fixed.

Deanna

 

[JB62]

I think the 2024 come with it already installed, My 2024 Spyder RT Limited has it. Maybe F3s don't.

 

[petegtsv10]

It almost seems as if some newer models have the tensioner and some do not. That is really odd to me. I’ll check ours again.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

My 2022 F3S didn't come with a tensioner.

 

[petegtsv10]

I checked very carefully and our 2024 has no tensioner.

 

[AndysF3S]

https://can-am-shop.brp.com/on-road...4-_Drive_Rear_-_Common_Parts/Y2220/19YB002a/y

Ref:
350
219800528
Idler Pulley Service Kit | Included 350 to 350n

According to the canam parts finder the 22 F3S has the idler pulley and a rebuild kit.

https://can-am-shop.brp.com/on-road...ive_-_Rear_-_Common_Parts/Y24-H6RA/19YD004a/y

The parts finder does not show an idler pulley for the 24 F3T so you are correct.

 

[petegtsv10]

https://can-am-shop.brp.com/on-road...4-_Drive_Rear_-_Common_Parts/Y2220/19YB002a/y

Ref:
350
219800528
Idler Pulley Service Kit | Included 350 to 350n

According to the canam parts finder the 22 F3S has the idler pulley and a rebuild kit.

https://can-am-shop.brp.com/on-road...ive_-_Rear_-_Common_Parts/Y24-H6RA/19YD004a/y

The parts finder does not show an idler pulley for the 24 F3T so you are correct.

That brings up a new question: So, older (2015 as an example year) F3s had a vibration problem and the 2022 (as one example year) addressed the issue with an idler pulley. Now the 2024 F3 doesn't have the idler pulley. Does Can-Am feel the 2024 doesn't have that vibration anymore?

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I stand corrected. My 2022 F3S DOES have the idle pulley from BRP. I was not looking far enough forward, but it is there.

 

[Captainmal]

Same 2022 F3S but Manta Green in front of the same sign a couple weeks ago. Here is the picture of the belt tensioner from the factory. My lower belt tension is 85 ft. lbs. on my Cricket gauge under the bottom of the belt. Not changing it as it runs fine.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

View attachment 208981 View attachment 208980

Same 2022 F3S but Manta Green in front of the same sign a couple weeks ago. Here is the picture of the belt tensioner from the factory. My lower belt tension is 85 ft. lbs. on my Cricket gauge under the bottom of the belt. Not changing it as it runs fine.

That's why I'm interested in this thread, because after I had my rear tire changed, I'm getting vibration that I didn't have before. The shop said my belt tension was 220.
I'm not familiar with the procedure to properly adjust the belt on my f3s.
I'm going to ride over BajaRon's tomorrow and buy a belt tension gauge.

 

[Mikey]

That's why I'm interested in this thread, because after I had my rear tire changed I'm getting vibration that I didn't have before. The shop said my belt tension was 220.
I'm not familiar with the procedure to properly adjust the belt on my f3s.
I'm going to ride over BajaRon's tomorrow and buy a belt tension gauge.

Well, hopefully they didn't forget to put the belt on the right side of the dampener!!:dontknow: If you had one! But I would say that if it were mine, I would drop the tension down some, I don't think it has to be that high, and a lot of us have found the vibration went away by doing it. And maybe you could get rid of the unit all together and do away with the possibility of a bearing failure and ripping up your drive belt! Just my two cents and feelings about the dampeners!! If you feel you need one, fine, I would make it one of those things I would check like checking your oil, get down there and make sure the bearings are not getting dry in that little wheel going a million miles an hour.

 

[PMK]

Those poor low quality Chinese bearings…

66 million rotations every 5 thousand miles.

660 million rotations in 50,000 miles.

Roller assemblies are inexpensive, being stranded needing a tow from roller induced belt failure, now that gets costly.

View attachment 208981

Same 2022 F3S but Manta Green in front of the same sign a couple weeks ago. Here is the picture of the belt tensioner from the factory. My lower belt tension is 85 ft. lbs. on my Cricket gauge under the bottom of the belt. Not changing it as it runs fine.

Understand, your Spyder to maintain as you see appropriate.

Simply wanted to share, that based on your photo of the roller against the belt, it does seem apparent there is alignment concerns, or the bearing is allowing the roller to not remain centered.

Entirely your call, but the wear pattern serves as the witness.

 

[Captainmal]

Understand, your Spyder to maintain as you see appropriate.

Simply wanted to share, that based on your photo of the roller against the belt, it does seem apparent there is alignment concerns, or the bearing is allowing the roller to not remain centered.

Entirely your call, but the wear pattern serves as the witness.

Gee that is a surprise to me. The tensioner seems like it is riding fine and the belt seems both centered on the front pulley and has a gap from the inside on the rear. I guess that tensioner could be a little more "outside" but not much of an issue to me. The little Cricket gauge shows it to be just in the 80 ft. lbs range on the bottom of the belt. I am not going to loosen up the caps and add more tension as all seems to run fine just the way it is.

What do you see that is wrong or a cause for concern with a wear pattern?

 

[PMK]

Gee that is a surprise to me. The tensioner seems like it is riding fine and the belt seems both centered on the front pulley and has a gap from the inside on the rear. I guess that tensioner could be a little more "outside" but not much of an issue to me. The little Cricket gauge shows it to be just in the 80 ft. lbs range on the bottom of the belt. I am not going to loosen up the caps and add more tension as all seems to run fine just the way it is.

What do you see that is wrong or a cause for concern with a wear pattern?

By your own words, you are witnessing the same. The roller is positioned such that it is not centered on the belt as is evident by the wear pattern on the roller itself.

Your own words explain the misalignment as “not much of an issue” to you.

Your words regarding loosening the axle and making adjustments to the belt seems odd since you mentioned all that is good. The roller misalignment, could be several possibilities, including the damper / tensioner mounting is not aligned with the true direction the belt travels.

I am not there, and only see what your photo displays. Based on your description and desires, let it run.

 

[Captainmal]

By your own words, you are witnessing the same. The roller is positioned such that it is not centered on the belt as is evident by the wear pattern on the roller itself.

Your own words explain the misalignment as “not much of an issue” to you.

Your words regarding loosening the axle and making adjustments to the belt seems odd since you mentioned all that is good. The roller misalignment, could be several possibilities, including the damper / tensioner mounting is not aligned with the true direction the belt travels.

I am not there, and only see what your photo displays. Based on your description and desires, let it run.

I am going to "let it run". That tensioner is wider than the belt. Guessing I could maybe remove a shim or add one to where the tensioner is mounted to make up for that maybe 1/16-1/8" part of the belt it is missing. To me that's not worth the effort.

As stated earlier... I am NOT going remove the caps and axle nut, add more belt tension, check the alignment and put it all back together. The lower belt tension with the roller tensioner on just seems to be working fine for me. That also should be easier on the pulley bearings in the front.

Do appreciate the alert to this tensioner existence and position. Something for me to watch in the future.