Another Spyder *Fire*

[trikester]

I've had my Spyder for 16 months but only have 1800 miles on it. I have been reading about gas smells for quite some time on this forum but never experienced it myself, until now.

A couple of days ago, as I pulled up in front of my house, I caught a whiff of gas for the first time from my Spyder. Just to play it safe I parked it outside for awhile before putting it in the garage. What a scary thing to have to do!

[DynamoBT]

I wrote a letter through the "Contact Us" link on the BRP website.

I simply said, concern was building among owners with the news of the 7 Spyder fires on the forum. I hoped they would be addressing this issue soon.

Nothing to lose. Maybe if they hear concern from enough of us via various contact points something will happen. I was hoping for acknowledgment of the fires as a first step.

[M2Wild]

This is number seven. My fire occurred on May 4th and I think the second fire (Texas) occurred on July 4th. If this is correct, we have had 5 fires since July 4th. Why the sudden surge in fires? Why didn't we have fires last summer? How many fires were there that we don't know about? Our group is small compared to the total number of Spyders sold.

This fire seems a little different. It appears to have started at the gas cap (vents to the canister) on the left side. Most of the others started on the right side where the fuel filter and canister are located. All of the fires appear to involve gasoline. It's the ignition source we don't know about.

The interesting question for this fire would be - "was the gas tank filled before it was parked". All gasoline expands after it leaves the underground tank.

I am sure BRP is working on this like crazy. I wish they would be a little more forthcoming about it. Sometimes you just have to tell the lawyers to "take a hike".

The trend appears that fire and gas fumes goes hand in hand. As the number and length of ownership increases, the chance that you over fill the gas tank causing the vent canister to overflow increase as well. Coupled with arrival of summer and hot engine parts, you get these fires. Fumes gets disappated quickly while riding so I for one wouldn't worry about my Spyder catching fire while in motion.

[WaltH]

The trend appears that fire and gas fumes goes hand in hand. As the number and length of ownership increases, the chance that you over fill the gas tank causing the vent canister to overflow increase as well. Coupled with arrival of summer and hot engine parts, you get these fires. Fumes gets disappated quickly while riding so I for one wouldn't worry about my Spyder catching fire while in motion.

I agree with you except that I never had any gas smell and my fire did start while I was in motion - as I was pulling into my garage. Raw gas should not be able to get into the carbon canister, but if it does, the risk is huge. I have no idea if the carbon canister played any role in my fire, but just to make sure I have always been very careful about overfilling the gas tank. Since the fire, I have been super-super careful. Every time there is another fire, I push the gas nozzle a little further into the tank at the next fill-up. This makes it almost impossible to measure MPG, but this is a price I will pay. The effective size of my gas tank is progressively shrinking.

[trikester]

Ouch!

[DannyS]

Yes I carry a fire extinguisher in my Spyder I also carry one in my car. There is one in my kitchen and on the patio near the BBQ. Also on the wall of my Garage. And yes I have been to many fire schools and used extinguishers, mechanical foam and halon. No I am not going to get myself into a bad position fighting a fire. If I can't get it out quick I am leaving fast and let the insurance company do its thing. Along with the professional fire fighters. I also carry first aid kits. To my thinking this has to do with being prepared (like carrying a roll of duck tape and some wire electrical and bailing) I don't carry the extinguisher because I think my Spyder will catch on fire.I carry it because any vehicle might catch on fire if not mine then someone else's.

[spyder3rdr]

I got the call yesterday from the dealer saying my Spyder was ready to go I went this afternoon and picked her up ... she was freshly washed and waxed ... I talked with the owner/service man and tech/mech about what was replaced / repaired . They had a list of parts that they found damage on and when they contacted BRP to order the parts , BRP asked about a few other items and they were added to the list ... slip joints (exhaust gaskets)Wiring Harness , cable for the seat latch , inner protective foam insulation , Vapor Canister , Fuel Line , Fuel filter , Purge Valve , center Y shaped panel and right side upper panel and numerous clamps ... I also had new brake pads installed ... I rode her about 50 miles after a got her home

I was off her for 30 days and I was about at my limit ... Spyder withdrawls are brutal , but i made it ... looking forward to my regular dose of vemon

[truck 85]

glad to here you are back on the road

[bone crusher]

I got the call yesterday from the dealer saying my Spyder was ready to go I went this afternoon and picked her up ... she was freshly washed and waxed ... I talked with the owner/service man and tech/mech about what was replaced / repaired . They had a list of parts that they found damage on and when they contacted BRP to order the parts , BRP asked about a few other items and they were added to the list ... slip joints (exhaust gaskets)Wiring Harness , cable for the seat latch , inner protective foam insulation , Vapor Canister , Fuel Line , Fuel filter , Purge Valve , center Y shaped panel and right side upper panel and numerous clamps ... I also had new brake pads installed ... I rode her about 50 miles after a got her home

I was off her for 30 days and I was about at my limit ... Spyder withdrawls are brutal , but i made it ... looking forward to my regular dose of vemon

Congrats....glad to hear you were taken care of and all is good! Gotta ride a lot to make up for the lost time!

[wildbill6565]

Glad to hear you're back on the road!! Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brevet05]

Excellent! Great to hear that BRP/your dealer made good on their responsibility to get you back on the road and happy

[Tom in NM]

Get out there and feed that Spyder some bugs!

( I don't think I could take 30 days off my Spyder, you are a lot stronger than I am. )

Tom

[3wheeldemon]

Great news!!!!

[phantom13lady]

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle!

Ryde on!

[Neez]

I recall from my boating days being warned that gasoline vapours are heaver than air and tend to settle in the bilges, the bottom of the hull. We were instructed to run the ventilator fans at the fuel dock until fueling was complete and the engines started. Now, I notice that unlike any motorcycle I have owned, the Spyder is boxed in at the bottom with plastic panels. I wonder if removing these panels might lessen the fume buildup and the fire hazard. BTW, I do not view this or any other precaution as an alternative to getting BRP and the authorities involved. That simply HAS to happen.

[gazey]

I was off her for 30 days and I was about at my limit ... Spyder withdrawls are brutal , but i made it ... looking forward to my regular dose of vemon

I would hate to be without my ride for a week let alone a month. Good to hear you are up and running
Did they ever find a reason for the fire

[patches]

did you get new front tires in the process..lol. Ready for a ride this weekend??

[Recluze]

Very interesting thread and I am glad that things worked out as well as they did.
After hearing about the first few fires I went out and bought a good fire extinguisher. Something all of us need to have around any way.

If my scooter catches on fire I will push it out into the street and then consider my options. Losing the bike would be hard. Losing the house where it sleeps would be harder.

I 'overfill' my tank on every occasion. In California we have these goofy vapor recovery systems on pumps. If I did not top it off I would only have enough gas in it to make it to the next gas station. So I defeat the vapor recovery system and fill it pretty darn close to the top.

I have never smelled gas, have had the software upgrade, have not defeated the purge valve and pretty much don't worry about it. It makes me think that there are some uniquely defective Spyders out there and I don't have one. I hope that BRP finds what is wrong with those that are defective. BTW I had the defective steering and they eventually and thankfully fixed that. While this was not as dramatic as a fire, I was at the point where I was going to park it rather than kill myself with it.

Soooo... there are some variances between machines. That is not completely unexpected with any vehicle. Knowing that will not make you feel any better as your chestnuts are roasting on an open fire though.

Good luck.

[tajohn]

I agree, take it back to your dealer we all benefit from the feedback.I experienced the same thing. But THANKS to this site so far my problem is solved. When I fill up and the pump kicks off, do not put any more in, plus when you replace the fuel cap, tighten it until you hear or feel 2 clicks. I dont know the mechanics of it but it works for me. No more fumes when riding or in the garage.