Help..No Reverse

[Bootie]

The manual reverse on my '10 RT SM5 just crapped out. I checked the fuse (F7 in the front block) and it is OK. I had washed the Spyder in a commercial car wash (high pressure hose) and then went to the store. When I left the store I had NO Reverse. I am not sure I have time to take the 300 mi round trip to the dealer on Monday and I am supposed to leave for Cuba on Tuesday.
Anyone out there have any ideas for a quick fix?:dontknow: otherwise I'll probably drive it to Cuba without reverse and let the boys at BRP or Cowtown take a look see.:gaah:

 

[Y Rider]

Do a search on this site concerning your problem. I remember reading about someone with a similar problem. Had something to do with a gear position switch or some other type of switch that got wet and caused problems.

BTW, the operators manual specifically states not to use high pressure washers for cleaning.

 

[Bootie]

No Reverse SM5

Wow, this Internet is something else.
DeeKay53 in NSW, Australia had the same problem and traced the solution to the microswitch activation arm under the clutch lever. He had washed his scoot and must have bent the arm so that it did not depress the microswitch completely.
Strangely enough, I had just washed my scoot, used a cloth towel to dry it off, when the problem stuck up its ugly head. I went out and fiddled with the actuator arm (I bent it so that it depressed the microswitch better) and yahoo:yes:my reverse now works.:2thumbs: The arm was only very slightly out of kilter and I WAS able to start the engine while in 1st gear. I don't know if there are two circuits running thru that mocroswitch but that's how it behaves (I could be wrong, Scotty, because I fiddled with the arm a little before I tried to start the engine and then fiddled with it after I got the engine started).
In checking the service manual (Midwest Manuals) I did note the the switch must be FIRMLY depressed. This might explain things.

 

[Bob Denman]

What do you think it was that caused the arm to be moved from its correct mooring? How much of a mis-alignment do you figure that it took to cause the problem?

 

[Bootie]

What do you think it was that caused the arm to be moved from its correct mooring? How much of a mis-alignment do you figure that it took to cause the problem?

Extremely SMALL amount of misalignment. The clutch just didn't push the switch all the way down. The switch needed an additional 10 mil of push. Pretty small. I think I must have bent the arm when drying things off with a towel after the wash.
So far things seem to be working well. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for the info! I guess that a gentle reminder is in order for anybody who's drying their Spyder off and not being tender enough!

 

[Bootie]

Good News/Bad News

Thanks for the info! I guess that a gentle reminder is in order for anybody who's drying their Spyder off and not being tender enough!

Well the good news is that the guys at Cowtown diagnosed the problem. Bad news is that the actuator (Solenoid) is shot and Cowtown didn't have one in stock.:cus: Forget all that other crap about the clutch switch. The Actuator worked somewhat and was almost strong enough to shift the gear and that is why the problem would come and go. It was just coincedense that it correlated with fiddling with the clutch switch.
Anyway I'll have to get my dealer to order the parts and I will get it replaced when I get back to Ohio.

 

[NancysToy]

I am sure glad your problem didn't disable your Spyder altogether. Better put a sticky note on the dash reminding you not to pull straight in to any parking places. :roflblack: Great seeing you at Cowtown. I wish it could have been under happier circumstances.

 

[Bootie]

No Reverse

I am sure glad your problem didn't disable your Spyder altogether. Better put a sticky note on the dash reminding you not to pull straight in to any parking places. :roflblack: Great seeing you at Cowtown. I wish it could have been under happier circumstances.

Hi Scotty,
The lack of a reverse was no big thing:dontknow:. Like you say, I just needed to be careful where/how I parkedhyea:. Cowtown checked things over and found that I had a failed actuator (solenoid). They did not have one in stock so I had them call my dealer in PA and get the part(s) on order. This has been done and I should get fixed next week. We'll see.
It was great talking to you and I hope to see you, again, in Maggie Valley.:yes:

 

[Bootie]

Dealers in Salt Lake

My reverse actuator seems to be going out again. It works sometimes, usually, but now it doesn't work at all.
I'll be in Salt Lake tomorrow. Any good dealers there?

 

[SpyderAnn01]

My reverse actuator seems to be going out again. It works sometimes, usually, but now it doesn't work at all.
I'll be in Salt Lake tomorrow. Any good dealers there?

High Adventure Power Sports is the dealer that Forrest used when he broke down on his Spyder Triangle trip.

 

[docdoru]

821 924 9244 the same service that worked in Sept 2010 on my Spyder and on Forrest 20 days ago. Ask for Garry.
http://www.highadventureps.com/

 

[Bootie]

Reverse Actuator

My reverse actuator seems to be going out again. It works sometimes, usually, but now it doesn't work at all.
I'll be in Salt Lake tomorrow. Any good dealers there?

Well, my Reverse Actuator went out again:gaah: and this after they "fixed" it at Cowtown in Cuba, MO.
I am back in Ohio now and I have been doing without reverse for about a week now:cus:. I have come to accept the lack of reverse as one of the numerous gremlins that we have to deal with. I had my scoot into a Speed Shop getting an Oil Pressure and Voltage meters installed. I did not tell the tech that reverse didn't work. When he tried to back out of the shop he couldn't get it to go into reverse. He then ABSENTMINDEDLY SHIFTED TO 2nd GEAR AND PUSHED THE REVERSE BUTTON. Wouldn't you know, it went into reverse:shocked:. It has been working ever since (1 day now). I don't know if this is stereotyped behavior but the next time it goes out, I'll try the 2nd gear thing.
To my way of thinking, some sensor is slightly off calibration. We'll have to see.

 

[Lamonster]

Well, my Reverse Actuator went out again:gaah: and this after they "fixed" it at Cowtown in Cuba, MO.
I am back in Ohio now and I have been doing without reverse for about a week now:cus:. I have come to accept the lack of reverse as one of the numerous gremlins that we have to deal with. I had my scoot into a Speed Shop getting an Oil Pressure and Voltage meters installed. I did not tell the tech that reverse didn't work. When he tried to back out of the shop he couldn't get it to go into reverse. He then ABSENTMINDEDLY SHIFTED TO 2nd GEAR AND PUSHED THE REVERSE BUTTON. Wouldn't you know, it went into reverse:shocked:. It has been working ever since (1 day now). I don't know if this is stereotyped behavior but the next time it goes out, I'll try the 2nd gear thing.
To my way of thinking, some sensor is slightly off calibration. We'll have to see.

GPS sounds like it needs a look at.