Last fall I was doing hand therapy, and the occupational therapist agreed that doing some wrenching on a machine would be good exercise.
Since Sparky (the Spyder) was due for a valve check, I started taking off all the bodywork, drained the oil tank and sump, moved the oil tank aside enough to access the crank hole, unbolted the fuel tank and slid it back to gain room to remove the rear valve cover, and worked my way down through the airbox, throttle bodies, hoses, wires, yadda yadda.
The Spyder valves are adjusted with shims under buckets under overhead cams, four valves per head; two cylinders. The crank has to be locked at TDC to get the cams in position, then clearance can be checked one cylinder at a time. Allmost all of Sparky's valves needed adjustment, and it only took me three weeks and three shim orders to get them all within acceptable range. I would have to assume that in a Can Am dealer's shop, adjusting the valves would take about a full day.
I tell this tale to help explain one reason why I've decided to sell Sparky. The machine is very powerful, good handling, etc. but much more complex than I want to live with over a period of years. It might be different if I had a Spyder dealer within a few miles, but mine are hours away.
More to the point, I have been involved with BMW machines for many years, and I finally decided I'd rather wrench on a BMW than a Can Am. For example, a valve adjust on an oilhead might take an hour or two, certainly not all day. I still want a three-wheeler, but I started thinking about building a contemporary BMW powered sidecar rig.
I had also been discouraged by the lack of off-pavement capability. Low clearance, belt drive, sport car tires, etc. all conspire to make it unwise to take a Spyder onto unpaved roads--at least driving it aggressively on dirt.
As it happened, a rider in the community had been starting to lust after a yellow Spyder, and after the second visit he offered to buy it. We arrived at an agreeable price, and he has until May to take delivery.
If anyone has additional questions about my experience with Sparky, or my choice to not own a Spyder anymore, this is your chance to ask.
pmdave
Since Sparky (the Spyder) was due for a valve check, I started taking off all the bodywork, drained the oil tank and sump, moved the oil tank aside enough to access the crank hole, unbolted the fuel tank and slid it back to gain room to remove the rear valve cover, and worked my way down through the airbox, throttle bodies, hoses, wires, yadda yadda.
The Spyder valves are adjusted with shims under buckets under overhead cams, four valves per head; two cylinders. The crank has to be locked at TDC to get the cams in position, then clearance can be checked one cylinder at a time. Allmost all of Sparky's valves needed adjustment, and it only took me three weeks and three shim orders to get them all within acceptable range. I would have to assume that in a Can Am dealer's shop, adjusting the valves would take about a full day.
I tell this tale to help explain one reason why I've decided to sell Sparky. The machine is very powerful, good handling, etc. but much more complex than I want to live with over a period of years. It might be different if I had a Spyder dealer within a few miles, but mine are hours away.
More to the point, I have been involved with BMW machines for many years, and I finally decided I'd rather wrench on a BMW than a Can Am. For example, a valve adjust on an oilhead might take an hour or two, certainly not all day. I still want a three-wheeler, but I started thinking about building a contemporary BMW powered sidecar rig.
I had also been discouraged by the lack of off-pavement capability. Low clearance, belt drive, sport car tires, etc. all conspire to make it unwise to take a Spyder onto unpaved roads--at least driving it aggressively on dirt.
As it happened, a rider in the community had been starting to lust after a yellow Spyder, and after the second visit he offered to buy it. We arrived at an agreeable price, and he has until May to take delivery.
If anyone has additional questions about my experience with Sparky, or my choice to not own a Spyder anymore, this is your chance to ask.
pmdave