Free spirits belt tensioner failure.

[Stormn712]

I got one last year. For the same reason as Loki. Now I'm gonna check it once and a while with a mechanics mirror. Thanks for the heads up Karma.

[mmcn49]

I was looking into getting one recently. Below is the e-mail address of the woman from free spirits who responded.

Sandra - Free Spirits [sandra@freespirits.it]

Hello,

required part is in stock.

Total amount including shipping cost is €. 167.03

Our terms of payment are:

By credit card only Visa and Mastercard (in case let me have detail ONLY by fax +39(0)445395539)

By wire transfer through:

Banca Antonveneta

Via Monte Pasubio 224

36010 Zanè (VI) Italy

Account no. 1055087

Iban IT77T0504060890000001055087

Swift ANTBIT21799



Our company is:

Free Spirits srl

Via G. Marconi, 79

36010 Carrè (VI) Italy



In the first case you should receive merchandise in around 4-5 working days

In the second case, you should have merchandise in around 4-5 working days, after receipt of payment.

Let me know about.

sandra

[Tork]

My FS tensioner failed on me, too. I think the design needs to be re-engineered. That pivot joint with the pin definitely needs more material for strength and reliability. I also noticed upon post-failure inspection that the unit should probably be periodically disassembled and lubed at all the friction points because everything was tight and/or showing significant signs of wear after about 7k miles of use. The eye-bolt rotating surfaces felt especially dry and tight. It looks like there is a tiny grease nipple on it, but I don't know of a grease gun adapter that would fit it.

I like the concept of constant-tension, but I no longer trust this product as currently designed. That's just my personal opinion. I know there are many on this board who have and use this tensioner, and that they may never experience a failure. At the very least, I'd keep an eye on it and remove it once in a while for inspection and lube.

Finally, as a cautionary note: If you use this tensioner and have removed your swingarm belt guards, there won't be much of anything to keep your belt from potentially coming off the rear wheel if your spring-tensioner breaks. My tensioner failed during some spirited road carving about 80 miles from home. I didn't know it had broken, but had started to feel something funky between accelerating and decelerating/braking when a fellow rider pointed out that my now-untensioned belt was flapping around loosely. I have my belt guards removed and easily removed the belt from my rear wheel pulley just by gently lifting it up and off with one finger. I was able to nurse the bike home, but was leary of the belt coming loose and mangling itself the whole ride back.

[Bobby Buell]

Now I am worried, having only just got round to fitting my FS belt tensioner (bought in Jan2012), will now take it off and examine very carefully before refitting. Obviously will monitor closely before riding, since I have replaced plastic 'bathtubs' with skeletal alloy guards.
Anybody else had this failure? Like the other posters, will watch for reply from FS as to their comments.

[GAXB9R]

This sucks. How much do these dang things cost. And then you look forward to them breaking. Sounds like a big ass headache to me. Not to offend anyone, but this blows and I didn't even buy one!!

[Bad Karma]

OK guys,

My email provider(Yahoo mail) keeps kicking back my mail.
Apparently freespirits@deep-net.it
and - matt@freespirits.it (On there site) are not good addresses.
About to try - sandra@freespirits.it
Hope it gets though.

OK but I did take a look at the bracket further. Looks like the pin they used is a standard roll pin (has a split on the side, made to drive in a hole) the sharp edge of the slit actually rubs on the bracket as it moves, thus eventually thinning the metal out just enough to allow the already thin bracket to fail.

Fix = Take roll pin out and replace with solid pin and KEEP GREASED. I think it would last a good while longer with a simple pin replacement and an occasional greasing.


?Question?
OK I got a stock tensioner on ebay to get me back on the road. I got it on last night and now I have a belt whine. I also noticed the belt(18,xxxMiles) has quit a bit more tension on it compared to with the free spirits tensioner(Well Duh!! but it seems a bit much). The wheel takes a lot more effort to rotate on the stand(Not bearing binding though). Is this a problem? I'm afraid that the belt will break soon. I'm thinking of a little bracket modification to remove some of the tension to save the belt and bearings.

[stellio78]

There are two size stock tensioner brackets.

One has one small drill hole between the mount holes, this is for the S & R models.

One has two small drill holes between the mount holes, this is for the SS, STT, X & XT models.

Did you get the correct one for you bike?

[redrider]

I have a F/S tensioner and will be looking it over and possibly replacing pin but if you push a stock bike or try to coast a stock bike its very frictional. My bike rolls and will coast much smoother and farther. I will be keeping mine and will repair as needed i just hope free spirit will stand by there product.

[GAXB9R]

i just hope free spirit will stand by there product.

Let's hope so.

[Bobby Buell]

Just to clarify, when I fitted my FS tensioner, I needed to shim it to get good alignment, as per their instructions. I assume the failures were despite this? or was misalignment exacerbating the weakness?
Am today taking mine off, to consider both pin replacement and greasing/maintenance.
I love the asthetics of FS products and hope they will resolve this.