Tec Camshaft

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by beerkat, May 20, 2021.

  1. Cpl-Clott

    Cpl-Clott New Member

    Sep 30, 2021
    15
    3
    Burnley - Lancashire
    Did you get the TEC cam shaft fitted at Youles. If so how much did they charge you and has it made a difference. I live over Burnley way so this is my local dealer.
     
  2. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    If you're seriously thinking of having a TEC cam fitted then it would be helpful to you if you read my (this) post from the beginning. As I've said, I had the camshaft fitted at Youles Manchester and it has made a significant difference (details described previously). They charged me £250 to do the job. I bought the cam direct from TEC and ordered the other odds and sods from Youles, which came to just under £30.
    So the whole job wasn't cheap but I found the lack of oomph all the way through the rev range (plenty at the bottom end) frustrating. Having the cam swopped is a lot cheaper than trading in the bike.
     
  3. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    710
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Sadly no, but no fault of Youles: Ordered cam from TEC then booked in with Youles Blackburn to be fitted during annual service and ordered the extra Triumph parts for fitting from Youles. They did warn me about invalidating warranty and any future goodwill help from Triumph if I had subsequent engine faults.

    But then I got a cancellation and refund from TEC due to a stock error on their part. Fortunately Youles then rang to confirm the extra parts needed and I was able to stop the order; so just an annual service this time and I’m not out of pocket.

    Another winter project is in the offing so now the cam will have to wait until the new year.

    As for Youles I have found them really friendly helpful and professional for purchase, servicing and warranty. For me they’ve done what they said they would, when they said they would for no more than the price quoted. I just wish they weren’t an hour and a half up the M6 from me.

    Ride safe.
     
  4. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    I think if your bike is still under warranty, or not far out of it, you should think twice before going for a cam swop. But my bike is over 4 years old and I very much doubt if Triumph would have helped out should a problem have arisen with the engine at this stage. They do have a bit of a poor rep for this.
    I looked into this carefully. Thousands of post-2016 Bonnevilles have been sold. Many have covered high mileages. There have been a few issues, but relative to the numbers sold only a very few. I spoke to George Milburn at TEC, and yes of course he wants to sell his products, but he was very convincing when explaining why Triumph restricted the 900cc engine and how the extra horses could be released. The TEC cam is as well made as the standard Triumph cam, in fact they are (or at least were originally) made by the same people.
    I spoke to the technicians at Youles. They had done the cam swop on several bikes and there have been no problems.
    I realise that some people would feel nervous about doing this. Fair enough, but I took the plunge and I'm glad I did.
     
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  5. Cpl-Clott

    Cpl-Clott New Member

    Sep 30, 2021
    15
    3
    Burnley - Lancashire

    Thanks for the update guys - sorry for the late reply - unfortunately life has got in the way
     
  6. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    I know this thread is well over a year old but I'm just wondering if you ever had the camshaft job done. Also, why do you need to travel up the M6 for an hour and a half when the Manchester Youles shop is so much nearer to you?

    For anyone interested I have had absolutely no issues with the TEC camshaft.
     
  7. Krillbert

    Krillbert New Member

    Jan 24, 2023
    0
    1
    stockholm
    Hej Beerkat !

    I just recieved the Cam. I have one question to you or another that has an answer. My 2017 Street twin has more than 40 000 km on it. do you think there is any problem with the long running time doing the change of cam ?

    Regards
    Krister (stockholm sweden)
     
  8. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,283
    800
    Yorkshire
    The 900cc twin is a very lightly stressed engine and 40k is nothing if it's been well maintained. Personally, I'd have no concerns in upgrading the camshaft.
     
  9. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    I agree with Pegscraper. You shouldn't have any problems with fitting the TEC came to your 2017 ST.
    If you want further confirmation you could email George Milburn at TEC Parts for his advice or try asking at a Triumph main dealer. The chaps at Youles Triumph Manchester were very helpful and enthusiastic about the swop.
    If you go ahead, then I'd be interested to hear how it went and what you thought of the transformation. Good luck.
     
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  10. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    710
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Hi @beerkat
    Sorry for the late reply, life has very much got in the way over the last few months. The last time my little S' Cup went out to play was at the beginning of November.

    I've been planning to do it myself to up my spanner skills, but I've realised that I'm never going to find the time, so its now booked in with Youles Manchester which is nearly an hour from Northwich at legal speeds.

    I bought the bike new from Youles Blackburn (2hrs up the M6) for a brilliant price in 2019, which is why I've been taking it there for its service in early autumn, mostly because of Youles' "lifetime" engine warranty. But that's just been blown out of the water with this booking though. Still should be worth it.

    Its not getting done until early March because their technician who is most experienced with fitting the TEC cam isn't available until then.

    Riding season will be here soon:cool:. Stay safe:)
     
  11. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    From my experience you will be in pretty safe hands at the Manchester Triumph shop. I hope you're as impressed with the increase in power as I was. Let us know how it goes.
     
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  12. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    710
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    #32 RevPaul, Mar 4, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2023
    So Job done, first impressions, once warmed up the idle is slightly offbeat, but as someone else said in a good way. But a rear puncture on the M6 (in rush hour:eek::worried::cold_sweat:) on the way home stuffed any chance of open road assessment:(.
     
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  13. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    Sorry to hear about the puncture, at least you came to no harm, which is the main thing. Have you got the original cast wheels and tubeless tyres or did you swop them for spoked wheels with tubed tyres? Just curious about the tubed vs tubeless thing.
    As you say, you've not had a chance to check out how the new cam has affected performance. Will you be taking it easy for the first few miles? The Youles technician told me not to bother, so I didn't :grinning:. I noticed a difference as soon as I rode out of their carpark, it picked up more quickly and had an urgency I hadn't felt before.
    Coincidently I've just got home from a trip to Youles for a browse. They've got a stonking, immaculate mid-90's FireBlade :heart: that I drooled over (not literally).
    The Street Twin is the easiest bike to ride that I've ever owned and the cam swop has upped the power to make it even more fun. When you get it out on the road give it the beans and let us know what you think.
     
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  14. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    710
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Thanks for the encouragement @beerkat.

    It may well be that the pick up on my Street Cup is better around town, but I was concentrating on readjusting to clutch bite-point on my bike and the difference in size / riding position after spending the day on the T120 they'd leant me: Thinking about it, it got away as quick as the T120 so it may be that pick up is better.

    I'm on the original cast wheels with tubeless tyres, I've never really wanted spoked wheels, they look classic on the right bike but take so much cleaning! I would say the bike seemed to stay more stable as the tyre deflated than I recall the tubed tyres of my old bikes back in the day, but that may be due to better sidewalls and the tyre having to grip the rim to maintain an air tight seal.

    I wasn't so much hoping for more power (although that will be nice) it was to cure the way the early Street Bonnevilles hit a brick wall in acceleration at around 3.5k to 4k rpm and in my case the vibration at the those revs (motorway speeds in top).

    I think I had noticed (as I was heading out on the M602) that the vibration had gone, but at the time I was more interested in the rapidly building rush hour traffic and what was the best setting for my heated grips to stave off my rapidly chilling fingers.

    When the tyres are done I'll try again, but that may be a week or so away.

    Youles certainly offer great service and have plenty of bikes (could hardly move for them), but lovely as some of the sporty bikes are, I think I like the classic vibe of the Bonnies:cool:.

    Stay safe:)
     
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  15. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    883
    243
    Cheshire UK
    You will definitely find more power! The first generation 900cc engine put out around 55bhp's. George Milburn reckons that the cam swop, together with the X-pipe decat and better breathing end cans (or exhaust) should up that to around 68bhp's. I can easily keep up with my brother on his T120 on motorways and his bigger bike can't match mine at traffic light GP's (yes I know it's childish).

    I can't remember, have you dumped the catalytic converter?
     
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  16. Teerex

    Teerex New Member

    Jun 11, 2023
    4
    3
    Norway
    I am just doing the TEC cam installation myself on my 2016 Street Twin. Will also probably do a remap using TuneECU.

    cam_in.jpg
     
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