Triumphrat

mouse · 03-16-2010, 12:45 AM

I have 2 '01 Sprints: one in as new shape but w/o engine, one w/ engine but crash damage. I need to move engine into undamaged frame. The plan is to move engine, wiring harness & instrument panel. All plastic parts will be the easy part. Has anyone had any experience removing/installing an engine w/ electrics? I've got the Haynes manual, but it is very general info. I'm pretty well versed on all the parts, just never attempted a swap out. Any advice would be appreciated.

KitNYC · 03-16-2010, 03:28 AM

I think that there's not a lot to it; mostly brute force and being careful not to drop it. I made the horrible mistake of paying someone to swap mine, and only just finished finding all of his mistakes a year later...

Some general tips:

-Take a picture, or a few pics, every time you disconnect something. Could be a big help when trying to figure out which wires go where, or which three (of four) IACV hoses are connected. If you don't have a digital camera, you should be able to pick one up for not much more than $50 from eBay or craigslist; consider it a required part.

-Have a roller cart of some kind set up to receive the engine before you're ready to undo the mounting bolts.

-Call a big, strong friend to help you with actually dropping the motor and putting it in. It might seem like overkill, but overkill is better than throwing your back out! (Says the man who just threw his back out *looking at* a 5-quart tray full of water.)

-Use a jack for the actual heavy lifting, the friend is mostly for backup.

-PAY ATTENTION! Ahem. Sorry. Bit of a sore spot there, as the ****wit who swapped my motor didn't, and left me wearing a quart of oil one day, and suddenly decelerating from 100->0 for no apparent reason a week later.

-Probably obvious, but treat the motor and wiring harness as separate projects.

HTH,
-Kit

RexxyPup · 03-16-2010, 05:15 PM

I changed mine last year. Follow the Workshop Manual, go carefully. Buy the proper triumph tools to do the job and it is reasonably easy.

Not sure why you are changing the wiring across though. Surely the wiring in the bike is okay?

I've almost finished writing up my change, so I could send you the draft without pictures if it is any use?

Rexx

steventhechef · 03-16-2010, 08:33 PM

Can i ask why you are swapping the loom if the year and the engines are the same?

mouse · 03-16-2010, 10:27 PM

The reason for the wiring swap is that whomever had the bike (#1) previously had evidentally tried to "hot rod" it & blew the motor. The original harness had been butchered pretty badly while installing a power shifter, dyno jet tuner & gear indicator. All the wires for these gizmos were cut so I really don't have any reference as to what is what. The motor in the other bike (#2) runs fine (only 8300 miles) & all the wiring is stock. The engine-less bike has much better appearance & better tires. The second bike has been crashed, but I don't think there are any front suspension issues. There's a clear title for bike #1...salvage title on #2. I'd appreciate any info on the swap.

KitNYC · 03-16-2010, 10:40 PM

So the better looking (but motorless) bike has the clear title? If that's the case, it definitely sounds like you're doing the right thing.

Cheers,
-Kit

3banger · 03-17-2010, 02:36 AM

I found having the oil pan off was helpful; pull the pan and oil filter mounting pipe/nut. This way the engine can sit flat. . I was able to mount then engine completely unassisted this way and could progress slowly and deliberately.

Also the engine mounting bolt tightening sequence in the manual is critical. Making your own tool for this is not overly difficult.
See item in bottom left.