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YellowDog
28th March 2010, 20:00
I’ve had my Micron Beta Race can on the bike since the New Year. I just hadn’t got around to the airbox mod or the ECU tune. Whilst the sound and power are fantastic, the throttle has been a little uneven since the new can. I figured that the ECU tune would sort it out. But what about the well publicised airbox mod and air filter upgrade to boost upto S3 power?

So this is what I did this morning:
Searched for and found the BMC Air filter that I bought a few weeks back (found it) and then printed out two pages from Service manual on how to remove the fuel tank.

Side panels off, tank bolts out then up she comes. Take some quick notes of where everything connects and then. First problem – I can’t get the Fuel line off. I squeeze it, twist it, and pull it in every direction but it just won’t budge AND the tank’s now starting to get heavy. I wedged my rubber torch under it and use another torch to inspect further. The plastic clip over the fuel connector was preventing me from disengaging the clip. I couldn’t prise it off as the pipe was going through it and there was not anything about it in the manual. So I ease it up and then push it further down the pipe and after a small click the pipe comes off. I catch the few drops of fuel in a waiting paper towel. I pull the other connectors off and then remove the tank, sitting her on a waiting soft towel.

Opening the airbox is just a matter of 11 easily accessible screws AND out comes the air filter revealing the empty airbox and snorkel pipe. I was surprised that the snorkel pipe was made of soft rubber as I had assumed it would be plastic.

So now here's the dilemma: Do I take the snorkel out OR do I just open up the blanked inlet? Well as it wasn’t such a big deal taking it all apart, I figure that I would just open up the blanked snorkel to see how it goes. 2 minutes later I’m tidying up my rubber cutting handy work. I put the BMC filter in and start reassembling it all. No problems at all putting it back together.

So now for the road test. I have read Triumph forum posts saying that it takes a while for the ECU to settle down with the new environment, so I am ready for some issues. I am also expecting initial warning lights. I need fuel, so if it doesn’t run so well I figure I’ll just get fuel and then head back. The other issue of course is that it may not actually start.

I reconnect the battery and put the seat back on and we’re away. No warning lights, no ECU issues, just smooth power from the off and much more of it. I get fuel and go for a usual route blast up the motorway. Wow – what a difference.

It is rare that a DIY job goes so well and has better than expected results. I will put the ECU tune on hold for a while as I really do want to enjoy my new bike again before yet another change.

F5 Dave
29th March 2010, 17:18
. . . well you know what I'm going to say don't you? (I'm a cynical prick) Very likely some or all, or even more than the sum total could well been from the filter alone being a better match for the ECU setting. Or the old filter being a bit full of fine clogging dust. So have yet to see if the airbox mod done in isolation does anything. I'll have to get my (already K&N'd) Tiger to the dyno one day with a scalpel. But the thought of dropping the tank on top of the dyno puts me off, yer right it's not light or easy to manhandle.


But hey if you are happy with the end result then that's the main thing.

Owl
29th March 2010, 19:02
But what about the well publicised airbox mod and air filter upgrade to boost upto S3 power?

Ok:whistle:

Awful lot of ground to make up if the Tiger specs are correct (83.2KW-74NM).

As for the ECU tune, take it to a dedicated engine tuner that uses TuneBoy etc. It makes a hell of a difference, as opposed to getting an off the shelf tune from the dealer.

YellowDog
29th March 2010, 19:32
Fair comment Dave, whilst the air filter I replaced had only done 3000km, the K&N/PiperCross/BMC units do let a great deal more air pass thorugh.

The S3 has an identical airbox with the only difference is that the snorkel doesn't have one end blocked off (as on the Tiger). Most of the guys on the Tiger forum just rip it out completely and then wait for the ECU to recallibrate itself. As I've taken the tank off once, I am sure it will be a great deal quicker the next time. But I don't think I will look at that until the next time I need to clean the filter.

The dyno figures for a race can/snorkel out/AirFilter upgrade/Race Tuneboy look pretty imprissive at around 132-136bhp (allegedly).

I was thinking of getting a Tuneboy. There is a group purchase available @ AU$399 incliuding the TuneEdit and cable. But the guys at Holeshot will do a Tuneboy download for $35, which seems pretty good to me.

The bike's running really well since the mod so I'll hang fire on the tune for a while.

Thanks for the feedback.

F5 Dave
30th March 2010, 08:19
Yeah no doubt you've seen the Airbox mod thread on the Tig forum, my opinion (for what little its worth) is I don't care about top end peak figures, I'd rather gain 2 in the mid & lose 2 off the top.

Owl
31st March 2010, 06:34
I don't care about top end peak figures, I'd rather gain 2 in the mid & lose 2 off the top.

Dead right! Exactly the issue I had with so many fuel maps on the S3. Too much focus on peak figures and little thought where it counts.


I was thinking of getting a Tuneboy. There is a group purchase available @ AU$399 incliuding the TuneEdit and cable. But the guys at Holeshot will do a Tuneboy download for $35, which seems pretty good to me.

Just a "heads up" on the TuneBoy: Great tool (if you know your stuff) and great toy (if you don't)! Just understand that you'd effectively be purchasing the cable and key to unlock the ECU only. All TuneBoy software is free to download from their website anyway.

I purchased it cheaper in a package deal with my exhaust system, however I wouldn't do it again. Knowing what I know now, I'd just pay to get it tuned by a professional using TuneBoy. That way it's done specifically to my bike and the ECU is then unlocked for the future. Cables appear on Trademe from time to time, or you could perhaps borrow one if need be. I've had no need to connect to my bike since getting it sorted properly (18 months ago).

$35 to load a new map is a great price, but that's a factory Triumph map and nothing to do with TuneBoy!