T7 Motor Swap

I overheated my T7's motor at the 2022 Desert 100 race after puncturing a rad hose and losing all my coolant. Surprisingly, the motor ran well for over a year before it became hard to start.
I swapped in a low-mileage motor from a crashed MT-07.

[@markymark2967]

Man, that's absolutely crazy how easy this swap is. A sloppy mechanic could do it in a walmart parking lot. As long as there are people racing (and crashing) mt-07's, R7's and xsr700's, these bikes are immortal

[@brodeypecha9233]

Theres nothing like hearing a motor fire after doing extensive work! good job

[@CamelADV]

The cam timing had me stressed!

[@yorkchris10]

A wealth of knowledge being built up on this platform.

[@CamelADV]

Thanks. I'm hoping to do more in-the-shop videos rather than just riding and install stuff.

[@charlescummings1484]

Thank you very much. Please share any T7 related type maintenance detail, much appreciated! Love your products! From Connecticut, U.S.A.

[@stepheneldridge6998]

Excellent video Cory, and as someone who intends to keep my beloved T7 forever its good to know that an engine swap is pretty straightforward. And how satisfying is an instant first time start up!! Cheers Steve

[@jessepacht6382]

Despite wrenching on bikes for years, I always learn something from watching your great videos. Thank you for continuing to thrash your T7. Great to know the MT-07 motor is basically a straight swap.

[@allenhuling598]

Thanks for taking the time to film this, Cory, entertaining and educational!! Ride hard....ride safe!

[@DamonStangherlin]

Good stuff, learned some interesting things, and enjoyed watching the process. Thanks 🤙🏻

[@Nerb1]

No electronic lockouts! Why I bought a Yamaha and sold the ktm ;) With the cam marks, I also found that mine were not even perfectly flat once the com covers were bolted down. They were a little one way or the other. I guess mass production tolerances arnt as precise as they used to be.

[@CamelADV]

My issue was that there were two identical marks, one on each side of the sprocket. There was no easy way to distinguish which was the correct one. I went off lobe position as the shop manual wasn't clear.

[@charlescummings1484]

Enjoyed all the Epic KTM rides you produced Brendon on the 1190! (Especially in the Winter! :) ) From Connecticut, U.S.A.

[@HulsenBike]

Almost like watching a mindfulness video. So relaxing to see an engine being rebuild. Good job!

[@greatfallskam]

The video is right up there with Lyndon Poskitt's bike tear down and rebuild before major race. Nice job !

[@aaatias]

Excellent vid Man! Thank you for posting, and learn from the Camel shop, proud owner of the high fender kit !

[@sundayRSundayr]

Good info in this one Camel ADV. Thanks for sharing the tip about compression increase. Should have better torque and economy.

[@maddog6243]

I love your videos man.

[@CamelADV]

I'm glad to hear it!

[@Holmaaron]

I’ve been waiting for this to eventually pop up since I saw the video from the race. Super cool it’s an easy swap over. Hope to see you down at the d100 for ‘24!

[@CamelADV]

This is the first year I didn't race since I first heard about the D100 in 2013. I expect to be back next year. Did you race it this year?

[@Holmaaron]

@@CamelADV I did yea. Hauled the t7 down. Broke my foot on practice day but decided to race anyways and managed to finish.

[@MeerkatADV]

The CP2 is just stupid for how good of a motor it is. 50k miles on mine and it just doesn't care!

[@ruston723]

nice video crazy the motor was still running after that race and moab. Got my foot peg brace on my 17 AF twin fit perfectly no spacers i think because of the aftermarket foot peg thick aluminum on them

[@gideonleroux7519]

Awesomes, well done.

[@gbner9991]

Nice tutorial, very helpful as a I have look at my clutch soon. Would be interesting to hear the results of that higher compression mod. (And if it sounds different :D)

[@CamelADV]

I can't say that I noticed any sound difference. Seat-of-the-pants dyno says more power but I had also been riding the tired engine for over a year so not surprising the new one felt stronger.

[@pal9878]

Fantastic! 👍 😃

[@The333]

This was really awesome to watch, thanks for filming it and sharing it. One thing that was not clear tome though - early in the assembly of the new engine, you pointed out the spot where the metal rod had popped through the case during shipping - wouldn't this hole be a problem when you re-assembled the engine and put oil into the bike?

[@tonysilva5558]

Thanks for taking us along, curious what you think of the higher compression with the thinner head gasket.

[@CamelADV]

It definitely had more power after the swap but the original motor was lacking compression by then. I couldn't tell you how much of the increase was from the hi-comp gasket and how much was simply because the new motor's rings still have their temper.

[@alrightdave6135]

Yamaha build quality. KTM can only dream of this level.

[@MT-THNDR207]

7:27 Clutch boss. Linked to the input shaft.

[@luisgomes9991]

Hello camel, make a video to test the gains of the high compression gasget on the dyno, greetings from Portugal

[@stephenbell4608]

Always enjoy your videos and your passion for making bikes better. Maybe I missed something but just wondering why you would opt for a engine swap versus rebuilding the top end on the existing engine?

[@CamelADV]

This was from April 2022 and getting parts for a rebuild was miserable. Head bolts from Yamaha were backordered several months, so were some of the gaskets. At the time, I assume the motor was toast and was going to need repair or replacement immediately. In Western Canada, we have 6 month riding season and I wasn't willing to sit most of it out while I waiting for parts to arrive. I got the MT-07 motor for a great price so it made sense.

[@stephenbell4608]

As a YYC rider myself I totally understand not wanting to wait months for parts to arrive. I sure you could rebuild the old engine and keep it as a spare or sell it to recover some of the cost.

[@tdr30]

Are you running high octane fuel now, with the higher compression ratio? I wonder if there is a mapping option that will help take full advantage of this change, without replacing the cams.

[@Aridrona]

Is the mt07 transmission grearimg are the same as the t7?

[@steffav]

Next week same procidure here.

[@ShiftingAdventures]

Great vid Cory. Hey, noticed you have spring loaded tip on 'The Fix' rear brake pedal....are you in testing phase for this? Any approx ETA on when you're looking to have these available one The Fix?

[@CamelADV]

Yup, testing. No ETA at the moment.

[@ApocalypseNouille]

@@CamelADV Oh man, can't wait. I love the Fix, but have issues getting to the tip sometimes with moto boots (I use the AXP bash plate that protrudes a bit in this area).

[@mbarnatan1]

SHMEGMA aside, great video. Thank you!

[@Navillus2273]

The Mt07 and T7 are not tuned differently? Wow, I did not know they were 100% identical. Cool.

[@CamelADV]

The only motor difference is the Mt-07 comes with a 16T front sprocket and the T7 is 15T.

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@CamelADV Same gearbox and gear ratios? Moreover, maybe I missed it, but how did you deal with the hole in the engine case? You didn't swap cases with yours, did you?

[@TheSpragz]

Not related but what front mud guard is that? Easy to fit?

[@brianm5753]

Larger rear sprocket definitely helped with the clutch wear I think

[@CamelADV]

I'm down one tooth on the front; noticeably more stall resistance.

[@philhagoes9339]

That was an awesome crash course on the engine! How much power could feasibly be obtained by completely rebuilding a T7 engine? Bored over, etc. Thanks for the great video!

[@CamelADV]

I've heard the CP2 bikes racing the Moto America series can be built to about 130hp. I'm guessing that is a $10k+ build and I can't imagine they last long if they are cranked up to that level though.

[@philhagoes9339]

@@CamelADV that sounds cool but unrealistic. I was hoping there is a way to upgrade the engine when it eventually wear out. I already upgraded to the Camel Tank, Skidplate, Brake Lever, and now I’m just waiting on the Two Finger Clutch to be back in stock! Keep up the great work!

[@adriantompson]

we were thinking it mite be easyer dropping engine to do valve clearances 30mins sounds good. what difference if any did head gasket make. mate does a throttle body inlet wider mod add 1hp on dyno

[@CamelADV]

Pulling it for valves might be feasible if you weren't dropping it all the way out. With the motor in the frame, getting the area above the valve cover clean enough is tough. I don't know how you avoid dropping dirt into the valvetrain.

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@CamelADV could you tilt the motor forward if you took the radiator off? That would help taking it out of the way of most of the dirt from above and give you more room to work? Guessing.

[@charlescummings1484]

Have you / will you be doing a valve check and about what milage? Thanks!

[@CamelADV]

I checked the valves after doing the head gasket... everything was in spec.

[@bryansuperduke1290r]

Be interested in what power you could get out of your old engine with some tunning work, but then its going to be less reliable.

[@mbarnatan1]

SHMEGMA! 😂 (min 15:00). I doubt it comes close to the real smegma (I don’t dare to write the definition or I might be banned bwahaahahah)

[@skarebsuper]

did you swap over the old engine case (with the original engine number) to the new motor?

[@CamelADV]

No, the complete motor was swapped.

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@CamelADV but the new one was damaged with a hole, no?

[@ET_Bikes]

We all would love to know if the gasket update is worth it and how much HP was really gained?

[@CamelADV]

I would have had to dyno it before and after to get an accurate number. It isn't something I'd take the motor out of the bike to do on it's own but if it was out already, it makes sense.

[@racer65069]

When i saw the tittle i'm thinking yes a MT09 swap in un T7 😆

[@C_R_O_M________]

A 3 cylinder engine doesn't work well in an off road bike. You'll be struggling for traction off road (that is IF you can fit that motor in there).

[@pjm204]

Maybe I missed it. How was the hole in the case repaired after the UPS oopsie?

[@CamelADV]

Ground the paint off the case and filled it with JB Weld. I've had success with it on other case/cover damage over the years... however, this one os weeping again. I was hoping to avoid TIGing it.

[@pjm204]

@CamelADV yea I found a JB weld repair under an oil covered skidplate on a bike I bought a few months ago. I think welding is probably the way to go when feasible. I have a TIG welder but lack the welding skill to do that job right.

[@michailvlassov3488]

молодец))

[@Turbulaence]

20:10 Salut Camel :) Du coup, tu as pu savoir d'où vient cet écart sur ton support moteur ? Bonne journée !

[@CamelADV]

It's an adjustment nut, easy set.

[@deltabravo1257]

How many miles were on the original engine?

[@CamelADV]

5000km ~ ish. It was toast because of abuse nothing more.

[@Turbulaence]

@@CamelADV Seulement 🙄😳

[@ET_Bikes]

Are you back to using stock forks ?

[@CamelADV]

Definitely not!

[@cliff1551]

11:48 think it's supposed to stop clutch judder noise Cory ,,,,wider plate

[@MT-THNDR207]

What are "go fast performance parts"?

[@CamelADV]

Performance cams, injectors, big bore kits, oversized throttle bodies, extra... you know, stuff to make you go fast... maybe it's a regional term ;)

[@MT-THNDR207]

@@CamelADV Are there aftermarket injectors for the CP2?

[@CamelADV]

@@MT-THNDR207 I'm not sure. You asked what "Go fast parts" were; I was just giving general examples.

[@jimtitt3571]

There is a turbo kit available for the road versions. Might be a hassle fitting it on an offroader though!