Tripoint Cam Gear Failure

[Focus]

I am posting this in your section because I have a concern for one of your products. I was the passenger in the vehicle that this happened to. The owner shall remain nameless as he is not on this forum anymore, but he has tried to contact you to no avail.


I have tried 4 Times in total to contact them via E-Mail and even sent my question to several different E-Mail addresses.

My concern is simple. A part that I bought from them, literally shattered due to poor selection in material. If my engine was an interference motor, it would have destroyed the entire motor.

On my way to Meeting of Mazda's in Toronto, I thought my engine had spun a bearing. It sounded like engine death. A large piece of the gear, split from the rest and was hitting the valve cover. The car was completely dead 100 Miles from my house, I was totally lucky to find a welder who was open nearby. He was able to weld it in place then was able to make it to my destination.

For others that may have a similar set of cam gears, please get them changed out as soon as possible, so this does not happen to yours and possibly dmage your engine.

TRI-POINT why was WHITE OR POWDERED METAL used for the center of this part. I paid over $300.00 USD for this part.

What would you like to do about this?

http://i30.tinypic.com/2u70u2x.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/2moy003.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/rmpx6r.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/359k19h.jpg

[StealthWyvern]

Wow that sucks!

[boostdprotegelx]

holy fuck dude.. your gears aren't gonna do this, right?:)

[Focus]

holy fuck dude.. your gears aren't gonna do this, right?:)

No, the center insert is machined from aluminum and is 3 to 4 times thicker. The ones I had made were based on the tripoint design, which is a good design but they went with an inferior metal for construction...

[boostdprotegelx]

No, the center insert is machined from aluminum and is 3 to 4 times thicker. The ones I had made were based on the tripoint design, which is a good design but they went with an inferior metal for construction...

that's what i figured bro. good luck with this. i hope they clear it up..especially for that price tag.. yours was way better.

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

I'm sorry but for all the technical information would have to go to Sunbelt Performance. They were the ones that made the product for us. Obivously when we originally sold the product, it was not welded on originally. I do not know if that would have caused any issues witht he strength of the part.

'TRI-POINT why was WHITE OR POWDERED METAL used for the center of this part. I paid over $300.00 USD for this part.'

They were not powder coated, they are anodized blue.

[Focus]

I'm sorry but forr all the technical information would have to go to Sunbelt Performance. They were the ones that made the product for us. Obivously when we originally sold the product, it was not welded on originally. I do not know if that would have caused any issues witht he strength of the part.

Jeff, after it broke in two, we were half way between Ottawa and Toronto, we needed to get the car running, so basically we found a truck center near by that had a welding machine. We asked one of the mechanics to tack them together just so we can get to our destination or back home. The welds look like shit for two reasons, the guy was not a welder, and second, he was trying to weld 3 dissimilar metals with a mig. Powdered white metal center piece, cast iron gears, and I dunno what the screws are made of.

The point of the matter is that the piece was manufactured so thin and it came apart, almost taking the engine with it. I'm surprised Jim would build such a inferior part...

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

Also for whatever it is worth, the last cam gear that we sold was back in 2004.

[Focus]

Also for whatever it is worth, the last cam gear that we sold was back in 2004.

Well hopefully this can be a warning to those that still are running Tripoint cam gears. Please check your gears as they may be getting Metal fatigue and may eventually fail. These parts will not last forever.

And Jeff, if you know of anyone still using them, please let them know to inspect them. I am not going on a witchhunt for Tripoint, but basically would like you to know that there is a problem, and you can acknowledge it. Hopefully we can avoid any potential disasters for others using such parts...

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

Jeff, after it broke in two, we were half way between Ottawa and Toronto, we needed to get the car running, so basically we found a truck center near by that had a welding machine. We asked one of the mechanics to tack them together just so we can get to our destination or back home. The welds look like shit for two reasons, the guy was not a welder, and second, he was trying to weld 3 dissimilar metals with a mig. Powdered white metal center piece, cast iron gears, and I dunno what the screws are made of.

The point of the matter is that the piece was manufactured so thin and it came apart, almost taking the engine with it. I'm surprised Jim would build such a inferior part...

I'm sorry that it happened to your friend, I would suggest contacting Sunbelt if you have any further technical questions.

[mspHtown]

tri-point customer service ftw... (notcool)

[TheMAN]

what kind of customer service are you expecting on a RACE ONLY part that carries NO warranty whatsoever (especially on something that was sold YEARS ago and have MANY MILES on it by now)? at least they were kind enough to respond (finally) with info on who made them... I think we can close this chapter once someone (preferably tripoint) posts the contact info to sunbelt

[mspHtown]

what kind of customer service are you expecting on a RACE ONLY part that carries NO warranty whatsoever (especially on something that was sold YEARS ago and have MANY MILES on it by now)? at least they were kind enough to respond (finally) with info on who made them... I think we can close this chapter once someone (preferably tripoint) posts the contact info to sunbelt

i dont expect them to warranty the part. i would just expect tripoint to contact sunbelt instead of having the customer do so.

not only that, his initial response was pitiful. if he would have half-ass read the initial post, then it would have been obvious the welds were done after the part failed.

not to mention the customer even tried contacting them 4 times without any success... they could have atleast responded...

I'm sorry but for all the technical information would have to go to Sunbelt Performance. They were the ones that made the product for us. Obivously when we originally sold the product, it was not welded on originally. I do not know if that would have caused any issues witht he strength of the part.

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

i dont expect them to warranty the part. i would just expect tripoint to contact sunbelt instead of having the customer do so.

not only that, his initial response was pitiful. if he would have half-ass read the initial post, then it would have been obvious the welds were done after the part failed.

not to mention the customer even tried contacting them 4 times without any success... they could have atleast responded...

I'm sorry that you feel this way. I believe if we were to contact sunbelt instead of having the customer do so, the process would be that much longer. Also a lot of information can be lost in the process.

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

not only that, his initial response was pitiful. if he would have half-ass read the initial post, then it would have been obvious the welds were done after the part failed.

In the intial post, where does it say that welds were done after the part failed? Who's to say that the cam gears were slipping and he wanted to hold it in place and not have to worry about it again?

[CTt3P5]

I'm sorry that you feel this way. I believe if we were to contact sunbelt instead of having the customer do so, the process would be that much longer. Also a lot of information can be lost in the process.

I can agree with this but a pm with contact info, name an phone # if possible would be cool.

In the intial post, where does it say that welds were done after the part failed? Who's to say that the cam gears were slipping and he wanted to hold it in place and not have to worry about it again?

As copied from the first post.

On my way to Meeting of Mazda's in Toronto, I thought my engine had spun a bearing. It sounded like engine death. A large piece of the gear, split from the rest and was hitting the valve cover. The car was completely dead 100 Miles from my house, I was totally lucky to find a welder who was open nearby. He was able to weld it in place then was able to make it to my destination.

[Jeff@Tri-Point]

I'm sorry, my mistake.

Sunbelt Performance
6000 Holiday Rd.
Buford, GA 30518

770-271-1577

This is all the contact info we have, it's fairly old now, I don't know how up to date it is.

[Metallic36]

Wow, they're only about 30 minutes from me. Here is their website also: http://www.kssmotorsports.com/index.aspx

I'm sorry, my mistake.

Sunbelt Performance
6000 Holiday Rd.
Buford, GA 30518

770-271-1577

This is all the contact info we have, it's fairly old now, I don't know how up to date it is.

[avarela86]

Hmmm... I run these gears in my car and haven't had ANY issues and additionally they don't look ANYTHING like the ones in the OP. Mine look WAY higher quality and anodized blue.