Higher mileage guys cam chain tensioner ? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

hardwork2 · 08-01-2009, 09:28 PM

How many miles without changing them out? I have over 60k on my original ones. I was wondering how long they will last.I've heard of falures 25 or 30k. so here I am at twice that and still going.

**baggersport** · 08-01-2009, 09:36 PM

I pulled a set from an 88" '00 bagger....came in with a bad bearing on the support plate.....had 60k with less than 1/2 wear on the tensioners. Have also pulled them at 25k that were more than 1/2 worn.....no way to know until you look at them. Figure the spring tension is not consistant and some wear sooner (with more spring pressure).

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Marsh · 08-01-2009, 10:49 PM

Personally, I think you're living on borrowed time. If it were my bike I'm not sure I would start it again until I looked. The risk is too expensive. Mine were fairly worn at 24,000 miles. I went to gear drive cams and now no worries.

Marsh

hardwork2 · 08-02-2009, 06:23 AM

Well, I had them checked at 45k they said they were in specs.They said ride it and don't worry about it. Its under extended service plan for 2 more years. I ride on the interstate 80 mph most of the time. and if it comes apart is the ESP going to cover road rash? If I crash I probly wont but still anything is possible. I hate to trash a good engine too. I'm not so worried about me but if the wife and chihuahuas are on with me that's a diffrent story. I learned along time ago getting mad don't help aything but I promise I'm going to be really really pissed off if they get hurt.
Its going in for the 60k service next weekend should I say something again or let it go and hope for a new engine before the esp runs out?

RG50 · 08-02-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardwork2

They said ride it and don't worry about it. Its under extended service plan for 2 more years.

Sounds like the dealer wants you to ride it to the point of failure.

Would your dealer replace them under warranty if there is is no failure?

hardwork2 · 08-02-2009, 09:03 AM

In my experience with harley warranty if its not broke they wont fix it. even though the cost of a new engine is alot more than changing out the tensioner.If it was on me I'd look into diffrent options as such as harleys new version or gear drives. but since it is there problem til January of 2012. I'd prefer not to pay for it. by then I'm guessing it will have 90k on it.I'm pretty sure I will trade up by the then. It just concerns me about a catastrophic engine falure at speed.

vindex1963 · 08-02-2009, 09:48 AM

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/tw...ey-spring.html

Fathead99 · 08-14-2009, 09:55 PM

My 99 RKC developed a whine at 70k. At 71.5k, a dealer replaced them. Too bad they left a cam cover bolt out. You can see a photo of the old tensioners at: http://www.ballzowt.com/photos/camtensioners.jpg

dabimf · 08-15-2009, 07:01 AM

http://www.royalpurple.com/motorcycle-oil.html

msocko3 · 08-15-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dabimf

http://www.royalpurple.com/motorcycle-oil.html

I just replaced the outer tensioner on a neighbors 02 RK with 57k on it. He used Royalpurple in the bike for years. His was about toast and I replaced it with one from my bike removed when I went with gear drive that looked like the Royalpurple one with 10k miles on it in their advertisment. I used Syn3 for during that period. Its all hit and miss. Some fail quick and some seem to go for a very long time.

1949shoebox · 08-15-2009, 03:31 PM

the tentioners dont play they wont give warning signs if you dont check it during service time you will b looking at a new motor. theorectically they are supposed to wear after 25000 under grandpa riding conditions... hope you dont ruin your scoot! gear drive it and call it done......

route66paul · 08-15-2009, 04:02 PM

I would check it at least. most probable i would just replace it to be sure, you would have done the work already, so just change them out and be sure.

rmc115 · 08-15-2009, 04:19 PM

2000 year bikes had better chains in them. My fatboy has 20k with zero wear on them. I have changed a 05 with 12k that were worn .040. Straight from a hd engineer I cornered at sturgis a couple of years ago, Borg Warner made the chains and they lost the quality control. Mike

frankysfree · 08-15-2009, 04:29 PM

you need to replace them asap preferably with gear driven cams. been a tech for 5 years and the longest ive ever seen a set of cam chain tensioners go is a little under 70k miles. and that bike came in because they were gone and we had to replace the oil pump, cam plate and flush out the oiling system, etc...

one thing that people dont think about is the oil pump is directly behind the cam plate, directly beneath the cams. it is a rotary style pump and has VERY tight tolerences. as the cam tensioners wear the oil pump picks those particles up straight out of the cam cavity (before it goes through the oil filter) and does alot of damage to the oil pump after so many miles. it scores up the gears and the pump body and causes lower oil pressure and possibly oil pump failure eventually. the more time you leave those in there the more damage you risk to your engine

fyi harley WILL NOT replace the tensioners unless they have completely failed. even then i have seen them tell people the reason they failed was because they didnt change the oil, do maintanence on there bike like they were supposed to. all b.s.

MilesToGo · 08-15-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardwork2

How many miles without changing them out? I have over 60k on my original ones. I was wondering how long they will last.I've heard of falures 25 or 30k. so here I am at twice that and still going.

I agree with others. You should have those replaced ASAP. Some say check them but it's difficult at best to check the inner without pulling the cam plate and once you are that far you might as well replace them. BTW, check the fine print on your ext warranty. I'll bet it doesn't cover wear items which includes the tensioners. That means if you fail to replace the wear item and it takes out your engine then it's not covered. Either way i wouldn't take the chance of being stranded and then having to fight to get it covered.