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Cam chain tensioner failure survey

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467K views 697 replies 361 participants last post by  CarlosGGodfrog  
1
#1 ·
I would be really interested on who has actually had a cam chain tensioner failure, what year of bike and how many miles. Also was it covered under warranty. It does not have to be a catastrophic failure can include worn beyond factory specs.

It would be interesting to see if there is a pattern that developes.

I had a 2003 Ultra with 40,000 miles that was beyond factory specs and replaced under extended warranty in 2005.

Doug
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
My 2003 Ultra had really low oil pressure from day one.. Would idle about 4lbs... And run down the road under 20lbs... All the guys I talked to with close to the same year had the same situation...at 40,000 miles I had no problems but had the tensioners checked. Harley ended up replacing everything in the cam chest under warranty.

I got my 06 Ultra and I noticed right away the increase in oil pressure...Idles at around 15lbs and runs down the road between 35 and 40lbs... I had the tensioners checked at 36,000 miles and they were fine?

I was just wondering if the low oil pressure on the earlier models could contribute to the excessive wear and part failures? And if so if I was building a new motor I would consider adding a high output oil pump...
 
Discussion starter · #85 ·
I paid the dealer 2 hours labor to check my tenioners on my 2006 FHLT at 36,000 miles. They said they were "FINE".. Stopped into a independent shop the other day and they said I was riding a ticking time bomb at 44,000...Simply due to the amount of miles on my bike. Independent said they would have replaced the tensioners for the price I paid to have them checked. The bike is still under warranty and will be for another four years. I thought having them checked would be peace of minnd but now I think I am right back where I started. My question to the Independent is whay would the dealer tell me the tensioners were fine if they weren't? Its a money job warranty or not?
 
Discussion starter · #87 ·
I hear ya...I may have to take it to another dealer...You think however that if you pay them to check the tensioners and they are fine...Then they should be fine? I could have insisted that they replace them but I would have been the one to pay for it. You would think that if they were bad they would have replaced them under warranty.
 
Discussion starter · #104 ·
I would just put the tensioners on the get em checked list at 25K or 30K. If they are fine just leave them alone. If they need to be replaced then you have a decision to make, new tensioners or gear drive.

Gear drives will be much more money but les worries in the future but if you have an extended warranty you can kiss that goodbye... Another thing to consider, when I was talking to Mechanic he said heck if we are in there to check them we ought to just put new tensioners in. Your looking at a 100 in parts and maybe another hour of labor added. There is some reports that it is the chain that is causing the problems. From how and when they are stamped out leaving burrs on the chain. This is why some have problems and some dont. For example if I have mine checked again at 48K and they are just worn and not ground away to nothing, I might just replace the tensioners without the chain..If I had tensioners ware out early like under 20K I would replace the chain too and maybe polish it before putting it on. Just my thoughts
 
Discussion starter · #125 ·
06StreetGlide...Do you have 60K on your glide? If so let us know how it comes out...My dealer said they were going to charge me 1 hour ended up costing my two hours to have mine checked... $65 is a pretty good price consideriing the exhaust can be a bear at times. I Had my tensioners checked at 36,000 on my 06 FLHT and they were good. Now the question is with 46,000 now on my bike how far do I go before I have them checked again? Indy told me for the price I paid to have them checked he could have put new tensioners in but my bike is still under warranty and you know how that goes...
 
Discussion starter · #137 ·
What three tensioneres are you doing? I thought the cam only had a outter and a inner. Unless you are including the primary chain tensioner? There was a good post on here where it was described on how to check the inner tensioner with a dental mirror... Good luck on the catch... Do you have to worry about where all that plastic went?
 
Discussion starter · #212 ·
I would think that if our tensioners were so bad that it affected the way your bike is running you would hear all kinds of noise from the cam chest or behind the timing cover. I have 06 with 55K and so far so good. I had the tensioners checked at 36K and they were good....Dealer said I should just ride it and if it fails it will be coverd under warranty.
 
Discussion starter · #240 ·
My 2006 Ultra has 56K on it. Bike is stock....Had tensioners checked at 36K were good. Dealer did not tell me how much wear but within specs. Cost me $225 to have them checked. Now bike has 56K. Bike is still under warranty. New dealer recommends if its under warranty to just ride it.
 
Discussion starter · #265 ·
Obviously opening up and taking a look is the best way to check but I was wondering if peeling open the oil filter and looking for the orange flakes or plastic bits is a good source of imminent failure? I have 56k on 2006 Ultra now. Had the dealer check them at 38k and the tensioniers were good. Told me to go another 30k. But I check my filter each oil change for the tell tale orange flakes and so far nutin..
 
Discussion starter · #338 ·
Your gonna have to show me pictures of the 2007 FLHX or I aint gonna believe it... I have heard of no measurable wear with the new system. But heck we can always start a new thread?
 
Discussion starter · #387 ·
I had my 06 Ultra checked by the dealer twice at my expense. Both times they said the tensioners were fine. I finally traded the bike in at 60K. That said at 57K I would at least have them checked. The outer tensioner is easy to check, it's the inner that's a problem. They qouted me an hour labor to check the tensionres but actually chareged for two. At a hundred bucks an hour I think I should have just had them replaced. The parts are not that expensive, it's the labor. You may want to have your cam bearings replaced at the same time.
 
Discussion starter · #508 ·
If you were just replacing the cam chain and tensioners it would be about 1/4 that price. Your paying for the cams and tuner upgrade. I went 30k on my 2003 Utlra and had everything in the cam chest replaced due to tensioner failure. I had 60k on my 2006Ultra and had the tensioners checked twice and never had to replace them...

I would just ride it another 20k and check it again. If it fails before then, then you could replace the cams......
 
Discussion starter · #510 ·
Sounds like your going hydralic for that price. I ran V&H on my 2006 for 60k with no tuning. The bike sounded and ran great. I had done all that with my 2003 and saw no benifit.

Your mileage problem may be coming from something else. You may be disapointed after spending all that money on cams and a tuner....

You can inspect your cam shoes with little work. The inner is harder to see but you can do it.

With my 06 I got into the habit of tearing apart my oil flter at every oil change to inspect for orange flakes from the shoes. It's some work to cut it open but can give you some advance warning...
 
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