My first ones (the originals) in my '00 Ultra with 11,000 miles went south on a sunny Sunday morning. All of a sudden there was a scary whirring, scrapping sound. I made a beeline for the house but it got so bad over those 40 miles I trailored it into the shop the next day.

They were replaced under warranty and now have 25,000 + trouble free miles the new ones. I'm going to stay with the chains for now as the Ultra is my *adult* bike, my '96 RK is my everyday ride. :thumbsup:

TC

 

I took mine out with 26k on them. The outer tensioner was only 25-30% worn. But the inner was 75-80% worn. Might not have gone another 5k. Switched to gears, but now I'm going back to chains because of the noise. I figure on just replacing them now at about 20k intervals. Looking here at my new tensioners, I'm wondering if they could have lightened up the spring tension some and reduced the wear rates. As someone said once, there's nothing wrong with the chain idea, the it's the tensioner design that blows. I would think some engineer could come up with a better design and make a retrofit. And of course the MOCO could design a retrofit using a hydraulic system, like their new ones, but then they wouldn't have the customers bringing their bikes back in (just after the warranty is up) to have them serviced, or to repair the engine if one has failed.

Probably more than -2$en#e- worth.

 

It's only a myth if you have a set that lasts the 25-30k as suggested for inspection and you know to inspect and replace as needed. If you are one of the ones that have them toast your motor in 5,8,15 or 22 k then it's no myth to these folks.

And your very lucky to have it repaired under warrany. It's considered a wear item and not covered by most dealers.

For me the rub is that it's not called out in the service intervals for inspection. I know now to inspect only because I found out here. But how many don't know. There may be a TSB on it now, but we don't get those. And most dealers are not going to do it at part of a service interval.


Over to you Chuck.

 

Where's a picture of the inner (secondary) one? You only have a picture of the outer (primary) one.

There are two of them, and you will need a small inspection mirror to even see any of the inner (secondary) one. My secondary pad was worn (from what I could see of it) way past half way at 23k miles. My outer (primary) one was worn about like the one in your picture.

thrasher

 

It's not a myth. A lot depends on the smoothness of the chain. It's like a lottery... if you get a smooth chain, you might get 50k and not much wear. If you get a chain that isn't so smooth, the tensioners detonate between 12-30k. The worst part is that most people who own HDs don't know anything about the problem. The guys making minimum wage doing 10-20k services aren't gonna check them out. The result is a messed up engine from something that is preventable. Buddy of mine had 45k on the FXST. He had no idea there was a prob with the tensioners. I told him about it and he got it checked out... his were almost shot.

I am hoping that the hydraulic ones that HD started using on the '06 Dynas are the solution. Replacing them is a pain in the rear, but at least we don't have to pay for yearly valve adjustments.

 

Well H-D has improved the system by polishing chains and improved materials for the tensioner, but it is still a wear item and needs to be inspected at regular intervals, thatever that may be.
I agree with vafatboy, it should be in the regular service interval section of the manual, and is not. WTF.
Having a "99, most of the stuff in the cam chest was junk anyway, so I just replaced it all and went to gear drive so what do I really know.

 

cam chains????



What is the story on polished chains?
do you buy em that way, if so where
do you do it yourself??

 

The gear drive whining issue people talk about bugs me, because if they are installed correctly for clearance and runout, they don't whine. It's that simple. If you can hear them on a motor that is running, there is an installation problem, not a gear problem. Gear drive cams are inherently better than chains and tensioners, more accurate timing of valve events over time and no tensioner shoes to wear out and contaminate the oil system. I'm not going to address the claim for reduced friction because I don't know the facts on that.

 

As Always...The more I know about Twin Cams the more I love my Evo.

 

Took a couple of pics of mine. One of the pics shows the old ones compared to the new ones I'm putting on. Old ones out at 26k. The secondary (inner) shoe is most worn.

By the way, tensioners make LOUSY photo subjects. :spank: Very hard to get good pics.

 

I used to think all of talk about the tensioners was propoganda to sell gear drives. I was going to have the Dealer look at mine ('03 Ultra Classic) when I did the 40,000 service, but for a whole lot of reasons I don't dare bring up, I decided to put a 211 cam in the scoot about a month ago when the bike had 38,000 miles on it. While the Dealer was working on it, they took out the tensioners and guesss what - the secondary one fell apart when the wrench took it out and the primary one was about 80% worn through. Ever watch the "Seconds From Disaster" show? I think I could have a script for them! The Service Writers and two of the wrench's said they were going to look at theirs that day. Those tensioners are a maintenance items, and they do wear out.

Ride Safe.
Walt

 

their like brake shoes

It's not a myth. A lot depends on the smoothness of the chain. It's like a lottery... if you get a smooth chain, you might get 50k and not much wear. If you get a chain that isn't so smooth, the tensioners detonate between 12-30k. The worst part is that most people who own HDs don't know anything about the problem. The guys making minimum wage doing 10-20k services aren't gonna check them out. The result is a messed up engine from something that is preventable. Buddy of mine had 45k on the FXST. He had no idea there was a prob with the tensioners. I told him about it and he got it checked out... his were almost shot.

I am hoping that the hydraulic ones that HD started using on the '06 Dynas are the solution. Replacing them is a pain in the rear, but at least we don't have to pay for yearly valve adjustments.

you have to relace them and 45,000 miles to pretty good

 

I disagree that if there is a whine, they are installed wrong. A lot of them will whine because they are two gears spinning together

 

Running them with 38,000 miles is like running on the same brake shoes for 15000 miles

 

you have to relace them and 45,000 miles to pretty good

That's what I thought too.. he done good to make 45k. Thing is though.. he had no idea they were a mantainence item. No one had ever mentioned it to him before and he pays for all of his service... even oil changes. I've no doubt that had he not specifically taken it in to be checked out, he would have ridden right through them and ended up with major repair bills.

 

I disagree that if there is a whine, they are installed wrong. A lot of them will whine because they are two gears spinning together

So why is it that your username "palsers" says you are in denver and this username says nebraska? Is it denver or nebraska? Do you always reply to your own threads as someone else?

 

Just curious what the dealer charges to replace the tensioners. My 04 heritage is coming up on 20,000 miles.

 

So why is it that your username "palsers" says you are in denver and this username says nebraska? Is it denver or nebraska? Do you always reply to your own threads as someone else?

Yo, lonely in denver/nebraska??%potstir@

 

Running them with 38,000 miles is like running on the same brake shoes for 15000 miles

Just had gears done on my Ultra with 38000 miles, the tensioners showed hardly any wear, they would have gone 80000. Also today had my rear brake pads replaced, they were on the bike when I bought it at 12000 miles, so they went at least 26000.%potstir@

Teu

 

One riding buddy of mine has gone thru 2 sets in 80,000 miles in his '03 FLHT. The second set took out his oil pump, and was a real mess. He now has gear drive cams in it.

Another buddy of mine just took his tensioners out at 30,000 miles. They were beyond the acceptable limits of wear. He choose to install new tensioners and stick with chain driven cams.

I'm not risking it. My bike is apart right now, and I'm installing Andrews 26G cams. 15,000 miles on my bike, and I'm curious to see how the tensioners look.

Steve

 

A friend of mine had his last till 78,000 miles & then they went south while we were heading south. LOL $500 repair job in Tn on the way to MS.. Now I am tearing mine down at 36,000 & mine look to be about 50% or more gone. Putting gears in mine !! 03 ultra

 

Mine looked fine at 22,000 miles, bike is on 03 deuce. They should go another 22,000 without any problems. I would think the chains get smoother as they rub on the tensioners, so the second set, when they are required, should last longer still.
The cam cover is so easy to remove, there is no reason not to check them from time to time.

 

My son's '99 FXDWG tensioners literally disintegrated at 11,000 miles. Took out the oil pump... Cams and lifters had to be replaced, and we are still holding our breath that this was the extent of the damage.

(So far, so good...)

Turns out that there was a recall or service bulletin on the '99's - never performed on this bike, even with a meticulous prior owner and consistent, dealer-only service.

:nunu:

 

which one do you want to talk to

I'm Skits So, Which One Do You Want To Talk To.:roflback: Not Really, One Is My Wifes Computer.

 

I'm Skits So, Which One Do You Want To Talk To.:roflback: Not Really, One Is My Wifes Computer.

So your wife lives in Nebraska and you in Denver? Or is just her computer there?

 

Just had gears done on my Ultra with 38000 miles, the tensioners showed hardly any wear, they would have gone 80000. Also today had my rear brake pads replaced, they were on the bike when I bought it at 12000 miles, so they went at least 26000.%potstir@





Do you go up hill a lot or down hill to make them last that long or are you a flatlander.:Banadance