Is there still a cam tensioner issue on the newer bikes? Since the change to the hydraulic tensioners what is the life expectancy? Sorry if this has been asked and answered.
I've read the same as well, but figure that anytime that side of the engine gets opened up I'll replace them. Cams for me next winter so they'll be replaced.
The ones that I see with the most wear are the ones that have alot of crank run out, say .005 to .0075. The other thing I see with OEM parts is the cam plate gets cracks in them, and again I think this is also caused by to much run out.
Not exactly sure of life expectancy, some people report going 70k on the new hydraulic tensioners. The inner tensioner usually wears a little faster. In the pic below these tensioners have right at 30k on them. As you can see, very little wear. This may not exactly answer your question but, it may give you some idea of what to expect.
Just had replace my main drive gear bearing due to a tensioner that kept the primary chain too tight on a 2010 RGC at 29,000 miles. Compensator was knocking on startup so replaced it with a Screamin Eagle compensator, Baker adjustable tensioner along with bearing. Bad design in my opinion on the tensioner, but that's the MOCO for you.
I replaced mine, simply because I was in there. At nearly 25k miles, they basically just had shiny spots worn on them, that could barely be detected with a fingernail. My pinion run out was .003".
Has anybody consider going to gears and end the worries? The thread I read actually said they will fail do to pressure problems rather than wear limits.
Like I said this is only something I read and have not experienced it or heard from anybody I know.
Never heard of this and have not found any problems related to pressure, but it may be a possibility if oil pressure was excessive. Gears are a great way to go if the crank run out will allow, but far too often it won't.
I put a set of cams in a 08 Street Glide with 51 k on the clock. The inner had no wear and the outer had minimal. Barely enough to feel with a fingernail.
One of the main issues is the tensioner vs the gear drive. You lose a few degrees of timing on the tensioner. Zippers has a new product that is supposed to help with that.
Would be the last thing I would do on the late models with street cams and a factory crank.
The stock set up has proven to work well and is low maintenance. Steps right up for performance work.
For the early bikes consider the Cyco kit with the tool, high performance Polymide-Stanyl wears much better than the original material.
I realize this thread is a little old, but I like waking up old threads. (that does not sound good, does it) Anyway, my question is, what year did HD start using hydrolic cam tensioners?
So my '06 has the older spring style cam tensioners? Damnit. I have about 24,000 miles on my glide. Time to swap them out? Roughly how much do you think this could cost?
you can pull the cam cover and inspect,check the inner with a mirror and see how they're doing.some bikes,they last a long time.My 02 dyna went 75k on the original shoes.
FWIW, Cyco now offers replacement shoes for the new hydraulic tensions as well. I just received some to keep in stock a couple weeks ago. The hydraulics do last much better than the previous spring loaded design, however, I have replaced the hydraulic shoes also with as little as 30k on the clock. It's not the norm but it does happen. The new Cyco shoes should fix them for the life of the engine and they're cheap insurance against future failure if you're in the cam chest anyway.
Oops... you had to kick-start this ol'phart twice on that Scott. I catch on now and will think this over some more. Again, thanks.
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