LOTS of posts here about problems with early TC cam chain spring tension shoes wearing out. Also LOTS of posts about gear drive cams (pro and con). The MOCO came out with hydraulic tensioners in 06/07 (8 model years ago). How are they holding up? I 'd like to hear your stories (with mileage) on the newer bikes AND retrofitted older twin cams. Got a 2000 FLSTC (not a hot rod)with 70K miles. The shoes and cam bearings were replaced at 42K. I'm thinking it's time to inspect them and would like a plan to replace them if needed.
Thanks
RedEd

 

You still have plastic (shoe) against metal (chain) so their will still be wear.

Something else to think about, the only reason why the MoCo went with a dual cam, chain & shoe setup was to decrease noise for the EPA. Every model before the Twin Cam used a cam that operated using gears.

 

The EPA had nothing to do with Harley going to the Twin Cam setup.....they redesigned to the twin cam so they could keep tighter patent control over the motor ( see how many evo clones are out there VS how many twin cam clones) and second it was to lower noise for the rider

 

check your run out,if its within .0035.go with a gear drive set up

 

Please reread my original post. WHAT I'M ASKING IS ARE THE NEW HYDRAULIC CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WORKING? Please relate your personal experiences, not unrelated opinions.
Thanks,
RedEd

 

Hyd tensioners are lasting much better than the spring ones but for the cost and availability of Cyco shoes I see little advantage of changing to them. Check the spring ones every 20k or so. Check the hyd ones every 40k or so. If ya plan on keeping it for another 40k+ ya may think about gears but I wouldn't do gears with a later stock crank??

 

I have yet to see any hydraulic tensioners be replaced due to a wear or malfunction issue. They seems to be a much better design than the previous setup. If you are considering checking or replacing them, you could go for a hybrid support plate that will convert them to hydraulic.

 

Silent chain. This change was reported as necessary to meet EPA noise requirements. Many users installed after market gear driven replacements to increase timing accuracy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley...win_Cam_engine

 

you cannot inspect the secondary shoe behind the cam plate with the newer set up, those shoes are still going to wear, you can see the primary, not the secondary, so when you have the cam cover off and you see the primary looking good are you safe? nope, well now lets pull the cam plate out and have a look see, oops, gotta pull the tank rocker boxes rocker support covers, ect ect, all this geared cam talk, you had better have almost zero crank run out or dont even bother, and more than likley that is not happennig

 

Cut your pushrods and install adjustables. Support plate is out in under an hour.