My primary chain is dragging and rattling. I have slid the tension adjuster all the way up and it is still very loose. Loose enough it is carving grooves in the housing. Any suggestions?

 

Harley says in the service manual when you run out of adjustment travel, to replace both sprockets and chains. Does the tensioner look warn? How many miles you got on that girl?

 

I am not sure on the miles it has a salvaged title. I think it is around 42,000 miles. The tensioner pad seems worn but not enough to cause so much slack. I hope to avoid a full replacement, I don't have a lot of cash right now.

 

Mine has 41K or so and I just moved the tensioner up one notch. It has never needed any adjustment since new. I put a new shoe on since it's only a few dollars at 32K when I was in the primary with a alternator rotor spline stripped out. What year and model? One notch makes almost 1/4" or more difference in chain up slack reduction.

 

If you don't own a HD manual, buy one.

 

I have a 1995 fxd

 

Guess you must have it apart since you say it is hitting housing. Go to this site and make sure parts look similar. No telling what someone has put in for adjuster or done to it. http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....-AND-SPROCKETS Hit OEM part finder upper middle of screen. Then next window, hit Motorcycle, then find your year and model and hit belt/ with chain and sprockets.

 

If the tips of the compensator teeth are sharp, as well as the chain being slack, then time for replacements. I did that at around 40k miles on my Glide, although I was putting in a new engine and wanted everything just right. The clutch sprocket should be fine, unless the teeth on that are also sharp (mind your fingers!). The teeth get sharp as the profile of each tooth is worn down.