Hydaulic Tensioners shot at 20k!!!

[cwsharp]

I don't know if this is kosher or not (posting a link to another forum), but check out this guy's message! Incredible! If this turns into a common problem, I am SO done with Harley Davidson. If it turns into a common problem it needs to turn into a class action lawsuit, which it should have been all along. Where is some enterprising attorney when you need one? <grin... sorta... then again, maybe not.> http://www.aimag.com/forums/harley-t...html#post94446 C#

[challutz]

Thats just great my conversion kit will be here tmrw. Now im gonna be thinking about the tensioners AGAIN

[ConnMan]

My 08 Dyna had 20K when I traded it. Just for the hell of it, the last oil change I did I cut the filter open. LOADED with plastic bits from the "new and improved hydraulic tensioners". Got rid of it soon thereafter.

[cwsharp]

Yeah... I agree. That sucka isn't just worn out... it's destroyed!

[RIPSAW]

If you look closely you can see why this happened like this in this case. It appears someone updated the system with a roller chain on the out side last time. This is in the upgrade kit. You can see the roller chain wear on the outer one. However the cams need replaced to update to roller on inner one and hence it wears just like link chain ones. Been trying to tell everone on here that you either need to check and monitor link chain wear or convert completely roller inner and outer. Its not the new hydralic that fixes the problem. It's the chain. The roller ones will go 100K. JUST MY OPINION.

[challutz]

Hope thats the case cause I think with my andrews kit and cams I get roller chains for both inner and outer

[cwsharp]

Originally Posted by RIPSAW

If you look closely you can see why this happened like this in this case. It appears someone updated the system with a roller chain on the out side last time. This is in the upgrade kit. You can see the roller chain wear on the outer one. However the cams need replaced to update to roller on inner one and hence it wears just like link chain ones. Been trying to tell everone on here that you either need to check and monitor link chain wear or convert completely roller inner and outer. Its not the new hydralic that fixes the problem. It's the chain. The roller ones will go 100K. JUST MY OPINION.

Well, that makes sense but it doesn't let HD off the hook! The 'kit' should only come with a requirement that the cams are changed, also (his looked like it wouldn't hurt). I did change my cams to Andrews and got new chains on both sides...

Still, this is really, really dumb.

C#

[cromagnon]

Subscribed .. got to follow this one.

[RIPSAW]

Originally Posted by cwsharp

Well, that makes sense but it doesn't let HD off the hook!
C#

Totally agree. In fact Harley tried to hide the problem in bikes like mine by implying they fixed the problem with the hydralic tensioners. They still sell the update hydralic kit with only the front roller chain and leave the link in the back. If the back linkchain sprockets were replaceable (like the front) on the cams for the roller chain you would not need to replace cams

[Blk and Chrome]

Originally Posted by RIPSAW

If you look closely you can see why this happened like this in this case. It appears someone updated the system with a roller chain on the out side last time. This is in the upgrade kit. You can see the roller chain wear on the outer one. However the cams need replaced to update to roller on inner one and hence it wears just like link chain ones. Been trying to tell everone on here that you either need to check and monitor link chain wear or convert completely roller inner and outer. Its not the new hydralic that fixes the problem. It's the chain. The roller ones will go 100K. JUST MY OPINION.

Thats the problem, looks like someone cheaped out and didn't replace the cams and inner chain. You go half azz thats what you get and don't bitch with the result