Primary Chain Tensioner
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 57
From: Gorham NH
Primary Chain Tensioner
How many of you guys have changed your primary chain tensioner and what kind did you get? I only have 2000 miles on my 16 Ultra and usually have a "if it 'aint broke don't fix it" mindset. However, I have read a lot about the stock tensioner racheting up too tight and causing problems, so I am debating changing it out before trouble starts.
I heard the same rhetoric when I bought my 15 and have been checking it every 10k. I am now at 27k so I will check it again in 3K. It has been in "Perfect" specs every time. Buncha hype IMHO. Run that sucker (but check periodically)
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 519
Likes: 83
From: NC
I check mine every 20,000 miles. No issues on my most recent bikes: 2009 Ultra 50,000 miles; 2014 SGS 26,000 miles; and 2016 RGS currently 11,000 miles. The compensator went bad on the 2009 Ultra, but that was unrelated to the tensioner.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 391
Likes: 52
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
I've been tossing this one around myself for a while. I swear the more time you spend on the internet, the more you will think is wrong with your bike when really there isn't. Maybe it's all hype and maybe for some it isn't ... all depends on how you treat your bike and what kind of parts you got in the first place. Sometimes new parts are bad, it happens.
On another note ... I have poked at my chain with a screwdriver everytime I changed my primary oil and guess what? ... right on the money and not overly tight like some swear it is. I don't beat mine too much, but I do A LOT of engine braking since I drive truck for a living, it's just nature for me ... hardly ever use the brakes. Under those situations I thought mine would be tight, but it was ok last I checked. Maybe what helps is I always try to not get carried away doing that slowing down until the bike is up to temp. When your chain is cold is when it has the most slop and when the ratchet is more likely to snug it up another notch.
On another note ... I have poked at my chain with a screwdriver everytime I changed my primary oil and guess what? ... right on the money and not overly tight like some swear it is. I don't beat mine too much, but I do A LOT of engine braking since I drive truck for a living, it's just nature for me ... hardly ever use the brakes. Under those situations I thought mine would be tight, but it was ok last I checked. Maybe what helps is I always try to not get carried away doing that slowing down until the bike is up to temp. When your chain is cold is when it has the most slop and when the ratchet is more likely to snug it up another notch.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 391
Likes: 52
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
I wish I had time to put that kind of mileage on mine. I'm embarrassed to say mine is going to roll over to 11k pretty soon, but I'm just a weekend warrior most of the time .... sometimes not even that.
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This is more of what I like to hear. Damn! 80k already on a '14! Do you ride for a living??
I wish I had time to put that kind of mileage on mine. I'm embarrassed to say mine is going to roll over to 11k pretty soon, but I'm just a weekend warrior most of the time .... sometimes not even that.
I wish I had time to put that kind of mileage on mine. I'm embarrassed to say mine is going to roll over to 11k pretty soon, but I'm just a weekend warrior most of the time .... sometimes not even that.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 232
Likes: 59
From: Round Rock TX
I own a shop and we work on well over 750 bikes a year and rarely do we see issues with the stock tensioner most of the time when we do there is a really big motor on the other side of it pushing a lot more power then stock. I would do like has been suggested and just check it every now and again but if you just have to have it out of there I would look at the new tensioner from twin power it is a very nice tensioner and works great but so does the stock one