looking for an opinion regarding tensioner
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5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, TX
looking for an opinion regarding tensioner
At about 1/32 deep with no significant scoring, does this look like a tensioner that needs to be replaced? The inboard tensioner looks nearly identical. Not going with gear drive. When the time comes, I'll install the SE hydraulic kit. 22K miles, 2001 Dyna Super Glide TC88. SE 203 cams, Mikuni HSR42. V&H 2-1 Pro Pipes,
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,533
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From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
Replace the tensioner pads with Cyco pads, and you're done. The Cyco pads have proven to be more durable than the factory pads and will give you many more miles of trouble free riding.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
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From: San Diego, CA
IMHO.... the wear is certainly acceptable for that mileage.... but.... the tensioner pads are 23 years old, and are starting to pit... it's the pitting I don't like.. 
At the point you are at, I would just change them now and be done with it...
I have used all the different "upgrades" to the 88" tensioner pads.... I would at least put new Cyco Tensioner pads on them and you will be good to go for at least another 30K miles... most likely a lot more...
At the point you are at, I would just change them now and be done with it...
I have used all the different "upgrades" to the 88" tensioner pads.... I would at least put new Cyco Tensioner pads on them and you will be good to go for at least another 30K miles... most likely a lot more...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
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From: SW WA.
IMHO.... the wear is certainly acceptable for that mileage.... but.... the tensioner pads are 23 years old, and are starting to pit... it's the pitting I don't like..
At the point you are at, I would just change them now and be done with it...
I have used all the different "upgrades" to the 88" tensioner pads.... I would at least put new Cyco Tensioner pads on them and you will be good to go for at least another 30K miles... most likely a lot more...
At the point you are at, I would just change them now and be done with it...
I have used all the different "upgrades" to the 88" tensioner pads.... I would at least put new Cyco Tensioner pads on them and you will be good to go for at least another 30K miles... most likely a lot more...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 897
From: Sacto
22k you say. I think of all the spring loaded tensioners posted on this forum, those are in the best condition.
Btw hattitude, interesting about those "pits", those are definitely better than what HD shows as being acceptable. Just an observation
If you won't keep worrying about it, you have some time, but you should start thinking about making a change.
You want to go least expensive? ... get some replacement Cyco shoes, new inner cam bearings, new required gaskets and be done with it
Btw hattitude, interesting about those "pits", those are definitely better than what HD shows as being acceptable. Just an observation
If you won't keep worrying about it, you have some time, but you should start thinking about making a change.
You want to go least expensive? ... get some replacement Cyco shoes, new inner cam bearings, new required gaskets and be done with it
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
22k you say. I think of all the spring loaded tensioners posted on this forum, those are in the best condition.
Btw hattitude, interesting about those "pits", those are definitely better than what HD shows as being acceptable. Just an observation
If you won't keep worrying about it, you have some time, but you should start thinking about making a change.
You want to go least expensive? ... get some replacement Cyco shoes, new inner cam bearings, new required gaskets and be done with it
I was unaware that HD addressed the pitting. I am always willing to learn...
I would like to see what they said, and why they think the pads pitting (breaking off small pieces) is not worrisome.
I will admit I am initially skeptical of anything HD says about poor engineering on their part causing issues.... Don't forget, when pinion runout numbers started to get out of control, HD just kept "moving the goal posts" until they considered 0.012" as an acceptable run out spec ..... I strongly suspect anyone outside of the HD corporate family would consider that spec as absolutely ridiculous...
None the less, I would really appreciate it if you could direct me to the source of what HD has said about the cam tensioner pitting...
Thanks..
FWIW-
I agree with you that the outer tensioner at 22K miles, looks really good. But the inner tensioner is often in worse condition concerning pitting.
I bought a 2001 Springer, all OEM with 9.8K miles, in 2017. My tensioners were only 16 years old at that time, and with half the miles of the OP's. My outer tensioner had little wear & no pits. The inner tensioner was about the same as the OP's outer tensioner. I went ahead and replaced them with Cyco Pads at that time, for piece of mind, and because I knew it wasn't going to get any better...
Last edited by hattitude; Feb 18, 2024 at 08:33 PM.
The spring loaded tensioner has been proven time and again to be the weak link on a very good motor. I changed my 2001 over to the hydraulic for piece of mind. I like long worry free rides and I simply could not get past obsessing about a bad design. Just me.
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5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, TX
Thanks
You guys are awesome! I had come to the conclusion that I would go ahead and replace the spring tensioner system with the MOCO's SE hydraulic setup (575.00). I was surprised nobody hopped on that with an affirmative thumbs up. Copied and pasted the following: This kit increases the oil supply by 23% and scavenging by 50% when compared to the '99-'05 Original Equipment oil pump, and reduces operating temperature of bearings to improve bearing life. The improved oil pump and the fact that I installed a 10 row JAG oil cooler would do wonders for the longevity of my TC88...or so I thought. Now I'm re-thinking. It runs 20 or so degrees cooler with the oil cooler alone. You can feel the difference between the two lines after a hot Texas ride. Is it worth it? is the 64K question. Getting another 30K with as cool as it now runs seems like spending over 600.00 (the kit does not come with everything you need) for the kit would be silly. I'm leaning toward the Cycos, which I have shopped and they are virtually free compared to the kit. About the wear ya'll saw. Regular synth oil changes and the fact that I never dog it make a difference in the longevity of tensioners if you believe everything you read. Also, and I can speak from a bit of experience, all polymer formulations come in batches. Not all tensioners are created equal even if they are from the same company. Maybe I just got lucky? I've seen tensioners torn to shreds at approximately the same mileage, but that might be because they treated their baby like shyte.
I run Lucasoil 20W-50 full synthetic, Lucasoil 75W-140 synthetic gear oil in the gear box and the same 20W-50 in the primary. Yeah, I know about the "all three holes" thing. I still use dedicated gear oil. I guess I'm just stubborn that way...or ignorant, take your pick:-).
My crank was made when they were welding the unit and is supposedly better than the post '06 cranks. I didn't measure the runout, but even if it was at or under the .003 they say you can have for slop, grabbing an additional 3 to 4 hp for GD is not worth it for me, plus the 203's are just fine, although a set of TW21 Andrews look pretty sexy. Again, thanks for the valuable feedback. We are, after all, brothers-on-2.
I run Lucasoil 20W-50 full synthetic, Lucasoil 75W-140 synthetic gear oil in the gear box and the same 20W-50 in the primary. Yeah, I know about the "all three holes" thing. I still use dedicated gear oil. I guess I'm just stubborn that way...or ignorant, take your pick:-).
My crank was made when they were welding the unit and is supposedly better than the post '06 cranks. I didn't measure the runout, but even if it was at or under the .003 they say you can have for slop, grabbing an additional 3 to 4 hp for GD is not worth it for me, plus the 203's are just fine, although a set of TW21 Andrews look pretty sexy. Again, thanks for the valuable feedback. We are, after all, brothers-on-2.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 955
From: Out West
Yikes, $575.00!
I put these in when I built mine, save you a lot of dough
https://www.zippersperformance.com/r...on-tensioners/
I put these in when I built mine, save you a lot of dough
https://www.zippersperformance.com/r...on-tensioners/
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, TX
Beautiful bike! Everything from '07 on came with the hydraulic tensioners. '99-'06 was cursed with the spring crap. Reports started coming in of engines blowing up due to clogged oil passages from fragged tensioners. To get what you have stock, we, the cursed brethren of clan TC88 1st gen, have to "upgrade" to what you got off the showroom floor. Instead of recognizing the error of their ways, they've decided to profit off our suffering by offering the upgrade kit, so yeah...575.00 plus spacers that are not in the kit. We can't just put in the tensioners you were kind enough to show me. Btw, the ONLY way to avoid tensioner issues is gear drive. Evo's and older Sportsters (also Evo's) came with gear drive, but the EPA in their infinite wisdom, decided the new TC's were too loud, so the MOCO decided to go with the silent chain and spring setup. Some day even your bike will need to change out tensioners. They are a polymer and will eventually wear out. Perhaps not in your lifetime though...LMAO.