Cam Chain Tensioner Inspection
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Oldsmar, FL
Cam Chain Tensioner Inspection
I have an '05 WG with 31k on it (still under extended warranty), and after reading the posts about tensioners wearing out, I asked the service guy at my dealer about it. He said they would only replace them under warranty if they fell apart, not if they were just worn out. I asked about getting them looked at, and he said for $50 they'd pull the cover and have a look.
After reading through my service manual, it looks like that by just pulling the cover you can only see the primary tensioner, and to see the secondary tensioner you'd have to dig deeper. My question - is just looking at the primary tensioner good enough, that is, should both of them be worn about the same? Or do you actually need to get to the secondary one also? I'd rather have them replaced if they're worn rather than waiting for them to blow up and all the other damage that can cause. Any ideas? Thanks.
After reading through my service manual, it looks like that by just pulling the cover you can only see the primary tensioner, and to see the secondary tensioner you'd have to dig deeper. My question - is just looking at the primary tensioner good enough, that is, should both of them be worn about the same? Or do you actually need to get to the secondary one also? I'd rather have them replaced if they're worn rather than waiting for them to blow up and all the other damage that can cause. Any ideas? Thanks.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: La Porte, TX
RE: Cam Chain Tensioner Inspection
When a cam chain tensioner falls apart the results can be disastrous. I've seen motors blow because chunks of plastic from the tensioners plug up the oil pump. I'd call it good practice to change them every 20 to 30 thousand miles, but I know people with many more miles than that without an issue yet. I've got about 42k on mine and about to do cams and top end... i'll replace them then.
The inner and outer could be worn differently. I'd definitely have both checked, but with 31k on the bike if I'm going to pay someone $50 to check them I'm going to go ahead and replace them. Probably cost you about $200 or $250 total, but worth it in my opinion.
The inner and outer could be worn differently. I'd definitely have both checked, but with 31k on the bike if I'm going to pay someone $50 to check them I'm going to go ahead and replace them. Probably cost you about $200 or $250 total, but worth it in my opinion.
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 14,564
Likes: 9,225
From: the 50s & the 60s
RE: Cam Chain Tensioner Inspection
Mark, davis says it pretty good.
Here's a series of pages that may be worth a look -
http://www.harleyhog.co.uk/tensionerinstall2.htm
mud
Here's a series of pages that may be worth a look -
http://www.harleyhog.co.uk/tensionerinstall2.htm
mud
ORIGINAL: MarkM
I have an '05 WG with 31k on it (still under extended warranty), and after reading the posts about tensioners wearing out, I asked the service guy at my dealer about it. He said they would only replace them under warranty if they fell apart, not if they were just worn out. I asked about getting them looked at, and he said for $50 they'd pull the cover and have a look.
After reading through my service manual, it looks like that by just pulling the cover you can only see the primary tensioner, and to see the secondary tensioner you'd have to dig deeper. My question - is just looking at the primary tensioner good enough, that is, should both of them be worn about the same? Or do you actually need to get to the secondary one also? I'd rather have them replaced if they're worn rather than waiting for them to blow up and all the other damage that can cause. Any ideas? Thanks.
I have an '05 WG with 31k on it (still under extended warranty), and after reading the posts about tensioners wearing out, I asked the service guy at my dealer about it. He said they would only replace them under warranty if they fell apart, not if they were just worn out. I asked about getting them looked at, and he said for $50 they'd pull the cover and have a look.
After reading through my service manual, it looks like that by just pulling the cover you can only see the primary tensioner, and to see the secondary tensioner you'd have to dig deeper. My question - is just looking at the primary tensioner good enough, that is, should both of them be worn about the same? Or do you actually need to get to the secondary one also? I'd rather have them replaced if they're worn rather than waiting for them to blow up and all the other damage that can cause. Any ideas? Thanks.
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