get rid of cam chain tensioners?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
If you have a sloppy crank, best not to do gear driven cams, until you get the crank welded and trued. Stick with the chain driven. 
Unless you're building a serious dyno shootout bike with mass quantities of horsepower, the chain driven cams should be fine for you. I just don't see rationalizing the additional cost of a gear drive setup for just everyday driving.
Unless you're building a serious dyno shootout bike with mass quantities of horsepower, the chain driven cams should be fine for you. I just don't see rationalizing the additional cost of a gear drive setup for just everyday driving.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: texas
Yes the 06 dyna (only) TC 88 hase the new set up. I had my cover off at 22K to check it out and the tensioners still looked brand new, couldnt even see were the chain was rubbing the pads. Much better than the old set up for sure.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
If my crank were already sloppy enough that it might need to be done, I'd be concerned with that as much as wearing tensioners.
Sloppy cranks is one of the reasons, I likely will never own a '03-up bike.
Sloppy cranks is one of the reasons, I likely will never own a '03-up bike.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,787
Likes: 5,615
From: along the shore of Mishigami
Boy I just can't wait till the liquid cooled engines come and then listen to the "new" owners complain about the antiquated air cooled 96" engine with the hyd. cam chain tensioners. The funny thing about H-D is the evolution of it's engines, did they do some odd ball things, yes. Did they want to put the gear drive in the TC? Yes. The EPA Noise police squashed that idea. Be thankful somebody decided to make the conversion available. Sorry for the rant, a lot of new people don't understand the progression of these engines.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 5
CB
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 2
You don't need gear drives - an 07 is pretty good in that area but weaker in the crank due to not using Timken bearings (a retro conversion is possible if you want to chase big HP). I've got gear drives in my 99 FXDX and they're very quiet and give me peace of mind and I've got Timkens on the crank so I'm happy.
For cams an Andrews 21 or 26 sounds good for your needs, an SE 203 could work too. You basically need to look at some cam specs and get something without too much duration - maybe less than 235 degrees on the intake and with a fairly early close - say 36 degrees or less.
For cams an Andrews 21 or 26 sounds good for your needs, an SE 203 could work too. You basically need to look at some cam specs and get something without too much duration - maybe less than 235 degrees on the intake and with a fairly early close - say 36 degrees or less.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 5
You don't need gear drives - an 07 is pretty good in that area but weaker in the crank due to not using Timken bearings (a retro conversion is possible if you want to chase big HP). I've got gear drives in my 99 FXDX and they're very quiet and give me peace of mind and I've got Timkens on the crank so I'm happy.
For cams an Andrews 21 or 26 sounds good for your needs, an SE 203 could work too. You basically need to look at some cam specs and get something without too much duration - maybe less than 235 degrees on the intake and with a fairly early close - say 36 degrees or less.
For cams an Andrews 21 or 26 sounds good for your needs, an SE 203 could work too. You basically need to look at some cam specs and get something without too much duration - maybe less than 235 degrees on the intake and with a fairly early close - say 36 degrees or less.
Any good write ups on this?CB