Tensioner replacment signs
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 373
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From: australia
Tensioner replacment signs
I am not going to invent the wheel again... We know what they are, and the problems that they can cause... We know the older style are spring , and the newer are Hydraulic.. We know the hydraulic were an improvement ....
Consensus is , remove cam cover and cam plate to inspect and check properly.. This entails , remove right floorboard,, exhaust system,, remove or cut pushrods,,gaskets etc.. I know you can use a dental mirror to get an idea of the rear tensioner,, but it still is some work if you find there ok to reasonable...
Question is,,,
Bike has hydraulic tensioners, (2009 E/G),,, 70,000 miles,,, Oil change at 3,500 miles,,, Always cut and check oil filter at every oil change ,,, No yellow plastic debris found in oil filter ...
Is this enough of a preventative maintenance measure, than going in and removing parts , etc ,, ?????
Consensus is , remove cam cover and cam plate to inspect and check properly.. This entails , remove right floorboard,, exhaust system,, remove or cut pushrods,,gaskets etc.. I know you can use a dental mirror to get an idea of the rear tensioner,, but it still is some work if you find there ok to reasonable...
Question is,,,
Bike has hydraulic tensioners, (2009 E/G),,, 70,000 miles,,, Oil change at 3,500 miles,,, Always cut and check oil filter at every oil change ,,, No yellow plastic debris found in oil filter ...
Is this enough of a preventative maintenance measure, than going in and removing parts , etc ,, ?????
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: SW Ohio
All that said, I think you're somewhat better off with the conversion over a stock spring set up. With spring tensioners and Cyco shoes you're about even with the conversion kit.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Florida
True dat.....but with 70,000 miles you could at least see the outer tensioner and if that one is badly worn, you can be fairly assured that the inner tensioner is close to failing. JMO
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: san antonio
Order a new set of tensioners; CYCO now offers a tensioner with better material for the later models and there is the Zippers dual piston tensioner if you want to spend more. At 70K miles, if going to the trouble to open up the cam chest and check wear, might as well replace and forget about them for another 70K miles. The later model tensioners are much improved over the early spring loaded type but, like brake pads, still a consumable part that requires maintenance........
EDIT: Agree with Nomadmax. Although the lifters are the HD "B" lifter, good hardware, they are getting tired at 70K miles. For $65 to your door, you can get a set of CompCams VThunder 850-1 lifters or spend $125 for a set of S&S standards.
EDIT: Agree with Nomadmax. Although the lifters are the HD "B" lifter, good hardware, they are getting tired at 70K miles. For $65 to your door, you can get a set of CompCams VThunder 850-1 lifters or spend $125 for a set of S&S standards.
Last edited by djl; Aug 22, 2016 at 10:07 AM.
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From: SW Ohio
I'm with DJL on that. If I have to open it up, I'm gonna open it up. At 70k miles on a modern HD the lifters could use replacing anyway. Take off the rocker covers, lift the rocker assembly, remove push rods/tubes, remove lifter blocks and lifters. Sounds like a lot of work but it isn't.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 373
Likes: 90
From: australia
Thanks for your responses .... I understand the work involved to dismantle/ install parts to cam chest area.. You could include cam bearings ,, oil pump,, etc...
What I was after though, was ,, Peoples experience, (that cut open their oil filters)... Did they find any cam tensioner debris in their oil filter, and was this was their major reason they pulled cam chest for inspection,, and found tensioners required changing,, with whatever mileage was on their bike ??? .. Or, people that inspect their oil filter, found nothing , but after pulling cam chest, found the tensioners needed replacing.. ie, debunking the idea that cutting open your oil filter can give you pre warning that cam tensioners need inspection , and or replacing....
Of course , if a bike was getting upto the 60-70,000 miles, and you had the exhaust system off, (for whatever reason),, you would, (for peace of mind), remove the cam cover to have a peak in there to get an idea how they are going,,, even if you were a "cut open the oil filter type of person", ...
What I was after though, was ,, Peoples experience, (that cut open their oil filters)... Did they find any cam tensioner debris in their oil filter, and was this was their major reason they pulled cam chest for inspection,, and found tensioners required changing,, with whatever mileage was on their bike ??? .. Or, people that inspect their oil filter, found nothing , but after pulling cam chest, found the tensioners needed replacing.. ie, debunking the idea that cutting open your oil filter can give you pre warning that cam tensioners need inspection , and or replacing....
Of course , if a bike was getting upto the 60-70,000 miles, and you had the exhaust system off, (for whatever reason),, you would, (for peace of mind), remove the cam cover to have a peak in there to get an idea how they are going,,, even if you were a "cut open the oil filter type of person", ...
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