2005 Night Train, first time I've checked. Owner the bike since new and used Rotella 15w40 for the most part.

Thought I'd share the results if anyone is interested. I wasn't aware this was an issue until recently which is why I had a look. Guess I'll be ordering some replacement shoes, as mine look to be around the 50% wear mark. Minor pitting, but nothing broken.

 

They look pretty good for that mileage, better than mine looked at 13K. How does the inner one look?

 

With spring tensioners the one you have pictured is meaningless. It's the secondary tensioner behind the cam plate that will get you.

 

2nd set will last a lot longer now that the chains have been polished

 

 

You have done the hardest part already. Replace them now. That wear on the outer will show much worse on the inner. If it wears to split it will send metal throughout your engine.

 

I couldn't get a decent photo of the inner, but it looked to be slightly more worn than the outer. Maybe 30 or 40% meat left.

I very briefly did some research to see what my option were and it looks as though the cyco shoes are the cheapest option.

I've put it back together already as this is my daily driver at the moment and I need it to commute to work.

I was hoping to get another 5 or 6k out of it then it'd be parked for winter. Can someone recommend a good how to write up or video on changing the shoes?

Jif

 

they look good for 38k. I took my first set to 46653k put ome back in went to 103076k about half way gone. then I put in cyco checked them at 138051k **** they were down to metal glad I checked when I did. went with ome again took them 170389k. put cyco back in will check them in 25000. after they were out the conversion kit is going in. if I were u I would go with the conversion kit if u plan on riding a lot.

 

its a very good idea to replace the OEM tensioners with CYRO,hyd units or a gear drive as soon as possible.riders inspect them as the OP is doing not realizing they start damaging pumps & plates from mile 1,the little "pip" marks you see is debris that is actually harder than the aluminum.

 

A friend did not listen to me and ignored his tensioners on 2 '04 TC his n hers bikes. 1 had the inner shoe disintegrate and is in the process of fixing a mess. The 2nd bike is down until it gets new shoes (worn out) While I do not know the miles on either of them, mine were changed at 23K last year. Better safe than sorry