My $.02, I would check them no later than 20,000 miles. Some say to change oil religiously. I know a guy who had them fail at 43,000 miles on an 03 RK. No major damage, other than the plastic breaking completely off, making a metal to metal scrape sound under the cam chest cover. He rode it straight home, parked it, and had the dealer come pick it up. I dont know what would happen if he would have kept riding it that way, but it didn't leave him sit.
The one behind the plate goes bad, and is the hardest one to see. you need mirrors, flashlight, and you need to know what you are looking at/ for. For the labor of replacing the one behind the plate, go with the hydraulic upgrade.

 

2000 FLSTF here. 81,000 miles. I cracked the inner one checking it at 45,000 miles and replaced it. Still have the original on the outer at 81,000 miles.
Both still look like new. I have been amazed at how they look. My Indy said that some chains were better than others. I got a a good one.

 

The only spring tensioner shoes I "inspect" are Cycos. Inspecting OEM shoes is worthless, they can break apart 10 minutes after you button up the engine and call it good, they're brittle. The older they are, the greater the chance of it happening. IMO, if you're in the cam chest, the shoes should be replaced with Cycos.

 

 

they changed it over and over seven to the hydraulics on everything

 

You forgot to say "no"

 

hopefully they haven't been waiting 4 years for this enlightening information lol.

 

yeah right I didn’t even notice today is my first time looking on here lol I got the same problem with the heritage. 02.