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Cam chain tensioner

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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 01:12 PM
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Default Cam chain tensioner
2022 Road Glide limited. Installed after market cam at 2.5K miles. Now 13Kmiles. Recently when starting cold motor, loud irritating noise coming from cam chest. Checked push rods for slack. AOK, tightened heat shields, AOK. Checked exhaust nuts, AOK. Noise begins at start up then goes away after it warms up. Never touched intake. Could the tensioner come loose? Only way to find out for sure is to take it apart and look.

Any thoughts?

Thank you.
 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 04:46 PM
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If something was loose it wouldn’t go away when warm. Cold start ticking is usually lifters.Describe the noise
 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ntraindavefl
If something was loose it wouldn’t go away when warm. Cold start ticking is usually lifters.Describe the noise
I thought lifters also. Pulled plugs, TDC front no slack, same with rear TDC.
 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 05:37 PM
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I thought pushrods, Pulled plugs, rotated to TDC both cylinders, no slack in rods. Lifters go sour?
 
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Old Jun 27, 2023 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Garage666
I thought pushrods, Pulled plugs, rotated to TDC both cylinders, no slack in rods. Lifters go sour?
That test won’t determine if the lifter isn’t holding pressure. What’s the sound like will tell people what to consider
 
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Old Jun 28, 2023 | 06:41 AM
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It sounds like lifters loose. Oil pump?
 
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 11:53 AM
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Did you install new aftermarket lifters when doing the cam? SnS, Feuling, Johnson-Hylift?
 
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 12:10 PM
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You may wan to check the push rod adjustment. As in, do them over, to make sure they are not adjusted just on the threshold of the loose side. Assuming you used adjustable.And yes, a lifter could be a little off, more so likely, of you use cheap overseas parts.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by jake24lt
And yes, a lifter could be a little off, more so likely, of you use cheap overseas parts.
Or OEM parts; pretty much the same thing.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Garage666
Recently when starting cold motor, loud irritating noise coming from cam chest. Could the tensioner come loose? Any thoughts?
Had terrible chain rattling noise that would last 15-20 seconds after cold start up on my 17 Road Glide with the SE stage 2. The noise started around 4-5k miles after the work was done so I knew it wasn't a workmanship issue. My first thought of course was lifters. It wasn't. The cam chain tensioner was failing. The tensioners work off oil pressure, but they also have a small spring that does the job until pressure is built up. The spring in mine was so week the tensioner would easily collapse with a slight touch. New tensioner and all was well again.

Not sure if that's your issue, garage, but it's a fairly easy and cheap fix if it is.
 
Last edited by MTBIG G; Jun 30, 2023 at 03:51 PM.
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