Cam tensioner check
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
Cam tensioner check
I have an 01 88 TC with 8560mi , being it's an early twin cam do you think I need to check my tensioners at this milage or can it wait a while yet ?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 537
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From: Florida
you should be able to go 30,000 but I know there have been failures with less miles, not sure if age without miles will fail sooner? Mine had 30,000 when I pulled them and they had wear and needed to be changed, but I went gear drive instead, 01-03 have timkin bearings so crank end play is minimal, gear drive is the way to go. FYI I have been told that the inside tentioner is the one that fails and you need to pull the cam plate to check that one if I'm not mistaken.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,169
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From: Southern Illinois
I bought my 01 with 4000 miles. An exhaust lifter started making a little racket at 13000 so when I replaced the lifters I had tensioners checked as well. Already showed signs of chipping, but indy told me they might last a few more thousand miles. Switched to gear drive then and have never looked back.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
I'm sure the majority of TC88 owners are happily riding around, not knowing anything about cam tensioners! However the failure of those we read about on HDF varies greatly, with some covering very high mileages before showing advanced signs of wear, but some failing very early. I no longer own my TC88 and covered many more miles than yours, but never checked mine as the problem was new to me when I sold it.
It would be worth checking yours, as you have raised the subject. You can do so with several options if you find any signs of wear. There are better replacement stock tensioners available now, so you could simply use them and substantially extend the service life of those parts. An option is the SE hydraulic tensioner upgrade, which replaces the stock spring-loaded tensioners with pressurised hydraulic ones plus a new oil pump. Both of those options also gives you the opportunity to change cams and get a performance upgrade at the same time.
Finally the gear-drive upgrade will require compatible cams, the stock ones won't work with the gears, so the cost is greater than the options above, but does have the attraction of giving a lifetime free of tensioners of all kinds!
It would be worth checking yours, as you have raised the subject. You can do so with several options if you find any signs of wear. There are better replacement stock tensioners available now, so you could simply use them and substantially extend the service life of those parts. An option is the SE hydraulic tensioner upgrade, which replaces the stock spring-loaded tensioners with pressurised hydraulic ones plus a new oil pump. Both of those options also gives you the opportunity to change cams and get a performance upgrade at the same time.
Finally the gear-drive upgrade will require compatible cams, the stock ones won't work with the gears, so the cost is greater than the options above, but does have the attraction of giving a lifetime free of tensioners of all kinds!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
I picked up gasket's and it's vary much winter here won't be riding soon anyway so I may just go ahead and take a look. I've heard storys of the early 88's coming apart as soon as 7 or 8K not sure if those are stretching the facts a little.
Is it possible to see the back one good enough with a small dental mirror ?
I've pretty much decided when it's time to replace them I'm going with a gear drive & cams provided the run out is in spec , $700 - $800 range sound about right ?
Is it possible to see the back one good enough with a small dental mirror ?
I've pretty much decided when it's time to replace them I'm going with a gear drive & cams provided the run out is in spec , $700 - $800 range sound about right ?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
I picked up gasket's and it's vary much winter here won't be riding soon anyway so I may just go ahead and take a look. I've heard storys of the early 88's coming apart as soon as 7 or 8K not sure if those are stretching the facts a little.
Is it possible to see the back one good enough with a small dental mirror ?
Is it possible to see the back one good enough with a small dental mirror ?
If you are careful & have good gaskets to begin with, you may not need to replace the cam chest gasket. I've had my cam chest cover off/on 4X now for inspections/tensioner replacement (went with Cyco nylon pads on OEM tensioners) and am still on the James cam chest cover gasket I installed when I first got the bike.
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I changed mine at 28K. The inside was about 75% gone, outside about 50. I have heard of them failing as low as 10K, so I would say check them, even if it is only for peace of mind...
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Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Eastern IA
Thanks for all the responses , think I'll just do it since the dental mirror trick will let me get by with out pulling the cam plate , makes it too easy not to check.
Didn't know about the timkins for the 01 - 03's that good info , feeling more confident about a gear drive when the time comes .
Didn't know about the timkins for the 01 - 03's that good info , feeling more confident about a gear drive when the time comes .
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 295
Likes: 12
Thanks for all the responses , think I'll just do it since the dental mirror trick will let me get by with out pulling the cam plate , makes it too easy not to check.
Didn't know about the timkins for the 01 - 03's that good info , feeling more confident about a gear drive when the time comes .
Didn't know about the timkins for the 01 - 03's that good info , feeling more confident about a gear drive when the time comes .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Twin-...316d5d&vxp=mtr
Last edited by cocheese72; Jan 24, 2014 at 10:07 PM.