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I got the spacers in there and the chain is running true now. That's the good part. The starter is also in. That's also good. Now, putting the tensioner back on, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it when I took it off, but, damn, WTF?
I mean, I did, in fact, buy the bike from an Aggie. But some SERIOUS Aggie Rigging going on here. This is some kind of aftermarket idea for an auto adjusting chain. And there's two aluminum shims under the springs that really don't look professionally made. And the springs are way too weak. Actually, it looks like this one:
If I had a spare genuine HD primary tensioner laying around, I'd put it on. As it is, if I use this thing, I am going to have to make a proper shim for the bottom. The aluminum shims are straight, and the inner primary is is not straight, but slanted down towards the rear. The outer part doesn't seem to hold the shims very well. Looks like a cluster job.
I could print a new shim out of ABS plastic easy enough. A few measurements, some 3D CAD work and print it in about 3 or 4 hours, if I had to guess.
Can't tell from the photo angle but looks light on the springs to me. That looks like a Hayden but who knows. If it is, springs are only about 1" long, both same length. There's 3 different shape shims that come in the kit for '65-'99 and they shouldn't stick out past the upright. But again, it's a builders nightmare and no way to know what inner primary that is.
They've changed some part numbers apparently as well as shims included in with each kit.
So, I found the root cause of this offset problem. It's actually visible in some of the above photos. Cleaning the grime off, whoa, what's that? It's a half inch spacer between the inner primary and the engine case. That explains the quarter inch short with the quarter inch spacer in there.
My spacer collection came today from Dennis Kirk. So, the question is, add another quarter inch to what I have now or get that extension thing? I'm thinking that the extension thing is just an extension with an extra half inch of spacer made into it, so cobble up from what I have and I should be OK. What y'all think?
Thats why I was asking about the inner primary cover earlier, I noticed that cover didn't look right to me in the pics around the engine, with the grime I thought it was the cover not a spacer
I does look a lot like that M6 kit. The destructions on the Hayden site say that 93 up needs L shims and U shims. This one has H shims. Man, even with the right shims, that kit looks like a cobbled together cluster job. Do these things actually last? I mean, the chopper is not a 100K mile bike, like my dresser, but I would kinda like it to hold together. They are talking about bending L shims to account for the sloping bottom primary.
If you can show me a pic and some measurements of the L and U shims, I can make them out of scrap laying around faster and easier than shipping. Or I may go with my idea of drawing up a spacer in CAD and printing it out.
I'm not a Softail expert so if any of this info is wrong, feel free to correct.
Hayden apparently changed part numbers many times over the years for the BT M6 adjuster and the only difference I know of is the shims provided in the kit, with one exception - the newer ones for the later models have an L on the inside upright whereas the others were straight, inner and outer. The models with the L are for the sloped inner primary (I assume) where the earlier adjusters that were listed to fit, just have you bend the shims to match the contour. I tried to call Hayden for better info, but reckon they don't work on Monday.
In Hess's pics, looks to me like the whole assembly is too far outboard and I can't find any decent pics of one installed on a post '94 bike. I saw a couple that looked like the the whole thing stuck out past the gasket edge but couldn't tell for sure.
All I've used them on were Dressers (short primary) and the outer upright and shim is almost perfectly at the outer edge of the inner primary. Also, the chain is centered on the shoe. For what it's worth, yes they are awesome if set up correctly. Mine has way over 100,000 miles and I just replaced the springs last year for giggles. The shoe still looked great.
The Softail inner primary changed in '94 and stayed the same thru '06. My kit was bought circa '95 and specifically says it fits all '94. The installed parts look exactly like the 2nd photo.
This photo is parts from that kit plus an original adjuster part for reference. Spring weights were measured separately. Hope all this helps....
FORGOT - depth of the shallow notch is 1/4" same as the uprights or "guide plates" and this kit M6-94 didn't come with any "H" shims.
I think I have one very similar to Omaha's, but in a long, sloping primary and without anything needed to make it work in a long, sloping primary, like those L pieces. I'm going to fudge up some adapter spacers to get the bottom H plates square to the adjuster bar and I think that will do.
Yeah, main thing I'm thinking is to make sure the notch in whatever you use, engages at least one of the guide plates (inner or outer) and the other edge is flush to the other side so there's no chance of them kicking out from under the springs. I never had any H shims and the L shims have no place at all in a short primary.
Specs call for 5/8" between shim pack and bottom of shoe. That's way tight on a used chain. I'd go for 11/16 to 3/4"
First test run on a spacer. I printed it with a 10% fill, so it's mostly hollow, just for size:
Installed:
I think I'll add 1 more degree to the angle, raise it up about a millimeter, reduce the cutout on the right about 3mm and print it solid. This $200 printer thing is cool.
Now I see why they made them with the L on the inner guide.
And I've seen that in '01 moco went to an under slung adjuster arm rather than the standard they used since '65, but I'm still confused how they can use the '94 inner on the '01 up and the same adjuster won't work on either one.... but TC stuff is well beyond my interest or attention span.
Hess, if you can print those in milk chocolate with almonds, I'll take 5 lbs.
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