Random Rant
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 1,938
From: NE Florida
I'm guilty of negativity towards the M8 and sumping but have calmed down about it. I have owned Evo's and Twin Cams in the 15 or so Harley's I've owned over the years. I have never once worried about cam chain tensioners. It irks me when people that have never owned a TC will respond to a post and say "the tensioners will ruin your engine" or some nonsense like that. They are a wear item like everything in the engine. Did Harley go through a learning period before getting the shoe compound right, sure. But I had 50k miles on a 2002 and changed the tensioners are 28k when I build the engine and they looked fine.
All engines have some type of flaw, even Hondas. It's great to have forums like this to learn about them and understand the correct way to address them. Cheers!
All engines have some type of flaw, even Hondas. It's great to have forums like this to learn about them and understand the correct way to address them. Cheers!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
I'm guilty of negativity towards the M8 and sumping but have calmed down about it. I have owned Evo's and Twin Cams in the 15 or so Harley's I've owned over the years. I have never once worried about cam chain tensioners. It irks me when people that have never owned a TC will respond to a post and say "the tensioners will ruin your engine" or some nonsense like that. They are a wear item like everything in the engine. Did Harley go through a learning period before getting the shoe compound right, sure. But I had 50k miles on a 2002 and changed the tensioners are 28k when I build the engine and they looked fine.
All engines have some type of flaw, even Hondas. It's great to have forums like this to learn about them and understand the correct way to address them. Cheers!
All engines have some type of flaw, even Hondas. It's great to have forums like this to learn about them and understand the correct way to address them. Cheers!
I have had TC's turn up at my workshop that were 1 mile away (literally) from the tensioners exploding, with 45k on them.
I have also rebuilt a couple of TCs that spat the tensioners, and it is ugly and expensive.
If I had another TC, I would convert to gear-driven cams, because tensioners are a lottery and it is the lucky ones who refute the claims...make no mistake about it, without inspection every 20k, they WILL ruin your engine, and your bank balance.
I have been fixing motorcycles for 50 years, still not seen it all lol!
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 1,938
From: NE Florida
Tensioners are the first thing you check on a TC, because where the chains were made, in the lifetime of the tooling, has a huge effect on tensioner life. I have a TC Roadking under my care that has 65K on its second set of tensioners, that is showing almost no wear, the originals were toast at 40K, I put a used chain in that I knew was easy on tensioners.
I have had TC's turn up at my workshop that were 1 mile away (literally) from the tensioners exploding, with 45k on them.
I have also rebuilt a couple of TCs that spat the tensioners, and it is ugly and expensive.
If I had another TC, I would convert to gear-driven cams, because tensioners are a lottery and it is the lucky ones who refute the claims...make no mistake about it, without inspection every 20k, they WILL ruin your engine, and your bank balance.
I have been fixing motorcycles for 50 years, still not seen it all lol!
I have had TC's turn up at my workshop that were 1 mile away (literally) from the tensioners exploding, with 45k on them.
I have also rebuilt a couple of TCs that spat the tensioners, and it is ugly and expensive.
If I had another TC, I would convert to gear-driven cams, because tensioners are a lottery and it is the lucky ones who refute the claims...make no mistake about it, without inspection every 20k, they WILL ruin your engine, and your bank balance.
I have been fixing motorcycles for 50 years, still not seen it all lol!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 3,483
From: Arizona
I've gotten to a point where I no longer watch the same old, same old Youtubers. I have been getting into restoration videos. People finding and fixing old bikes, cars, or machinery.
There are literally thousands of great videos of this type of content out there and the best part is many of them have no commentary. The poster just fixes things on screen while you watch. No BS, no opinions, just a dude fixing something.
There are literally thousands of great videos of this type of content out there and the best part is many of them have no commentary. The poster just fixes things on screen while you watch. No BS, no opinions, just a dude fixing something.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,116
Likes: 7,640
From: Poolville
Flamboyant personalities and their branding just wear me out. The simple restoration videos are relaxing and inspiring. I've toyed with the idea of mounting a camera on the Road King and just record the ride. No dorky music, no intros, no people, no opinions. Just wind and road. Something you can fall asleep to.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,086
Likes: 19,247
From: The Wasteland
Flamboyant personalities and their branding just wear me out. The simple restoration videos are relaxing and inspiring. I've toyed with the idea of mounting a camera on the Road King and just record the ride. No dorky music, no intros, no people, no opinions. Just wind and road. Something you can fall asleep to.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 734
Likes: 319
From: Rochester NY
I think the same kind of things happen to our bikes as they age and a LOT of people think they're the 1st ones to ever have it happen and ask "the same questions over and over". I know I've done it with my cam tensioners and the starter clutch. "Watch out everyone! This happened to me and it could happen to you!"
My bikes 25 years old with almost 80k on it. I maintain as best I'm able and "knock knock", I rode this year with no major issues. I did change fluids and adjusted the clutch when I did the primary change cause it was kind of grabby. Otherwise, super nice summer for riding and taking the Vette out. Cheers to all! And hopes for an early spring up here in the cold north!
My bikes 25 years old with almost 80k on it. I maintain as best I'm able and "knock knock", I rode this year with no major issues. I did change fluids and adjusted the clutch when I did the primary change cause it was kind of grabby. Otherwise, super nice summer for riding and taking the Vette out. Cheers to all! And hopes for an early spring up here in the cold north!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,610
Likes: 3,377
From: Cental, MI
By the time ya wade thru the BS, you forget WTH yer looking for!!! I search for Written Instructions...like the Good ole Service Manual!!
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