JYI, I recently got the HD, bs treatment from my local HD dealer, they said I had to change my chain tensioners on my 03 Fatboy, had 42k miles recommended at 25k, well I did even though I'd been told by several others that I probably didn't need to do this. Turns out they were correct, mine had less than .030 wear on them, so if you always use 100% synthetic oil (mobil 1, amsoil), you might want to inspect them first, (which is what I should have done) and one more thing the hydraulic system is not better than the original system more bs from HD, HD should factory recall this pos and fix the pos if it's that bad. Since then I've seen two others changed out 58k and 81k, they were worn a little more, but not much, about .060-58k and .070-81k, both still had plenty of life left, so I strongly suggest inspection before replacement.

 

I had the same experience as you with my 05. Had them "upgraded" at 41,000 miles and they probably had at least another 40 or 50,000 mile of life left in them.

That being said, it's hit and miss and as you said, take a look at them prior to just having them replaced.

 

My 02 Deuce (88b) were shot at 36k when I pulled them out and went gear drive cams. The rear shoe fell apart when it was lifted off the chain.

 

With the amount of disassembly needs to inspect the inner cam chain tensioner, it makes no sense to not replace them. The part is fairly inexpensive compared to the labor which you've already spent to inspect.

 

Lots of people have had them go much sooner than yours. If it does go, it takes a bunch of other stuff with it. You didn't come away badly.

 

I went thru 3 sets @ 42,000, 85,000 & 125,000 miles on a 2002 FLHTCUI. Each time the tensioners were badly worn.

 

At 24,000 miles, mine had not worn severely. But one of them fell apart.

 

Did the SE cam plate upgrade on my '00 at 42K they still looked pretty good. Wish I had gone to gear drive instead of chain. Lot more option for cams and such!

 

My 2005 Electraglide had to have the tensioners replaced at 18,000 miles even though synthetic was run all the time. My experience was that oil does not matter - other factors come into play.

 

I was doing engine work on my 1999, and figured I'd go gears. at 31k, the inner looked pretty worn:



At ~ 60k I replaced a cracked y pipe, so I put in the Baisley spring. Gears looked as nice as the day they went in: