I have 103 with 25,000 miles and was concerned about the hydraulic chain tensioner on the cam. Harley can't tell me when it should be checked, only when I bring it in for service (Ya, like that's going to happen) they would do it as part of the maintenance. Is it worth the expense to change the chain drive to the gear drive? More so of the extended reliability of the cams, than the cost. Hate to get out some where and have that shoe go. Or is the tensioner reliable? How many miles is the average life of the tensioners? (Why Harley could't use a gear tensioner or even over head cams, I can't understand).

 

If you have a 103, you have the later style hydrolic tensioners that are fairly trouble free. With 25k, I wouldn't worry about them. Popping the cam cover off to check them is pretty simple. With gear drives, you'll have to worry more about crank runout than anything else. If you want OH cams, there are plenty of metrics to choose from.

 

It's a 2014 FLHTCU. I just don't want to get half way to anywhere and have it come apart. Question. If the worries of the run out on the S&S are to think about, wouldn't the run out affect the chain?

 

Yes it would,but the chain tensioners would take care of that.

 

Ride it, got 56000 on mine 07 Ultra good shape. change oil 5-6000 miles Shell Rotella with a Wix filter
If you need piece of mind just pop the cover off and take a look

 

The tensioners will account for runout. With chain drive, no gears are touching each other. With gear drives, and bad runout the gears are either separated or mashed together; neither being good. The runout issue is with the crankshaft.

 

On a 2014 103, the tensioners are the least of your concerns for a breakdown far from home.

The hydraulic tensioners on late model twin cams are reliable.
If your mechanic is telling you they need checked at 25K, you need another mechanic.

 

Unless your crankrunout is .003" or less, you will not be able to use gear cams.

If your crankrunout is higher than .003" then the hydraulic shoe tensioners shouldn't be high on the list of things to worry about.