Took a couple of hours today and decided to have a look at the outer cam tensioner on my 2009 ultra with 36 k miles. The bike is all stock and i use amsoil vtwin changing every 3-4k miles. I am going to order up some parts and the inner cam bearing tool and change out tensioners and bearings. i will have a look at the oil pump snd relief valve also. This will be the biggest job i have done previous jobs have been wheel bearings and brake rotors. I have the service manual to follow along. Looking forward to comments and any suggestions. Thanks

 

Sounds like a good opportunity to put in a set of Andrews 48 Cams. You got it apart anyway.

 

If thats the front one make sure you pull the rear one too as its usually the worse of the two. While you're in there...

 

Looks pretty worn for one of the newer hydraulic cam tensioner shoes, thought they were surposed to last a lot longer. Had the dealer change out my older version spring loaded shoes at 30,000 miles mainly for piece of mind and they were no where near as worn as yours.

 

Time for gear drive!!!!

 

They look perfectly normal for roller chain wear. The center flat has hardly worn compared to the two on the out side where nothing touches. After new ones are installed look again after a few thousand miles and they will be the same.

 

Your just in time. Replace them with the dual piston type of Zippers and you don’t have to worry again about them.

 

Agree - the hydraulic tensioned roller chain doesn't have the problem that earlier spring tensioned plate chains have. When the tensioner shoes wear down so the rollers are bearing on the shoe, they don't wear as fast thereafter - practically no more wear at all.

But, you now have the opportunity to change the cam bearing, as you said - and put them in with a new cam profile too!

Hope this helps,
John

 

This how mine looked at 83K miles from an 09 Night Train.

 

What's wrong with the OEM hydraulic cam tensioner system?