Cam chain tensioner 2006 Street Glide
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From: usa
Thanks for the feedback / input. My friend is doing the work and his latest work was a police bike with 23k and tensioners were toast. I bought S&S 510 gear change kit, new adjustable SE pushrods and new lifters. Rather be safe than sorry and put an extra smile on my face! The last three summers have been slow with crap and new house and I'm looking forward to a minimum 10k/summer on my machine.
Thread Starter
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Account Suspended
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: usa
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Hill Country, TX
My 2006 SG has just 25k miles. From the sound I've been hearing for about 2k miles, my friend that works on the bike thinks it's the cam chain tensioner starting to go. I met another SG owner today who mentioned the same issue and the bike sounding like a "singer sewing machine"....he hit the nail on the head!
Anyone have the similar problem?
What are good choices for new gears/cam?
Should this problem be addressed immediately?
Anyone have the similar problem?
What are good choices for new gears/cam?
Should this problem be addressed immediately?
The way I look at it your engine is a ticking time bomb with those shitty plastic cam chain tensioners in there. IMHO, it is the TC88's one major design flaw. You never know when they are going to fail, and if they do, you're looking at major damage to your engine.
Some dude posted pictures of this exact thing on the forum a few months back, and it wasn't a pretty sight.
What you do is your business, but if you've got the money, my first choice would be gear driven cams. Next cheaper option is the hydraulic tensioner conversion kit. Least expensive would be to replace your current tensioners with new ones but if you do that, you're right back where you started worrying about them failing. Good luck.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
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From: TOAK western branch
My 2006 SG has just 25k miles. From the sound I've been hearing for about 2k miles, my friend that works on the bike thinks it's the cam chain tensioner starting to go. I met another SG owner today who mentioned the same issue and the bike sounding like a "singer sewing machine"....he hit the nail on the head!
Anyone have the similar problem?
What are good choices for new gears/cam?
Should this problem be addressed immediately?
Anyone have the similar problem?
What are good choices for new gears/cam?
Should this problem be addressed immediately?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
That is what I did on my 03 Heritage four years ago and haven't regretted it.
Thanks for the feedback / input. My friend is doing the work and his latest work was a police bike with 23k and tensioners were toast. I bought S&S 510 gear change kit, new adjustable SE pushrods and new lifters. Rather be safe than sorry and put an extra smile on my face! The last three summers have been slow with crap and new house and I'm looking forward to a minimum 10k/summer on my machine.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
Thanks for the feedback / input. My friend is doing the work and his latest work was a police bike with 23k and tensioners were toast. I bought S&S 510 gear change kit, new adjustable SE pushrods and new lifters. Rather be safe than sorry and put an extra smile on my face! The last three summers have been slow with crap and new house and I'm looking forward to a minimum 10k/summer on my machine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,361
Likes: 117
From: auckland,new zealand
should be ok after only 25k, but better get noise checked
mine lasted 77k
mine lasted 77k
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Oxford, Nc
That's the problem, they don't seem to wear consiistently. I checked mine every 10,000 miles (PITA every 6 months(!),) and at 70,000 they still looked decent.
At 81,000 the inside shoe had broken in two and the loose piece was caught between the chain and the spring ( fortunatley.)
With the milage and Timken Lefty bearing still in the 2000 bikes the gear drive was the logical direction.
As was suggested, check your run out. And at install, check the gear lash so it runs as quietly as possible. Too loose, it clacks, too snug, ir'll whine. S&S sells different sized pimion gears to match your needs.
Good Luck!
At 81,000 the inside shoe had broken in two and the loose piece was caught between the chain and the spring ( fortunatley.)
With the milage and Timken Lefty bearing still in the 2000 bikes the gear drive was the logical direction.
As was suggested, check your run out. And at install, check the gear lash so it runs as quietly as possible. Too loose, it clacks, too snug, ir'll whine. S&S sells different sized pimion gears to match your needs.
Good Luck!