Can anybody tell me if the primary chain tension adjuster on a M8 works the same way that the chain adjuster on a TC?
I was talking to one of the service guys at the dealership and he was telling me that the primary chain adjuster on a M8 is a"floating" type( non ratcheting) which is different from the TC primary tension adjuster which is a ratchet type of adjuster.

 

It's the same as late model TCs. They are spring loaded, ratcheting types. They can only get tighter, not looser. The earlier TC's had manual adjusters, forget what years they stopped, but easy to spot visually by lack of inspection cover in the primary cover.

 

Yeah that is what I thought. The guy at the service dept. didn't know what he was talking about.

 

 

Yes I noticed the different part numbers. In the diagram the new M8 adjuster looks like a ratcheting type

 

I've had it in my hand and it's the racheting type.

Funny thing is the pre 17 model would sometimes rachet up too tight and the new one seems to never rachet up at all... I've been in there a few times to manually click it up a notch after the chain got loose and sloppy.

 

A little aggressive hard decel in lower gears will usually get them to ratchet.

 

You know I tried that and the rocking back and forth trick like days of old. Wouldn't work for me for whatever reason. I think HD go so many complaints that they engineered this one too far to the other side of the spectrum. ha

Don't get me wrong, it's not a first world problem, but maybe something to look out for going forward. I for one am glad it no longer rachets up too tight. Rather it be a little loose than too tight.

This guy I guess sees the same thing I've seen.

 

If I were you, I'd do some research and find out for sure what's up. AFAIK, the M8 adjusters have the same issues as the TC's had/have in that it can over-tighten the chain and cause problems.

A Baker Attitude Adjuster manual tensioner eliminates that potential issue permanently and instantly. FWIW, I've heard that the M8 tensioners have some kind of "floating function", but don't know if that's true or not.

 

That started with the '06 Dyna's and in everything else in '07. They've been causing problems off and on ever since - and making Baker Inc. a little more prosperous through the sales of the "Attitude Adjuster" which eliminates the issues permanently.