I have 10K miles on my FLHTKL. I went in to the shop today to get oil & filter. The parts guys asked me if I was changing out the Primary Chain Tensioner. I replied that I hadn't seen that in the maintenance schedule but he assured me it was there.

So I bought a new chain tensioner but I still don't see it mentioned in the maintenance schedule. Nor do I see an inspection procedure in the service manual.

So what's the deal here? When should it be replaced? For an inspection, what is the 'time to replace it' criteria?

Thanks -- Jim

 

Inspect whenever you open up the primary, replace when needed. They can go quite a long time and many miles unless an anomaly occurs. You got had. Either an idiot behind the counter or just trying to get your money.

 

I just inspected my chain tensioner at 24,000 miles and it had plenty more life on it. That guy was an idiot.

 

Maybe it was a failure to communicate.

 

Take it back, they should not charge a restock fee, the sale was a mistake on the parts dept, not you.

Not everyone that makes a mistake is an idiot, maybe he is just learning the job...

If he told you that the tensioner should be replaced at 10K, would you call him an idiot to his face, or just steer him onto the right path?

Too much nastiness directed toward dealers on these forums, often by those who have no more expierence than those they are berating.

 

Deleted double post.

 

Thanks for all the input. The guy isn't a newbie - he's their top parts salesman. So my guess is that he was just being their top salesman and 'making sure' I had everything that I might possibly need. Based on everything I've read and heard, I doubt that I will even pull the cover to inspect it. Sounds like upwards of 20K miles I might, but now it seems like a waste of time.

Thanks -

 

Won't hurt to check the tension, if your bike is an 07 and later it has an automatic chain tensioner that can ratchet up TOO tight then things get expensive.

 

Here is a picture of my automatic tensioner from my 2011 Ultra that I just replaced last week (81K miles). My primary chain was not ratcheted up to tight, like other people have reported. I replaced the automatic tensioner with the Baker Attitude Adjuster.

 

The photo really helps! And yes, after further consideration, I think I will pull the cover and take a look. However, how do you know if it is 'too' tight?