Cam chain tensioners
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 47
Likes: 12
From: New Zealand
Cam chain tensioners
Cam chain tensioners were due replacement at 60,000 miles, my bike is now at 79,000 and I can't get the job done until after Christmas.
Do these things ever really fail or is this preventative?
Do these things ever really fail or is this preventative?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 716
Likes: 464
From: Queens, NY
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Obviously, there were many Harley motorcycles produced during the spring cam tensioner years of the Twin Cam, '99-'06.... Most have not had an issue...
However, there have been enough failures, that the MoCo redesigned that part of the Twin Cam engine.... That is not an inexpensive solution...
IMHO... this is a case of the stakes being more important than the odds... By that I mean, the odds probably aren't great that the tensioners will absolutely fail happen, but what's at stake if it does happen is pretty serious... There can be a very significant difference in the cost of repairs between a preemptive changeout of the cam tensioners, and repairing an engine where they have failed... I believe with the age of these engines, the odds are increasing...
In just my limited anecdotal experience, three out of three bikes I inspected with the spring tensioners and link chains, I have felt all needed to have the tensioners replaced, because they were in jeopardy of failing.
My three observations involved low mileage bikes, but with 15+ years of service. It is my opinion, that with age and heat cycles, the OEM tensioner pads get brittle, which puts them at risk of breaking apart, even if the actual wear isn't substantial. Even if they don't break apart, those small pieces that break off from the pads could cause issues. If one comes to rest in a lifter, it could reduce and/or stop oil flow to the rockers...
The last cam chest I upgraded was just last week. It was an '04, EFI, Stage I engine with 19,900 miles on the bike. Here are the tensioners I removed and replaced. I would not have wanted to be driving around with these tensioners in any of my bikes...
I believe they are just too easy, and depending on your choice of updates, also fairly cheap to replace, rather than to ignore them or just "roll the dice"....
However, there have been enough failures, that the MoCo redesigned that part of the Twin Cam engine.... That is not an inexpensive solution...
IMHO... this is a case of the stakes being more important than the odds... By that I mean, the odds probably aren't great that the tensioners will absolutely fail happen, but what's at stake if it does happen is pretty serious... There can be a very significant difference in the cost of repairs between a preemptive changeout of the cam tensioners, and repairing an engine where they have failed... I believe with the age of these engines, the odds are increasing...
In just my limited anecdotal experience, three out of three bikes I inspected with the spring tensioners and link chains, I have felt all needed to have the tensioners replaced, because they were in jeopardy of failing.
My three observations involved low mileage bikes, but with 15+ years of service. It is my opinion, that with age and heat cycles, the OEM tensioner pads get brittle, which puts them at risk of breaking apart, even if the actual wear isn't substantial. Even if they don't break apart, those small pieces that break off from the pads could cause issues. If one comes to rest in a lifter, it could reduce and/or stop oil flow to the rockers...
The last cam chest I upgraded was just last week. It was an '04, EFI, Stage I engine with 19,900 miles on the bike. Here are the tensioners I removed and replaced. I would not have wanted to be driving around with these tensioners in any of my bikes...
I believe they are just too easy, and depending on your choice of updates, also fairly cheap to replace, rather than to ignore them or just "roll the dice"....
Last edited by hattitude; Dec 20, 2022 at 09:10 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
My friends '03 Ultra grenaded at 21,000 miles with oil pump failure due to this problem.
My '00 Classic had new ones installed at 40,000 during a service,they were toast 60K later at 100,000 miles and I went gera drive.
My '00 Classic had new ones installed at 40,000 during a service,they were toast 60K later at 100,000 miles and I went gera drive.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
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From: On the Big Blue marble
IMO - You're running on borrowed time..... I have had friends get 60k out of them, I had a friend who's failed totally at 22k miles...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
That is the strange thing about the Cam shoe tensioners, I replaced mine in my 02 Heritage (which now my Son in law has) only had 15-16k on the odometer - as soon as I opened the cam chest the front shoe was ready to go, just messing with it the side of the shoe broke off as that was how deep the chain had imbedded into the shoe, the back shoe wasnt that bad.I went with the Hyd upgrade, wood`s sold the whole package and it wasnt cheap - but that bike runs very good.
I just changed the shoes on my 02 Road king - here is the thing, if you do these upgrades or change the shoes often (I do) then you already have the tools.....however, if this is your first go around changing just the shoes, its not really that cheap. By the time you buy the cam bearing tool (ebay for $60-$75) , the shoe removal tool (Vtwin Mfg - $145) & the install tool ($36 +/-) you`ll have a little money spent right there. the shoes are only like $15 - $20 dollars with shipping but after you buy the inner bearings, Orings, gaskets, lifters (should change) adjustable PS if you go that route? oil, oil filter (Id do an oil change) etc... you`ll have some money in it - but better than not doing it cause that will cost way more.
I just changed the shoes on my 02 Road king - here is the thing, if you do these upgrades or change the shoes often (I do) then you already have the tools.....however, if this is your first go around changing just the shoes, its not really that cheap. By the time you buy the cam bearing tool (ebay for $60-$75) , the shoe removal tool (Vtwin Mfg - $145) & the install tool ($36 +/-) you`ll have a little money spent right there. the shoes are only like $15 - $20 dollars with shipping but after you buy the inner bearings, Orings, gaskets, lifters (should change) adjustable PS if you go that route? oil, oil filter (Id do an oil change) etc... you`ll have some money in it - but better than not doing it cause that will cost way more.