twin cam tensoiners
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: baltimore,md
twin cam tensoiners
hey guys whats up with 99-06 cam tensioner failure. I use synthetic oil does that make a difference. i have approx 11,500 on the bike no abnormal noise from engine. When should I start to worry about them. update to new hyrdo or gear drive what is envolved with each setup, thanks.
Check them at 20000. When you change your oil you can cut open the oil filter and and see if there are any pieces of orange plastic in it to give you clues of where you are at. It is not very difficult to check. All you h ave to do is remove you exhaust and pull the cam cover.
R.I.P. BROTHER
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
Syn oil makes no difference. The tensioners fail because it was a poor design from the get go.
The cam chain is rough and eats away at the tensioners. The older the chain gets or if its actually removed and polished the longer they last.
Also they got a lil' better every year for some odd reason...The 2000's were horrid. The 2006's? often go 30K without incident prior to being replaced.
The cam chain is rough and eats away at the tensioners. The older the chain gets or if its actually removed and polished the longer they last.
Also they got a lil' better every year for some odd reason...The 2000's were horrid. The 2006's? often go 30K without incident prior to being replaced.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Ruffin, North Carolina
I've an 06 standard, at 27k I replaced the tensioners. The old ones were still in great shape, but I'd already bought new tensioners and I had the cam plate out anyway. Otherwise I'd left the old ones in there another 20k.
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From:
Although it appears easy to check them... Is it expensive to have them replaced?
Is it a labour intensive?
Is it a labour intensive?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 3
From: lakeside ca.
replaced mine at 30 thou. only a little wear, went with gear drive SS 510 cams. if you are only ging to stay with stock cams just replace the tensioners if updating cams why not go with something that you will never have to mess with again?? cost is not that much different .. mine was 1500$ installed and I love the cams..
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From:
I bought my '02 NT with 14.5k miles, and had the tensioners checked at 29k. They looked perfectly fine, but I had new ones, along with SE 203 cams and a new chain, put in anyway. As the saying goes, "Your mileage may vary".