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Sep 15, 2009 | 06:54 PM

#11

kkinderen

Road Master

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,016

Likes: 1

From: Front Royal, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chips

thanks for all the replies.

It appears to be such a common problem that Harley should issue a 'recall' and replace the tensioners free of charge.
I'm not very happy to pay for this.

thanks again for the info.

maybe they should. it sure would have saved me a bunch of money. it is part of the regular inspection - which i admit i was never very good about getting done.

i wonder if others who had a catastrophic failure were as slack about routine service as i was? i took care of fluids and tires - but that was about it. things are different now.

Sep 15, 2009 | 07:42 PM

#12

jrcisu79

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 308

Likes: 1

From: Alabama

I just did some motor work and my inner was bad at 25k. I had mine changed over to the hydraulic tensioners, Andrews makes the best kit IMO. The problem is that after 02 I believe, they changed from forged cranks to cast cranks. And the crank run out will not allow many bikes to run gears mine ran out .004, I think .002 is the max. If you really want to run gears and you have run out the only option is to split the cases and have the crank trued. The Andrews hydraulic kit, if I remember right, cost about the same as going the gear route, plus you get a higher volume oil pump. plus it's supposed to free up 3-4 hp. If I made some mistakes I'm sure someone will correct them. Good luck bud. You should definitely change it over, just for piece of mind.

Sep 15, 2009 | 07:53 PM

#13

Sig556

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 124

Likes: 0

What does it cost to replace the tensioners?

and what does it cost to change to gear drive?

thanks

Sep 15, 2009 | 08:02 PM

#14

Bluesman42

Novice

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 23

Likes: 0

From: Riverview, NB, Canada

They just had to replace mine at 8000 km (5000 miles) on an 08 heritage. I had noticed a funny sound, and guessed that might be it.

Sep 15, 2009 | 09:01 PM

#15

jrcisu79

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 308

Likes: 1

From: Alabama

If I remember right the tensioners were like $70 a piece, the chains on the other hand I'm not sure. I think my conversion kit was like $450 plus the cams. Here's the skinny: http://www.andrewsproducts.com/motor...nstall_Kit.htm

To me it was worth the piece of mind, cuz I tend to ride hard and don't want a $70 part grenading the motor.

Sep 15, 2009 | 09:42 PM

#16

gforrest2

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 726

Likes: 3

From: Pacific Northwest

Don't think it's part of the regular inspection

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkinderen

My dealer told me it's not part of the regular inspection and you need to ask for it. It costs extra, especially to inspect the inner tensioner. I've heard you can cut your oil filter apart and if it has little chunks of orange plastic in it, then your tensioner is starting to go. Big chunks will plug up your oil pump. If it goes completely, bye bye engine. They recommended checking it at 20k and after 30k, they recommend replacement - they say you are on borrowed time after 30k. Oh yeah, and this is for the 88 ci TC motors (through 2006). '07s and later have a hydraulic tensioner. He also said you can convert to the hydraulic tensioner for about $800 or the gear driven cams for $1000. (ouch!) I agree there should have been a recall for this.

Sep 15, 2009 | 09:46 PM

#17

xxxflhrci

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 10,033

Likes: 29

Here's what mine looked like at 52k. They still had some life left in them. I'm glad I ditched the whole shebang and put in gears, though. Not worrying about tensioners and lets me focus more time on worrying about when my belt is gonna break...LOL

Attached Thumbnails

Sep 15, 2009 | 10:26 PM

#18

kkinderen

Road Master

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,016

Likes: 1

From: Front Royal, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by gforrest2

My dealer told me it's not part of the regular inspection and you need to ask for it. It costs extra, especially to inspect the inner tensioner.

I think you're right. Looks like the primary chain adjustment is "inspected" every 2500. I was mistaken and now I don't feel so bad about not having it checked so often (in the past). You know, up until this moment I think I have been confusing the cam chain tensioners with the primary chain tensioner. Two very different things. Told you before that I'm a mechanical dummy.