02 Heritage, 95", 204's. Got almost 84,000 on her and changed the tensioners out at around 45,000 so figured it's about time for another change out. should i go with the new hydralics stuff or gear drive? I'm leaning toward the new stuff for simplicity and cost. it's all paid for so guess i'll keep it and pass on down to grand kid some day. Oh, and there was a front tire thread earlier. i'm only my second front tire and it still looks new. starters are a different story though. got HC pistions and have been through about six of those. 4 of which was cover under the extended 7 yr warrenty. put the biggest one i could find the last time and it's already starting the kick back crap. may have to tear down and put compressin releases on. Does anyone know if they ever came out with the CR's through the spark plug for TC's like they did w/the EVO's?

 

I have the SE Hyd tensioner kit with high volume oil pump in my bike and am happy I did it instead of gears.
1. its all factory parts , easy to replace and if you need a dealer to help with the work they all work on them.
2. they are quieter than gears.
3. increased oil pump volume

 

+1 on the hyd kit. 86,000 miles on my original set.

 

What is the installed price on the hydraulic system if you don't mind me asking?

 

Right at a grand if the dealer does it. 450 labor and around 430 for part.

 

Dang, I got a quote of 1100.00 for the gear drive and an S&S 270 cam parts and labor. I thought maybe the hydraulic would be cheaperer.

 

If you are going gear drive make sure to get crank run out measured. .003 is the max for gear drive.

Drew

 

I’d go with the SE Hybrid cam plate (25284-08). More tolerant to crank run out and with that many miles on your bike, you might need it. Plus you get the better oil pump. I’d also replace the inner and outer cam bearings. Maybe a rear/secondary silent chain too? 84K miles with only two front tires? You must ride by popping wheelies and never letting the front tire come down

 

They are both great systems. The gears will never wear out. The new tensioners should go a long, long time, and feature a better oil pump. Harley always used gears until the Twin Cam and never had any problems. While you do need to check the pinion shaft runout, the '02 and earlier models had forged flywheels and Timken bearings and rarely are found to be out of spec. I've been running gears since early '05 in an '02 Fat Boy with a lot of engine mods and have had zero issues. I still like gears for the early Twin Cams and would go to hydruliic tensioners in '03 and later motors.

 

My buddy was quoted $825- installed out the door for the hydraulic cam plate upgrade. Sounds like a good deal from the stealership.