2003 Road King w/ High(?) Miles??
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Cary, NC
I didn't have to replace my cam chain tensioner until 70k miles, at about 115k miles I rebuilt the top end and also put in the SE cam chest with the better tensioners. I recommend that upgrade. Drive belts generally should average around 70k miles, that's when my first one let go, I heard of others lasting over 100k miles. My second drive belt lasted just over 50k miles. 40k miles is not a lot of miles if taken care of ie fluids changed. Other things to look at is the front motor mount. Harleys are easy and even fun to work on, I've done pretty much all my own work and I'm no mechanic. Pick up either a clymer or Harley repair manual and the Harley parts manual and you should be able to make any future repairs.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: KMHT KFMY
some people get lots of miles out of them, some are seeing them fail at 20K, personally knowing that if they fail, they will with almost 100% certainty take the engine out with them, I did mine at 16K and went with gear drive cams... Some people spend a ton of $$ upgrading this and that to get around a lousy material choice, some people just go with aftermarket parts with better materials for short money. It is your decision to make, but if there was ONE thing I would tell you to do due diligence on when vetting that bike for purchase, it would be the tensioners.
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Cary, NC
some people get lots of miles out of them, some are seeing them fail at 20K, personally knowing that if they fail, they will with almost 100% certainty take the engine out with them, I did mine at 16K and went with gear drive cams... Some people spend a ton of $$ upgrading this and that to get around a lousy material choice, some people just go with aftermarket parts with better materials for short money. It is your decision to make, but if there was ONE thing I would tell you to do due diligence on when vetting that bike for purchase, it would be the tensioners.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Wisconsin, USA
I love my '03, but it is fuel injected. I just turned 30k. Tensioners were 3/4 worn. I am doing the SE Cam Chain Tensioner upgrade. I needed a new front engine mount , bottom gaskets, front calipers rebuilt, new handgrips.
Last year I had the intank fuel line and quick connect replaced. Other than that no problems. I have seen many bikes with 40k that look mint, and bikes with 10k that look like crap.
Last year I had the intank fuel line and quick connect replaced. Other than that no problems. I have seen many bikes with 40k that look mint, and bikes with 10k that look like crap.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Cary, NC
Thanks for the input - given the miles v. wear that you described, and all the extras that this owner's done to the bike (stage one mod, upgraded covers, etc., etc.) I'd be surprised if he hadn't taken care of a weak area on the engine itself...but I guess I'll find out.
The other thing that surprises me when looking at the ads for used bikes is that I haven't found one that specifically mentions that the tensioner having been replaced. I would have thought - given the potential for catastrophic failure is the thing fails - that having a bike with it already replaced would be a huge selling point.
The other thing that surprises me when looking at the ads for used bikes is that I haven't found one that specifically mentions that the tensioner having been replaced. I would have thought - given the potential for catastrophic failure is the thing fails - that having a bike with it already replaced would be a huge selling point.
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Nov 4, 2012 05:12 PM
