Cam chain tensioners

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Dec 19, 2016 | 02:13 PM

Tracker1

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Cruiser

Joined: May 2016

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From: The Great State of Ohio

Cam chain tensioners

I have 40,000 on a 03 RK I picked up in the spring. After not having a HD for over 20 years I have been educating myself both in the saddle and mechanically.
First thing I learned was change out the tensioners. So that will be my first project. Then the loose shifter arm off the tranny.
Looking around I see people talking about a using a non HD shoe. My thoughts is the originals have 40,000 on them,should I just use stock shoes?
I used to work on my own bikes but that was years ago and those were shovel heads, I see much has changed.

Dec 19, 2016 | 02:52 PM

dawg

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From: Vermont

http://www.harleydavidsontensioner.com Cyco

Dec 19, 2016 | 04:04 PM

GRWHD

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Joined: Jun 2016

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From: Catalina AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawg

http://www.harleydavidsontensioner.com Cyco

I used the Cyco on my 01.

Dec 19, 2016 | 04:18 PM

grbrown

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Joined: Jun 2007

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From: Bedford UK

If you plan on doing the work yourself do start by buying a factory service manual, as the contents of the cam chest have changed a bit since your shovel! With that mileage it is quite possible a PO has already been in there and upgraded in some way, so I suggest you hold back from buying any parts until you have taken a look inside. In addition to replacing the tensioners, upgrade options include replacing the entire cam plate, there being H-D and aftermarket versions, even a gear-drive set-up. You may be lucky and find you have to nothing more than seal it back up!

Dec 19, 2016 | 06:51 PM

Tracker1

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From: The Great State of Ohio

I am not buying any parts until I open it up and inspect, with my fingers crossed. I would like to hold off until my funds are better so I can look at cams, bearings, and lifters. If I find the tensioners need replaced I am going to have to just replace the tensioners and pushrods (to adjustables) and go back in later for other new parts. A manual is on its way.

Dec 19, 2016 | 07:25 PM

seniorsuperglideE8

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From: along the shore of Mishigami

I changed (well the shop did) my cam chain shoes at 22K and then again at 44k. The second time I upgraded to the hybrid cam plate from HD. This plate has hyd. cam chain shoes and incorporates a higher volume oil pump. I figure this will be my last time in the cam chest. Check it out, many will suggest a gear drive if your crankshaft run out is within tolerance. Good luck.

Dec 19, 2016 | 07:33 PM

twistedcherokee

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Only problem I had with CYCO & harleydavidsontensioners.com is in the instructions, they have the shoe on incorrectly in one of the photos. I told them about it and they did nothing to correct it last time I checked. I have a new tensioner & the shoes with the tooling (I went with gear drive instead) when I installed the shoe on as it was in the pic & then turned the page & found it was on wrong, I bought a new one from HD because I tweaked the metal portion trying to get it back apart. Both mine were stock when I replaced them at 50K & then at 100K (went gear dive then)
http://www.harleydavidsontensioner.com/replaceshoe.html
If you look at the spring and where it hits the shoe you can see that it is wrong. Pics 6&7 are wrong & 8 is right

Toby