I figured I'd share that my bike which has < 50,000 miles just gave me a present.

Apparently the one cam tensioner completely wore down through the tensioner material itself and exposed the metal post which the tensioner rides on.

This meant the cam chain was whirling on metal to metal and spewing metal fragments in bottom end and sending junk to the motor. (No damage up top though) Those fragments took out the oil pump by galling the inside, wore the chain, sent fragments thru the motor.

The other tensioner was not far behind this one but did not get down to the metal post yet but was wearing into the tensioner material.

I decided to allow the mechanic to do some other stuff while he is in there.

We are replacing as I said the chains, going with new fueling cams to replace the S&S easy starts, a complete new Fueling kit with bearings, gaskets, billet cam plate, new aftermarket oil pump and new tappets rollers and push rods. What the hell.

Check those cam tensioners guys!

 

This brings home the fact that the 07 up style isn't a permanent fix but only postpones the inevitable. I hope everything works out ok, dam.

 

Yea they still need to be checked in about 25-30 k I would think since mine wor out at near 50 k.

Gear drive cams aren't really an option with run out tolerances needing not to exceed .003 I believe. They don't make cranks like they used to like they did in the older bikes.

 

ad for feuling stuff- maybe you can save a couple of bucks:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-oil-pump.html


any performance work can trigger the search for the next weakest link in the chain.
any signs of this when it started to go? noises etc?


mike

 

I don't understand why they can't do a better job pressing the crank together. The wr has a pressed crank with a run out spec of 0.0012 inches. Harley is slacking.

 

Thanks Mike.
My guy however ordered all this stuff last week and has since received it.
Good looking out bro.
Jim

 

First post I've seen while using the new type tensioners.

Think it has anything to do with using aftermarket cams? More chain pressure due to lift etc? Just guessing.

 

How deep are those grooves on the "bad one" compared to the "good one". Any side pics showing the depth reference.

What I'm getting at is...Did the chain wear through or did the plunger bust through first?

I'm seeing the virtually unworn section in the middle (same as the sides) chain shouldn't be able to go deeper than a certian depth without starting to wear the center

Just wondering...

 

Well crap , I've got 48k on mine . Guess it's time to look

Good luck on the repair

Dave

 

just getting ready to pull my 09 apart at 119k to freshen it up with new 107ci pistons/cylinders and TW555 cams, I'm interested to see how my original tensioners look, I'll report back