Sunday project was to dig in and check my tensioners since it was 45 and rainy out. It's a 2004 road King with 32k on it. Stock except slip ons. Would you replace? Is the pitting bad enough to warrant replacement, the Grove is barely detectable with a fingernail.

 

What's the rear one look like? If you didn't check it, I would check with a dental mirror and flashlight.

 

I changed mine at 40k KM and they looked about the same. I wondering if the manufacturers of those plastic pieces have ever looked into why they come out in little tiny chunks. Perhaps there is some effect the heat and oils have on the structure of the plastic. I'm no chemist but something is causing them to break down like that rather than just pull off in a fine powder as it wears.

randy

 

You have gone that far. I would replace but not with the Harley junk.

 

Tried the dental mirror for the back and couldn't get a good look. More of a lack of patience at that point, the exhaust was a pita to get off.

What do people recommend recommend replacing them with?

 

I would replace them with OEM. The originals lasted you 13 years.

 

Yes replace both. Your silent chain must be smoth as the wear looks good for your stated mileage. Make sure the outside of the chain is marked so it is put back on to rotate in the same direction. A dot of whiteout works great for this.

 

Only lasted 30,000 in 13 years , that is what killed the value of my bike 80,000 in less than 4 years, tensioners wasted at 60,000. They make much better ones!

 

Those look like junk, don't even think about using. Go cyco, the way those pit are the reason for bearing failures, speaking of replace bearings too (all four). That would be the least you should do now that it open. Of course you could run them & possibly get 30,000 more but why chance it.

 

Cyco.