Cam Tensioner Question
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 123
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Cam Tensioner Question
I've read lots of posts about cam tensioner failure. I haven't read much about improvements made to new bikes. Will the tensioner failure issue be something for me to expect in the future on my 2006 Electra Glide Classic. All stock, no mods, and will probably stay that way. Seems that 30,000 miles is the magic number. I don't think it will take that long to get there ! I've never had a twin cam. How does one identify a potential problem with the tensioner.? Thanks all.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
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From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
Good question, I don't know that there is a "warning sign", but I do know that every show, every mech, everything I've ever read says to go with the Gear cams...you've got more than a few miles on the cam chain tensioners...I wouldn't worry about it yet, but if you decide to upgrade your cam, you may as well make it gear driven, and put a set of S&S gears on it...
Mac
Mac
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
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From:
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
hi, i hear that the 06 baggers will have the auto tensioner already installed, i have a 05 EG std EFI, with about 500 miles on it. When i do my 1000 mile check i will probaly have the auto tensioner installed at that time. Jack
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
ORIGINAL: locnkey
hi, i hear that the 06 baggers will have the auto tensioner already installed, i have a 05 EG std EFI, with about 500 miles on it. When i do my 1000 mile check i will probaly have the auto tensioner installed at that time. Jack
hi, i hear that the 06 baggers will have the auto tensioner already installed, i have a 05 EG std EFI, with about 500 miles on it. When i do my 1000 mile check i will probaly have the auto tensioner installed at that time. Jack
You are talking about a different animal. I think you are referring to the primary chain tensioner. The cam tensioners are still a problem. My dealer checks them at all milage anytime they are in the engine. A friend of mine just had a 95 ci upgrade at 10,000 miles and they replaced his. I looked at them and they looked 50% worn. Another friends were completely gone at 50,000 when they looked in his motor. It was making a noise at that time because the chains were running metal to metal. I'm starting to worry about my bike but it isn't making any noise yet.
[sm=biker2.gif]
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 892
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From: Central, IN
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
I was starting to worry about mine as well. I've got 19,000 miles. I talked to 2 dealers here in Indiana and neither has had to change the tensioners on any bike as yet. They have changed some by request. Eagle Harley has had to change cam bearings on a few pre 2001 TC motors. Doing a little math, with the bikes they've sold over the last 6 years and average miles driven per year, millions of miles have been driven without the need to change cam tensioners. Having said that, I'll probably change to gear driven the next time the motor needs to be opened.
Chris
Chris
Banned
Joined: Nov 2005
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From:
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
ORIGINAL: spartns
I was starting to worry about mine as well. I've got 19,000 miles. I talked to 2 dealers here in Indiana and neither has had to change the tensioners on any bike as yet. They have changed some by request. Eagle Harley has had to change cam bearings on a few pre 2001 TC motors. Doing a little math, with the bikes they've sold over the last 6 years and average miles driven per year, millions of miles have been driven without the need to change cam tensioners. Having said that, I'll probably change to gear driven the next time the motor needs to be opened.
Chris
I was starting to worry about mine as well. I've got 19,000 miles. I talked to 2 dealers here in Indiana and neither has had to change the tensioners on any bike as yet. They have changed some by request. Eagle Harley has had to change cam bearings on a few pre 2001 TC motors. Doing a little math, with the bikes they've sold over the last 6 years and average miles driven per year, millions of miles have been driven without the need to change cam tensioners. Having said that, I'll probably change to gear driven the next time the motor needs to be opened.
Chris
That being said, the new hydraulic tensioners may put more uniform pressure onto the tensions than the old spring loaded versions, but the end result is still going to be the same when the pads wear down to the metal.
So, to the reply above changing out the spring loaded tensioners IMO is a big waste of money. If your going to change out anything, toss the chains altogether and go gear drive. You reduce your moving parts content by a third, you dont have any foreign material wearing away contaminating your oil and clogging oil lines potentially and your engine reliability has just gone up 10 fold.
HD didnt go to chain drive becuase its a better more reliable setup. They went to chain drive due to EPA noise regulations, thats it.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,000
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From: NH
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
I just had a stage 2 upgrade done to my 04 EG police,9,008 miles on it,both cam chain tensioners show very little wear,i was really surprized that I could hardly catch a fingernail on the groove from the chain,I had both changed out while they were doing the kit,so i'm sure i'll be ok till next winter,when i get a gear drive set up(coin was abit short this year,(wife begging me to slow down on the accsesories,lol)
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From:
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
A freind of mine put in a new cam with a gear drive, he had about 7000 miles on his stock tensioners and they were wore pretty bad, we also cut open a oil filter from another freinds bike with 14,000 miles on it and it was full of tiny orange pieces of tensioners,[&:], not good, I will put in gear drives when mine need replaced.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 797
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor, WA
RE: Cam Tensioner Question
I was going to put gear drive cam's in my bike when I had the stage II done but the dealer told me that if I did that it would void my warranty.[:@] So I guess I'll just wait for the warranty to expire before installing gear drives.