Cam Gears
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Cam Gears
What's the deal with worn cam chains on the 88's?, and at about how many miles should I start watching for wear. I'll go to a geared system at that point if need be.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: Central, IN
RE: Cam Gears
You'll get all sorts of answers here. I had the same concern. I just checked mine at 19,000 miles, looks like new. No wear. My dealer says that he's only had to change out 2 cam tensioners in 17 years. I don't know if that's true or not. Just check them every 15,000 and you should be OK.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 485
Likes: 10
From: East Tennessee
RE: Cam Gears
From what I've read, the cam chain tensioner issue depends on how much you've modded. It seem to be a problem with radical high-lift cams and the required high-strength valve springs required to close the valves at high rpm. This stresses the cams rotation, hence the tensioners get increased wear. Probably reduces life expectancy of the cam bearings as well. Don Peterson has done a few columns on it for American Iron. If you're running stock or mild cams you probably are OK.
I've been trying to find someone with a stock 88 who has personal experience with tensioner failure, but nobody has responded so far.
I've been trying to find someone with a stock 88 who has personal experience with tensioner failure, but nobody has responded so far.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,437
From: SW WA.
RE: Cam Gears
ORIGINAL: RBJones
I've been trying to find someone with a stock 88 who has personal experience with tensioner failure, but nobody has responded so far.
I've been trying to find someone with a stock 88 who has personal experience with tensioner failure, but nobody has responded so far.
My 2000 had the originals replaced with cam bearings at 40K when I had a 95" kit installed and they still looked fine.
Those just came out after another 65K ( I'm at 105,000 miles now) the front one looks ok but the rear one was toast.
I'm now Running gear drive cams.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 485
Likes: 10
From: East Tennessee
RE: Cam Gears
I guess I can infer a couple of things from that: tensioner failure looks like a random thing on stock bikes, so I'm just not going to worry about it for now, and, if I do a mod, I'll install the gear cams as part of the process. Thanks for the info.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 485
Likes: 10
From: East Tennessee
RE: Cam Gears
ORIGINAL: liltrk
Three of us here...all stock with about 25,000 miles or so. All bad enough to change, one worn right into the metal.
Gear drive times three.
Three of us here...all stock with about 25,000 miles or so. All bad enough to change, one worn right into the metal.
Gear drive times three.
Please tell me Harley fixed them for you at no cost.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,090
Likes: 3,882
From: Murfreesboro , TN
RE: Cam Gears
Why would HD replace them at no cost, unless it was lin the standard warranty timeframe?
ORIGINAL: RBJones
liltrk,
Please tell me Harley fixed them for you at no cost.
ORIGINAL: liltrk
Three of us here...all stock with about 25,000 miles or so. All bad enough to change, one worn right into the metal.
Gear drive times three.
Three of us here...all stock with about 25,000 miles or so. All bad enough to change, one worn right into the metal.
Gear drive times three.
Please tell me Harley fixed them for you at no cost.
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
RE: Cam Gears
I started another post here on the same subject. I have 40K on a 2000 Rk. Going in today for a look see. My dealer said the worst they have seen had over 55K and were still OK. I'll let you know for sure in a couple of days.
If you HD motor is noisy, you need louder pipes...
Chiz
If you HD motor is noisy, you need louder pipes...
Chiz