Waited to late...
Tourer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Chelsea, AL
I just had the hyd update done to mine just recently after the old tensioners and a bad lifter took out everything in the camchest. I now have the new style tensioners, new cams, new cam chains, updated oil pump, and new lifters. My engine has never run this quiet before. Now only some roller rocker noise that is very mild. I used to have the problem with oil out the breathers, and now that too has gone away. I'm very happy with my choice to do the upgrade.
I may have the rockers clearanced later to see if it all goes away.
I may have the rockers clearanced later to see if it all goes away.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
Now if you are looking for an excuse to upgrade, this is good an excuse as you will get. The '07 OEM hydraulic tensioner/roller chain setup will last a long time; just don't hear of any failures. Tensioer material is same a primary and tension is from oil pressure, not springs. There are some pretty reasonable "kits" that include all the hardware, new inner cam bearings, gasket and cams. You will have to go with the conversion cams unless you opt fo the MoCo upgrade kit that includes the billet plate, hydraulic tensioners, upgraded oil pump, outer roller chain, inner Morse chain which will allow you to use stock or other aftermarket cams. This is probably the cheapest route; if you go with the '07 OEM plate kit, you will need the inner sprocket with ignition trigger ring which adds to the cost.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
The OP has spring tensioner system ... '06 and later (yours) has hydraulic tensioner system ....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
Well I waited to late to check my cam chain tensioner. Inside one was almost completely gone. Looks like its time for new cams, oil pump, lifters, and of course tensioner. Man this sucks.
They had been replaced at 11,780 miles, bike now has 37,500. So right around 25,720 miles is all it took.
Guess I have some choices to make...gear drive or not...different cam or not...
They had been replaced at 11,780 miles, bike now has 37,500. So right around 25,720 miles is all it took.
Guess I have some choices to make...gear drive or not...different cam or not...
As I understand it would allow you to keep your silent chain drive and use cams designed for your 2000 model year motor ....
I believe the '06 and later hydraulic cam support plates, as well as the Screamin Eagle kit and the Fueling kit, utilize 'parent material' bearing (i.e. no bearing) for the cams vice the ball bearing/roller bearing system used in this kit as well as on your OEM cam support plate ....
Although I am not aware of any issues that have arisen or increased failure rate of the late-style (no-bearing) cam plates, the design has been criticized as going cheap and adding unnecessary risk ....
The 'down side' of the hybrid system is that it requires you to press your bearings out and back in during the replacement process (although there is a freezer/oven technique that can be used as well ... particularly if going with aftermarket cam--you don't have to press your cams out of the old cam plate ... aftermarket cam kits often provide new ball/roller bearings for the installation) ....
Thought I'd throw this up there for your consideration ....
R/
'Chop
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: Christiana, Tn
So I think I have decided to go with the SE upgrade kit and the SE 203 cams(these are the cams I had to start with). This just seems like the best setup for the money. I know a lot of people will not agree with me but I just can't see the gear drive set up being worth the money to me.
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Joe Kucinski
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
From: Texas
What is the difference in money? I figured the gear drive would be cheaper than a new cam kit with plate, oil pump, and all the chains and whistles. My old 2000 FLHRCI has about 50,000 miles on synthetic so I'm probably looking at one or the other myself.
Do all gear drives have to be under .030" on the crank run out? Or what? too noisy or premature wear?
Interesting discussion, thanks for the advice.
Do all gear drives have to be under .030" on the crank run out? Or what? too noisy or premature wear?
Interesting discussion, thanks for the advice.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,779
Likes: 2,609
From: san antonio
So I think I have decided to go with the SE upgrade kit and the SE 203 cams(these are the cams I had to start with). This just seems like the best setup for the money. I know a lot of people will not agree with me but I just can't see the gear drive set up being worth the money to me.