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Cam chain tesioner on 1450 twin cam

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  • Kato
    Kato
    9 years ago
    Thanks so much to everyone that replied to my post
    It's been quite a learning curve for me
    I settled on getting my local shop mechanic to look
    At it for me when he did the 50k service

    He opened the cam chain inspection cover and looked at both of the
    Spring tensioners
    The second one on the inside of the Cam plate is bloody hard to see though I must say
    Anyway I must be lucky as I have bugger all wear on the nylon shoe attached to the cam chain spring

    So I am leaving it at that as there is hardly any wear on mine as outlined before

    So thanks again to all that replied to my initial request


    Regards i
  • fathee01
    fathee01
    5 years ago
    I have 2001 fat boy.  CHanged to the hydronic cam tensioner at 110,000 and found bits of plastic from the shoe in the oil. Should have changed at much earlier mileage.
  • Kato
    Kato
    4 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 30 Mar 2015 04:55 AM

    Thanks so much to everyone that replied to my post
    It's been quite a learning curve for me
    I settled on getting my local shop mechanic to look
    At it for me when he did the 50k service

    He opened the cam chain inspection cover and looked at both of the
    Spring tensioners
    The second one on the inside of the Cam plate is bloody hard to see though I must say
    Anyway I must be lucky as I have bugger all wear on the nylon shoe attached to the cam chain spring

    So I am leaving it at that as there is hardly any wear on mine as outlined before

    So thanks again to all that replied to my initial request


    Regards i

    An update on this post from March 2015 
    Well.............Im at 80,000 Kms now.
    Part of the rear cam chain tesioner pad has broken off (Had a look when i did an oil change)
    So perhaps i did get it in time (just though i think) 

    Im happy with 80,000 Kms from my tensioner/s so Im just going to replace those tensioner/s and not opting for the hydraulic ones as they "too" have a plastic shoe as well ??????  ( these tensioners are a bit like a serviceable item like brake pads etc i suppose ) 
    So check your tensioners even on the hydraulic ones too .........they wear too but perhaps not as quickly ??( better quality plastic / nylon used ) 

    HD want 2 grand to replace the tensioners on my bike ????? so can anyone recommend a good mechanic in Brisbane by any chance ?.

    Any recommendations  would be greatly appreciated 
  • Benno
    Benno
    4 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 30 Mar 2015 04:55 AM

    Thanks so much to everyone that replied to my post
    It's been quite a learning curve for me
    I settled on getting my local shop mechanic to look
    At it for me when he did the 50k service

    He opened the cam chain inspection cover and looked at both of the
    Spring tensioners
    The second one on the inside of the Cam plate is bloody hard to see though I must say
    Anyway I must be lucky as I have bugger all wear on the nylon shoe attached to the cam chain spring

    So I am leaving it at that as there is hardly any wear on mine as outlined before

    So thanks again to all that replied to my initial request


    Regards i

    Quoting Kato on 23 Apr 2020 06:40 AM

    An update on this post from March 2015 

    Well.............Im at 80,000 Kms now.
    Part of the rear cam chain tesioner pad has broken off (Had a look when i did an oil change)
    So perhaps i did get it in time (just though i think) 

    Im happy with 80,000 Kms from my tensioner/s so Im just going to replace those tensioner/s and not opting for the hydraulic ones as they "too" have a plastic shoe as well ??????  ( these tensioners are a bit like a serviceable item like brake pads etc i suppose ) 
    So check your tensioners even on the hydraulic ones too .........they wear too but perhaps not as quickly ??( better quality plastic / nylon used ) 

    HD want 2 grand to replace the tensioners on my bike ????? so can anyone recommend a good mechanic in Brisbane by any chance ?.

    Any recommendations  would be greatly appreciated 

    What side of town you on Kato
  • Kato
    Kato
    4 years ago

    Im on the Southside of Brisbane at Calamvale .

    I'll happily travel up to 100 Kms for good / honest service


    Cheers

  • Benno
    Benno
    4 years ago
    I use Stuart Firth in Caboolture, his business name is Firth Racing, like you I am willing to travel for the right people, there are others closer to me but he has always done a good job for me. He is HD trained ex G-Alley tech. Check out his FB page.
  • coyoty
    coyoty
    3 years ago
    Hi Kato,    82,000 ks and mine let go also.   hadnt heard of the problem and mid way through a ride i pulled up at stop sign,  just felt there was a little extra engine noise so nursed it towards home for around 100ks and stopped at some random town and phoned my mechanic.   i soon phoned my boys who came and picked up the bike and i.   Very lucky save as didnt do any damage except for plastic bits and chewed up bracket.   took opportunity to upgrade to mild cams.    im planning of inspection every 25th k as its just cost of gasket.   2000 FXST Blackline, 1450
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Quoting coyoty on 09 Aug 2020 10:12 AM

    Hi Kato,    82,000 ks and mine let go also.   hadnt heard of the problem and mid way through a ride i pulled up at stop sign,  just felt there was a little extra engine noise so nursed it towards home for around 100ks and stopped at some random town and phoned my mechanic.   i soon phoned my boys who came and picked up the bike and i.   Very lucky save as didnt do any damage except for plastic bits and chewed up bracket.   took opportunity to upgrade to mild cams.    im planning of inspection every 25th k as its just cost of gasket.   2000 FXST Blackline, 1450

    i will be going to hydraulic tensioner/s VERY soon . Its bloody expensive but theres no choice really plus i'll get some cams whilst im in there too . Good save fr you eh
  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    Had mine changed out at 110K Kms by Fearless Motorcycles here in Adelaide. (a previous post for savvy members) No need to replace cams and the primary chain tensioner was OK. I think for a service and tune, new tyre and cam chain tensioners it was about $1300


    IMG_4086 (Small).JPG
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Quoting steelo on 09 Aug 2020 10:27 AMedited: 09 Aug 2020 10:50 AM

    Had mine changed out at 110K Kms by Fearless Motorcycles here in Adelaide. (a previous post for savvy members) No need to replace cams and the primary chain tensioner was OK. I think for a service and tune, new tyre and cam chain tensioners it was about $1300


    IMG_4086 (Small).JPG

    That's cheap at $1300-00 . I assume you went hydraulic or did you stay with the spring loaded variety .

    The HD "kit" for the hydraulic Cam Chain tensioner is some $1100-00 alone . Yours looked pretty worn so lucky you got yours done eh


  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    Same type of tensioners Kato. Bike is a 2003. It's lasted 17 years on one set.
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    3 years ago
    You could do what I did. Bought a 2001 Night Train in 2009 with only 13000km. (Bit of a garage queen) Knew about the problem when I purchased the bike. Inspected as a condition of purchase, all good. Then inspected every second service to check condition. Once I started to notice more than usual wear I then went to the later cam plate and upgraded oil pump with the hydraulic tensioners and a cam upgrade. This was at 45000km. Just for piece of mind I still check but only every 5th service and they still look new.
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Quoting B0nes on 10 Aug 2020 02:51 AM

    You could do what I did. Bought a 2001 Night Train in 2009 with only 13000km. (Bit of a garage queen) Knew about the problem when I purchased the bike. Inspected as a condition of purchase, all good. Then inspected every second service to check condition. Once I started to notice more than usual wear I then went to the later cam plate and upgraded oil pump with the hydraulic tensioners and a cam upgrade. This was at 45000km. Just for piece of mind I still check but only every 5th service and they still look new.

    I’m hearing ya ..... I have thought that approach through 
    What’d that experience end up costing you 
    I assume $2500 or so ??
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    3 years ago
    Quoting B0nes on 10 Aug 2020 02:51 AM

    You could do what I did. Bought a 2001 Night Train in 2009 with only 13000km. (Bit of a garage queen) Knew about the problem when I purchased the bike. Inspected as a condition of purchase, all good. Then inspected every second service to check condition. Once I started to notice more than usual wear I then went to the later cam plate and upgraded oil pump with the hydraulic tensioners and a cam upgrade. This was at 45000km. Just for piece of mind I still check but only every 5th service and they still look new.

    Quoting Kato on 10 Aug 2020 02:55 AM

    I’m hearing ya ..... I have thought that approach through 

    What’d that experience end up costing you 
    I assume $2500 or so ??

    Been awhile but from memory it came to around $2000. This included the above items plus a carb modification and a session on the dyno
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Quoting B0nes on 10 Aug 2020 02:51 AM

    You could do what I did. Bought a 2001 Night Train in 2009 with only 13000km. (Bit of a garage queen) Knew about the problem when I purchased the bike. Inspected as a condition of purchase, all good. Then inspected every second service to check condition. Once I started to notice more than usual wear I then went to the later cam plate and upgraded oil pump with the hydraulic tensioners and a cam upgrade. This was at 45000km. Just for piece of mind I still check but only every 5th service and they still look new.

    Quoting Kato on 10 Aug 2020 02:55 AM

    I’m hearing ya ..... I have thought that approach through 

    What’d that experience end up costing you 
    I assume $2500 or so ??

    Quoting B0nes on 10 Aug 2020 10:59 AM

    Been awhile but from memory it came to around $2000. This included the above items plus a carb modification and a session on the dyno

    So ………………..with all that work done ……………….did you notice a difference in performance ???
  • Nilo
    Nilo
    2 years ago
    I pulled the cam cover off my early twin cam today to check the cam chain tensioners, the front did not seem too badly worn as per the photo and the rear one as far as I could see looked to have about the same amount of wear. I am thinking of putting the cam cover back on and checking them again in 10,000 kms but before that I would appreciate the advice of more knowledgeable people on this forum.

    Cheers, Neil (hope the photo is visible as I am computer illiterate)

    https://ibb.co/XZ9H9dc


    Harley photo.jpg
  • steelo
    steelo
    2 years ago
    They actually look quite good nilo. Either you change oil regularly or kms are low. I replaced mine on a 1450 at 120k but they were ready to let go. Many on the forum have done theirs at 80k and lower. Ateotd they cost $ compared to a catastrophic failure. 
    A02B0996-6EF5-4A9B-BE22-FBF8CC3CC416.jpeg
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    2 years ago
    Quoting Nilo on 05 Sep 2021 09:16 AM

    I pulled the cam cover off my early twin cam today to check the cam chain tensioners, the front did not seem too badly worn as per the photo and the rear one as far as I could see looked to have about the same amount of wear. I am thinking of putting the cam cover back on and checking them again in 10,000 kms but before that I would appreciate the advice of more knowledgeable people on this forum.

    Cheers, Neil (hope the photo is visible as I am computer illiterate)

    https://ibb.co/XZ9H9dc


    Harley photo.jpg
    They look fine to me. I wouldn't have a problem keeping them in and checking in another 10,000km. You could use that time to put some money aside and swap over to the upgrade cam plate and tensioners or go gear drive if your crank run-out is in spec.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    2 years ago
    My 01 TC Dyna, I bought new, was hard on the tensioner friction plates. but I used to ride it real hard! reved motor to 7,200 regularly, & did a lot of k's. had the friction plates replaced before 20k & soon after was a noise, had a look & the new tensioners had fallen apart , lucky all parts still in cam chest & never went through motor. go lucky & a mate in USA sent me a S&S gear drive, with a set of Andrews cams made to run gear drive. never looked back. have always thought money well spent but was a while back , so not sure what that would cost now, then upgraded to a 03 sporty ( LOL ) ( 88" ) but the gear drive in the 01 TC still going ( m8 has the bike )
  • steelo
    steelo
    2 years ago
    You’re a bad lad kk!!  7.2. That’d vibrate all the screws in my joints loose. 
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