Took my 05 RG in for the 30K service and had them check the Cam Chain Tensioners due to other threads on here saying get this done at 30K or even less. I was told this was not a common request (?????) but I wanted it done. Good thing I did because the inner one (the hard one to see) only had at best 20% left and the outer was at about 50%. The dealer knows this is a problem and so does headquarters. Why won't they issue a stinking recall on these things???? Good thing I bought it from them and also got a 2 year extended warranty from them.
Here were my choices:
1. Use the extended warranty and replace it as is and my out of pocket is the deductable. If they do this job out of warranty the parts and labor cost is $210+$333(3.75 hrs of labor)=$543.
2. Use the extended warranty and replace it with an updated hydraulic tensioner and they would only cover the labor cost but I would have to buy the parts for $501. This job out of warranty is $501+$333(3.75 hrs of labor)=$834.
3. Go with gear drive but that involved even more parts and cost out of pocket than I wanted to get into.
I raised hell with them but that is the best they could do so I went for door #2. If I went with #1 I would be looking at the same problem at 60K miles or less and it would be out of warranty by then. #1 would not be correcting the problem and they told me they have seen bikes with less than 30K come in with them completely gone. Also if they come apart it will clog the oil pump and destroy the engine. I guess I could have let it go and gamble it nukes the engine before my warranty expires and they would pay for a new motor.

Lession learned? I bought a used 05 RG that I had only put about 3K miles on and it needed a major repair that should be a factory defect recall. I have 1 1/2 yrs left on the warranty so it may end up paying for itself. From what I read they started with the hydraulic tensioner in 07 and they said they have not had to replace a single one from that year forward.
I hope one day there will be a recall so I am saving my bill to get my money back!

 

I guess no matter what you put in there short of gear drive will eventually wear out in time.......Its like brake shoes in your car in my mind.......Are you mechanically inclined at all?? Do it yourself?? I would........the service manual is a wonderful tool...........

 

If you are going to keep the bike, fork over the money and go with the hydraulic upgrade. Buy the parts at one of the online dealers and save some money. If they are covering the labor, should only run ya about $400

 

Do it yourself. The parts are not that expensive. If it concerns you get the hydraulic setup. The big chunk of that bill is the actual labor. If you are going to do gear drive you must measure your crank run out to make sure it is in spec before instlaling the gear drives. But...you will not have to ever do this again.

 

I have all the parts to change mine out (still debating on going the hydraulic setup)......but i'm holding off at the moment....thinking about dropping a set of cams in since I'll be in there anyways.

 

To clarify:
I probably could have done it myself but it was already in for repairs AND the labor was covered by warranty. I figured I would at least get somthing out of the warranty. They tried to talk me into gear drive and changing cams- that would have lead to new pipes, retuning on dyno AND labor out of my pocket.

 

I'm facing the same situation, as I've just learned of the need to open up the right side of the engine and have these things changed. I also found it frustrating that a part that is so crucial, and so prone to failure, would not be something included in the regular maintenance -- at least for checking it! I've got a '05 Ultra with 38K and also was debating the hydraulic upgrade -- but don't want to drop 2x the $$$ at this time for the revision. I'll see what kind of condition the factory installed "shoes" are in and then calculate the future check/replacement schedule for the next pair.

I share your frustration, but don't hold your breath for a recall.... That would be tantamount to a mistake, when in fact they are making some good $$$ for the regular replacement schedule for all the prior bikes sold.......

 

I just checked my 05 Ultra today, it's got 31,000 on it and I was surprised at how good the tensioners looked. Still running dino oil and change it every 2500 miles. But I ride it like an old man.

 

The MOCO is getting paid BIG TIME for screwing up on this deal. In my book that SUX big time That just AIN'T right!!!!!!

 

Given there have been failures before 30K and after 30K that should be automatic inspection/replacement time across the board. From what i read it does not matter if you are using syn or dino lubricant. I would hate to be in the middle of nowhere on a trip and this thing fails and nukes the motor-especially if you are out of warranty. At least the MOCO should say "replace them every 30K miles no matter what" and for free if within warranty. With my extended warranty they were going to replace them for just the deductable cost so it would have almost been free. HOWEVER they would not have known it was bad if I had not TOLD them to open it up and look. Going the free route would not have "fixed" the problem and it would have been back within 30K miles. Reliability means a lot to me.