Tensioners: Springs vs Hyrdaulic vs Gear Drive
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,244
Likes: 3,268
From: west Michigan
A couple of years ago, my brother had S&S 510Gs installed in his '04 Heritage which had almost 50K miles on it. The tensioner shoes were about half worn and the chains didn't flex too much. I checked the tensioners in my '04 Road King w/43k miles last summer and they didn't look too bad. My brother runs Mobil 1 and I run SYN 3. I might cheap-out on my 95" build and just install new tensioner shoes along with cams , Torrington bearings and new lifters. I plan to use the stock push rods.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Northern Calif.
I've been on the fence myself, my I Indy recomends gear if your crank can take it, plenty of choices for cams. If set up right the gears shouldn't be loud, if they are, something ain't right (lash) But ya won't know in regards to the gears till ya check the run out, should be done anyway regardless what you put in, could save you $$$$ and heartache.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Cape Breton NS
A couple of years ago, my brother had S&S 510Gs installed in his '04 Heritage which had almost 50K miles on it. The tensioner shoes were about half worn and the chains didn't flex too much. I checked the tensioners in my '04 Road King w/43k miles last summer and they didn't look too bad. My brother runs Mobil 1 and I run SYN 3. I might cheap-out on my 95" build and just install new tensioner shoes along with cams , Torrington bearings and new lifters. I plan to use the stock push rods.
I'm thinking about the Andrews 21 or 26, leaning to the 21 but I'm trying to find out the final gear ratio is on the cop bikes, then ask for help choosing.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Cape Breton NS
Thanks, I had heard cop bikes had a different final gear ratio than civilian bikes, at 70MPH my tach is on 3000RPM, don't wanna hijack, so I'll start another thread about this.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 769
Likes: 8
From: Brooksdale, ON
Just go with the SE cam plate upgrade, for about $330 you get a new cam plate, oil pump and new style hydraulic tensioners. then go with the andrews cam of choice or bolt a SE 211 into it and see the difference. I would also look at a tw50 andrews cam. the new upgrade allows you to run with your pre 07 cams with the new tensionsers
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Boston & thereabouts
Runout
How likely is it the runout on my bike will be small enough to allow gear drive cams? Do I need to get in there with an indicator and measure it? If it's ok now, will it stay that way?
How much work to install the upgrade kit compared to gear drive? Do I still have to take the cams out? Take the pushrods out?
Any/all help much appreciated.
JR
2004 RK
Last edited by JR-Boston; Oct 21, 2009 at 03:27 PM. Reason: expanded
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Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
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From: deland,florida
go with the geardrive,if your runouts too much for the geardrive,youve got other,more important probs to take care of than cams(your lower end,aint gunna re-true by itself)only prob we`ve ever seen with runout & gear drives is a customer with a bagger had a 103",high compresion,big cam hotrod built by the local dealer and didnt weld lower end,took it out to the dragstrip,shifted his f/wheels and broke a gear & cam plate(pinion was out .038.)which would have munged up the chain set up too
kirby
vee twin racing
kirby
vee twin racing
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Boston & thereabouts
Old Pushrods ok With Old Cams?
If I go with just the HD chain tensioner upgrade kit, and put the old cams back in, do I need to replace the pushrods?
I'm thinking the reason we cut the old pushrods out and put in new EZ Adjust pushrods is to accommodate a new cam set's greater lift.
Am I on the right track here?
JR
I'm thinking the reason we cut the old pushrods out and put in new EZ Adjust pushrods is to accommodate a new cam set's greater lift.
Am I on the right track here?
JR