I need some general info if anyone can help. Got 20k on my rushmore. For those of you that have done over 20k, have any of you had inner cam bearings go, and have you had to change the plastic cam shoes?
Should I be tearing the cam cover off to check and swap things? I know there's plenty of stories about both letting go, but would like to hear from people that have actually done over 20k, not just people that have a mate who knows a guy who's bike imploded at just over 20k.
I service my own bike and oil etc changed every 3-5 k depending on where I've riden.
Thanks in advance.

 

I have 28K on my 15 Roadglide. No issues with cam or bearings. I did replace the lifters at 15k. They are cheap POS. I put in S&S. I have also changed out wheel bearings.

 

What year was his bike? I have not heard of 1 cam bearing failure on a late model twin cam.

 

After you switch to s&s are you considered done now. That is, no more lifter worries. Just looking for a general answer.

 

Oakspeed. You don't have to worry. The cam bearings and tensioners have not been an issue since Harley went to the hydraulic tensioner in 2007. The old spring loaded tensioners on some of the prior models could come apart and take out the oil pump and cam bearings..

 

By the way I am at 30 thousand all is good..

 

Thanks. That was what I was trying to find out. Plenty of tales of woe on the Internet, but i've not met anyone that it's happened to.
Is there a time period/mileage for swapping out the cam shoes. I know they wear down but not sure at what mileage they are usually done for.
PS. Thanks for all the replies.

 

I just installed Andrews 48H cams, inner cam bearings, S&S adjustable pushrods and S&S premium lifters. The stock inner cam bearings looked fine to me before I pulled them, though I couldn't say whether or not they would have needed changing otherwise. Both inner and outer chain tensioner shoes didn't appear excessively worn or in need of replacement, so I didn't. The bike had 20,150 miles at the time.

 

I have 43,000 on mine with no problems. About 30,000 on long trips.

 

119,000 on my 09, same part number for inner cam bearings and tensioners as the Rushmore, still original. Original lifters too, although I know there have been reports of supplier/quality control issues on some of the newer lifters.