103 twin cam hydraulic tensioners. advice needed
#1
01-18-2019 | 01:38 PM
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: georgia
103 twin cam hydraulic tensioners. advice needed
I have a 2014 heritage with the 103 tc engine at 47,000 miles. I ride easy most of the time. I run mobile1 20x50 syn oil and change it every 5000 or less. I need advice concerning the cam chain tensioners. I live on a budget and have to do my own wrenching. I don't mine when needed but I keep getting told my folks at the local dealers that replacing the cam chain tensioner shoes on 2007+ models is not needed. they tell me the new shows don't wear out and cause issues like in 2006 and prior. I am looking to you folks that I feel I can trust to offer your advice and experiences with the new hydraulic tensioners. If I need to replace them it will be shoe replacement and not looking to go gear drive or other updrades. Please let me know your advice.
#2
01-19-2019 | 09:03 AM
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 243
Likes: 13
From: St. Michael, MN
I have a 2014 heritage with the 103 tc engine at 47,000 miles. I ride easy most of the time. I run mobile1 20x50 syn oil and change it every 5000 or less. I need advice concerning the cam chain tensioners. I live on a budget and have to do my own wrenching. I don't mine when needed but I keep getting told my folks at the local dealers that replacing the cam chain tensioner shoes on 2007+ models is not needed. they tell me the new shows don't wear out and cause issues like in 2006 and prior. I am looking to you folks that I feel I can trust to offer your advice and experiences with the new hydraulic tensioners. If I need to replace them it will be shoe replacement and not looking to go gear drive or other. Please let me know your advice.
I also have a Rushmore, 2015 RGS, with 48k on it. While the general consensus is that the tensioner shoes on the newer hydraulic style are better & are less prone to failure, the Indy mechanic I get my oil & tires from recommended that I at least take a look at them at around 50k, so that’s what I did. The outer shoe looks good, maybe only .015” of wear, but the advice I’ve received regarding the internals on these engines at this mileage isn’t that tensioner shoes are of concern, but rather the lifters & inner cam bearings are possible items of concern. I’ve had a few shops tell me that if my bike were their bike, that they wouldn’t put it back together without changing out the lifters & ICB’s as these components are prone to failure, which is an expensive chance to take.
so I’m in the midst of figuring out what cams to get since I’ll have it that far apart, might as well cam it.
my maintenance habits mirror yours, fwiw
Hopefully others who have more expertise than I will comment, but that’s just what I’ve been advised to do.
#3
01-19-2019 | 07:39 PM
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,257
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From: san antonio
At 47K miles, it is worth a look. Having said that, once you have opened the cam chest, might as well pull the cam plate/pump, install a set of CYCO tensioners, swap inner cam bearings for a set of full compliment bearings and, if not interested in a cam upgrade, button the cam chest back up and call it a day. HD says service life for lifters, even back in the day of the "B" lifter, was 25K miles, so replacing the OEM lifters with a set of S&S standards would be a wise move. This will require a bit more work assuming you retain the OEM pushrods which would also be a good idea but all could be done on a Saturday in a few hours if all the parts and tools are in hand. Parts are not that expensive and you will know the cam chest is solid. Might as well check crank runout while at it.
#5
01-20-2019 | 06:11 AM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Ky
I would suggest you research the rensioner in the primary, from what I know it's a ratcheting adjuster that tends to over tighten (hot and cold cycles) then puts excessive tension to the transmission output shaft and wears the output bearing (which is a cheap bearing that has plastic spacers between each ball bearing instead of more bearings) .
#6
01-20-2019 | 06:51 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,647
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by fjkpan
I keep getting told my folks at the local dealers that replacing the cam chain tensioner shoes on 2007+ models is not needed. they tell me the new shows don't wear out and cause issues like in 2006 and prior. I am looking to you folks that I feel I can trust.
#7
01-21-2019 | 05:12 AM
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#8
02-24-2019 | 07:53 PM
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 325
Likes: 193
From: Brick NJ
I bought the Zippers dual piston tensioners, just because. I pulled the motor apart at 30K for a 103 kit and cam change, there was barely any wear on the stock tensioner. I did replace the lifters with Hylift Johnsons and put the SE cam plate and oil pump, not needed, but......
Last edited by Dave0176; 02-24-2019 at 07:55 PM.
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