I purchased a Hayden M6 tensioner to solve the problem of my 24 tooth compensator sprocket leaving too much tension in the primary chain.

Bike is a '96 FXDWG but with a '98 clutch basket.


Assuming I have the Hayden set up right, there is still lots of slack in the chain and it actually touches the roof of the tensioner.




I know the most likely reply will be to buy a shorter chain or a larger compensator, (I think stock was 25T?), but I'm holding out hope there is another method or something I'm forgetting that will fix this setup.

FWIW, mock up with a 25T straight sprocket and the stock tensioner gave me correct tension, though I had to pull the tensioner pretty much to the top of the slide to do so. Thanks!

 

The chains do stretch.

I put a Hayden in once and the springs failed on it stretching the **** out of my chain.
I was 40 miles from home when I first heard the chain slapping the inside of the primary.

I think you need a shorter chain which I'm fairly certain is available from Baker.
BTW Baker doesn't recommend the Hayden M6.

 

It looks as if you are mixing the wrong parts! I used an M6 with complete satisfaction for many happy years and with no problems whatever. As Texas points out Baker don't like them, so I have begrudgingly gone back to a stock style tensioner, having installed a DD6. I doubt if any tensioner will take out the slack caused by using the wrong length chain.

 

You can use that 24 tooth with the stock chain and a Baker fat shoe on the OEM tensioner.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/693-052

Here's a chart for different gears with required chain link count (82 is stock) and whether the fat shoe is needed.

 

Looking at the picture with the 25t, you still may need a new chain.