Leaving on 3000 km trip from Calgary on Saturday. Stopped at stealer yesterday just to get a few things looked at so I felt ok with the trip. When I was there mech opened up primary inspection on 05 ultra. 4000 km on her and says primary was chain was set to tight, yet they did service 1 month ago..HMMM. Anyways he made chain looser and took some oil out.HMMMM
Question..If ya put your hand into inspection cover and push up on the chain up top, how much play should be there..Also if bike level and ya are looking at the plastic piece the chain runs along on the bottom..where should the oil level be in respect to the top or bottom of the white plastic chain guide unit..At this time the chain has say a bit over 1/2 inch play from where it is to where ya can push it up to without much force..And the lube is sitting just a bit over the bottom of the chain guide..So most of the guide is out of the oil.???

 

I don't know the specs on your ultra but on my Softail, the chain is to have 3/8" - 5/8" play hot and 5/8" - 7/8" play cold. I made the tool suggested by Bill and that's what I use to measure the play. The oil level should be at or just below the bottom of the plastic runner.

 

The chain sounds ok, the oil should be up to the bottom of the clutch pack when viewed through the derby (big) cover on the primary cover. Over fill it and you will have a difficult time shifting, and trouble finding neutral. There are also specs that you can use in the owners manual for the correct ounces to refill after a drain.

 

Hello, I have a 2005 Ultra and do all service myself. At 500 miles the primary chain was not adjusted. Checked, but no adjustment. At 1000 miles I did adjust it and noted that I had to tighten the foot. At 2000 miles again I checked the primary and again required tightening. Now I noticed Harley is offering a new chain tensioner in the 06 Parts Book. Well I ordered it along with the huge metal gasket and Primary oil. It took me 90 minutes from running to running to install it. Including extra cleaning of old oil residue. After the final check and me cutting the ty-wrap to release the shoe to adjust itself and torquing the bolts, I noticed that the chain was now somewhat snug. Moving the primary chain prior to releasing the foot resulted in the recommended 1 inch travel of the chain. After the ty-wrap was cut and the adjuster allowed to set itself, there was little movement in the primary chain. The shoe did move somewhat as per the instructions. Well what does this tell me??? Harley doesnt mind the chain to be snug as long as it can compensate for cold and warm operation. My bike feels much tighter and I feel I have taken a service point away from further adjustment. I,m very happy with this! Anyone can do this with minimum fuss or experience. Peter

 

What was the total cost of this upgrade.

 

What's this tool that you speak of? I've seen the ones that they sell but I'd rather make one if I can. Look forwatd to your reply.

 

Look here: https://www.hdforums.com/m_73370/tm.htm

 

I got tired of always checking my primary chain so I went to J&P's catalogand ordered the hydraulic chain tensioner they sell.

Once installed it takes the place of the stock Harley manual tensioner.It took about a hour to install, and when I fired the bike up, the hydraulic tensioner fill up with oil and now keeps my primary chain at the correct tension all the time. Best $100 I ever spent...

 

I just used a big L-shaped allen wrench as a gauge to check the free-play in the chain.

 

I kinda did what 99 did except I used a 3/8 rachet and deep socket to get under/inbetween chain.Used a 6"scale held by the one of the screws on the cover for the measurent.

The chain will have a lot of play when adjusted to spec.