K guys I just helped my son upgrade from his Sportster XL883C to a 2004 Softail TC88 with 33k miles on it. So of course our worry is the Cam Chain tensioner systems. He doesn't have allot of cash on hand but we are aware this need to be address ASAP. So my question is do we just have the tensioner shoes replaced because they should last 20-30k miles at least we hope so. Do we do the HD screaming eagle upgrade kit or is there a less expensive/more cost effective way or are there good aftermarket upgrade kits that anyone can recommend?
Once again thanks in advance for all your help.

 

I would just pull the cam cover off and inspect the tensioners. Most likely it is not a problem. Like alot of things in life, this issue is sales driven.

If you do find a bunch of debris from tensioners in the cavity, you can just replace the tensioners. You can buy a kit with gaskets and everything for less than $70.00 And you won't have to mess with it again for another 30k miles, give or take.

Just my .02

 

Well just in my opinion any job worth doing is worth doing right.

For me I paid for it to be done. I had found a ton of orange chunks in my oil. I'm pretty dang handy, I've built a few bikes ect. but I didn't have all the right tools to do the job.

When I had a guy do mine I did a cam at the same time while I was in there. It was around 1,000 bucks for all of that plus the tune.

I was quoted around 500 bucks for just the tensioner

 

Gear cams.

Do it once, do it right.

 

I have an '04, and I just had mine replaced. I Bought the bike used a little over a year ago. Didn't have any real knowledge of the history of the bike and what had been done to it in any way. I put about 3500 miles on it last year. I didn't want to find out the hard way I needed new tensioners. I had mine replaced along with lots of other preventative maintenance done so I could ride in peace. Save up for it if you have to get the bike in the best running condition it can be in. 500-700 bucks is worth it to me too make sure I can worry more about what going on around me than if my cams are going to start bouncing around in the case. If you can afford it or are going to keep it forever.. go gear driven cams.

 

I bought an 04 last spring with 31k miles knowing I would need to replace shoes. Bought some cyco shoes and stuffed Andrews 26 cams in it. I could have replaced the shoes and cam bearings but I figured while I'm there. Plus I got a screaming deal on a pcv auto tune. Its not hard to do just time consuming. Don't forget to replace inner can bearings with updated ones.

 

I am going to switch to S&S gear drive cams (509G) on my 2005 Heritage (88 CI EFI) that has 30,000 miles and the cam chain tensioner has to go. It's expensive to switch, but I won't have to worry about it anymore. Ron 😎

 

Fueling upgrade kit. New billet support plate, higher volume oil pump and the newer style tensioners.

 

I've got the gear drives but didn't need them til the cam shoes wore out at 81,000 miles. I doubt you'll go that far but inspect yours first. I wouldn't be surprised if you're not good for another 20,000 miles.

 

I just replaced my cams and tensioners for a gear drive set. I probably could have gone a bit more on the tensioners before they failed, but had bought all of the parts. The dependability was the main reason I made the swap. The improved performance of the better cams was a bonus.

I did all of the work myself, so it was pretty reasonable, all things considered. I like knowing that I don't have to worry about it again.

Ride safe!