how do you check crank run out? bike is an 06 softail standard.

 

With some relatively specialized equipment. Involves using a dial or test indicator and rotating the engine to see how much the crankshaft is running out from zero. .003 inch or less (less is better) is pretty much required to use gear drive cams. Your '06 would be a candidate to at least have it checked to see. That is if you are willing to spend the money. Much depends on what your plans are for the engine.

 

Yeah, it is something a shop would have the equipment to do.
I know people that threw them in themselves without checking.
But i definitely would not.

 

... Just Checked mine last week at 30.000 , Here's a Couple of PICs

They Looked like New , Put a New Gasget on and back together ..

 

thanks denny a picture is worth a thousand words in this case at least. that helps alot.

 

.... any time , seems Like some tensioners wear faster than others Good Luck on yours .

 

I may be stupid but when I took mine down I saw no way whatsoever to view the wearing surface of the inner tensioner shoe... mirrors, lights, you name it. You cannot tell if it is starting to pit and thus self destruct unless you pull the cam support plate and pull the cams or use a special tool to open the tensioner without removing the cams. You must see the >surface< of the shoe.

In my opinion there are three things that will help this problem... 1. buy adjustable push rods and cut the originals, support the lifters with magnets, and pull the cam support plate replacing the tensioners every 25-30k miles. 2. Use synthetic oil. 3. Keep your engine temperature as low as you can through non-EPA compliant AFR fuel mixture ratios and/or an oil cooler.

You can also change out your cams and cam support plate to one that uses roller chains on BOTH sides and use 2. and 3. above.

C#

 

Had about 1/16" of wear on mine at 16,000, but I don't know the bikes history before 15,000, so take that for what it's worth.