If you change your oil at 3K intervals the difference between the Dino oil and synthetic is so minimal that cam tension wear would be show virtually no difference. The wear comes from the rough spots on the chain. The cam tensioner material is a relatively hard phenolic material but it still is softer that the chain. Guess who wins in the wear department. I had my changed out at 40K when I had my Wide Glide. Believe me they were almost completely gone. I asked several techs where I got my bike serviced and at other dealers and got the same answer. At 3k intervals the wear issue here would not have changed the way the pads wore.

 

I went gear drive at 30,000 and I put in hq 0034's, anywho my tensioners would go another 30,000, or so it seemned, hardly any wear, Amsoil baby!!

 

I checked mine a couple weeks ago and they looked just about like yours (maybe a bit less wear). I bolted the cover back up and said good for another year.

Oh yeah checked at 30600 mi.

 

After 30K, those are some of the best looking shoes I've seen. Especially the inner one.
Enjoy the new cams.

 

Mine had almost as much wear at 30000.

 

I changed mine at 22,500, they were worn, but fine for a while longer I guess. The next 20,00 will see a new drive, possibly these hydraulic tensioners. My ? is, can I use My SE 203 cams?

 

Yeah, the Hyd. upgrade still uses all chain driven cams. So whatever cam is in there now will work just fine with the new kit.

 

I'm not sure if I agree with your first 2 statements. I disagree with the synthetic statement, my opinion on synthetic is it would make a difference. This is just an opinion based on the noticeable drop in wear metals on UOA's for trucks and bike both. I am not saying synthetic will fix HD's **** poor design.

I believe the chain tensioner wear comes from having a spring loaded tensioner applying too much pressure on chain all the time. When I replaced chain tensioner on my 02 I could not believe how much tension the springs had. If the chain was the problem wouldn't HD have changed the chain instead of the tensioner design?

 

HD changed the design and material of the tensioner pads and the chain as well. The kit includes a new chain, sprockets, higher capacity oil pump and billet cam plate.

 

is the same cam tension system on the 07 or what is different about the 07, better or worse?