how do you check the pads on the hyd tensioners,does the pressure bleed of when it sits,i have an 07 flhtc 53k

 

I checked mine at 25k during my cam job and only one had any wear at all, and that was practically none, maybe 90% remaining. I didn't replace either of them. Truckdave is only the second person I've heard about who's had problems with the late-model tensioners, both for the same reason. I have no plans of checking mine again, but may sometime in the future begin checking my oil filter media after an oil change for any signs of a tensioner breaking-up. I don't think any owner of an '07 or later touring bike needs to worry about tensioners until the bike accumulates very high mileage, probably >100k miles.

 

That's unusually high durability for the early tensioners, but not unheard of. A friend with a 2000 WG had his checked at 70k and they were on the brink of going metal-to-metal. That's the longest mileage I've heard of, but some don't even make it to 20k, and the type or brand of oil doesn't seem to be a factor. Some think it was a quality-control issue where tensioners wore-out at unpredictable intervals.

 

Hey iclick, do you remember awhile back seeing someone on HTT that found their hydraulic tensioner plunger was installed wrong from the factory? Seems I remember seeing something about that. I'm sure that might be the cause for abnormal wear on some if there were more than a few that got put together wrong.

 

Found it http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index....html#msg315006

 

Here's a new upper limit: At 70,000 I still had 60% on both shoes. At 82,000, the inner had broken in two, the second half riding b/w the chain and metal tensioner. Someone told me that because I had the first Screaming Eagle FLTRSEI, my motor had been hand built and toleranced more closely than production motors, another told me it was my use of synthetics. Frankly I think I just got lucky.

Now there's a video out about problems with the new hydraulic units. I suspect that those problems are few and far between. But if I had tensioners, ( and I don't now,) I'd make checking them part of my 20,000 mile service regimen regardless of model year.

 

when I bought my 06 ultra I did not know anything about tensioners mine went out
at 30000 took out the oil pump witch took out the engine. Good thing I had the
extened warrenty. New engine for 50 dollars

 

The "dealer" doesn't know what he's talking about. I'm guessing the "dealer" is just a salesman or girl. The '07 and later bikes plus the '06 Dynas have a totally different system than earlier Twin Cams. Check your service manual, does it list check cam change tensioners at the 20000 mile service. Mine doesn't!

 

57000 miles here and just did the cam swap... had approx 90% of the shoes left on the tensioners...Put them back in...can't buy the shoe only can you? i was told $45 for the tensioners...I may open the cam chest up again as i didn't change the cam plate o-rings like some dumb ***....Bike runs good though...good oil pressure...rode about 250 miles today and it ran great..

 

Nope can't buy the pad separately.