Have you had any problems with your Tensioners ...Lets beat this horse one more time please...so at 30k in miles I can change my 88s out and do the new ones or go grear drive and I will not ask about that cause I have read page after page on the subject....I just want to know if it is a problem on the 96 motors yet...Thank you all...
Take A Hard Ride

 

I've heard of a few isolated problems with late-model tensioners, but very few. I changed cams at 25k and one tensioner was like new (minor scratches) and the other had minimal wear, probably 90% remaining. I didn't see a need to replace them but will check them in another few years. I understand the wear difference in the new vs. old tensioner design wasn't so much the tensioners themselves or the fact that they are hydraulic, but that the newer chains are less abrasive. Some wore out fast with the old "quiet" chain setup, like around 20k, and some lasted as long as 70k--and the oil brand or type doesn't seem to be a factor.

I would go with either the HD or Andrews hydraulic upgrade, as that is a cheaper option than gears, are quieter, and likely no less reliable. Gears require crank run-out to be minimal, so you'd have to insure this before committing.

 

Just had the 40K mile service performed and have had no issues with bike since new, period. None of my buddies with the 96" engine have had tensioner problems either.

 

Just had mine out today. Looked like brand new. Wait. They are brand new. NVM.

 

I'm on my 2nd bike with the 96, no issues yet.

 

33K+ on my '07 and no motor trouble yet.

 

Thanks Iclick and all the others...so it will be new upgrade for me with new bearings....
Having a Hard Ride

 

FWIW, I have an '08 that had the "old style" material (brownish color) and at 30,000 they were quite worn.

The "new style" (light cream color) seems to be lasting longer.

 

At 55k miles on my Road Glide I had the cam and primary tensioners checked because I got paranoid with the few isolated war stories on this forum. The mechanic invited me to come into the shop to visually inspect them once he had the covers off. Each of them looked almost brand new, with only the very slightest signs of wear. I suspect that they would go another 55k miles easily.

 

I had one of the isolated problems, when I did the cam swap I inspected them and the outer one was in great shape, the inner had a material defect. It looked like the molded plastic had air bubbles in it. It still had very little wear but the surface was rough so I replaced it.

I still wouldn't worry about it, very few problems with them in general as everyone has stated.