I just had my TC-88 torn down to have the SE cam tensioner upgrade and big bore kit done. The bike is a 2006 FLHX with 41,000 miles. I thought I would report what I found.

Cam tensioners were barely worn. I measured the wear at .028" and the service manual calls for replacement when wear reaches .090". So they had many, many miles left on them. They did have the usual pitting, but no cracks or chips. Both the front and rear tensioners were worn identically. Pictures below.

I should also mention that every other component of the motor showed minimal wear. Piston skirts, rings, cylinders, lifters, cams and bearings all looked fantastic. I could have left the motor alone and gone 100,000 without a problem.

I know people have reported failures at early mileage, but I must say, based on what I see, this is a stout motor. I ride it aggressively and am not afraid to hit the red line.

 

Interesting, thanks for the post. What oils were you running and changes?

 

Those cam tensioners look pretty good, for cam tensioners. In my '02 RKC, my cam tensioners were shot by 15,000. I went with gear drive cams to solve the problem.

Glad everything worked out well for you.

 

Motor gets Mobile V-Twin 20W-50 full synthetic every 5,000. Or 6,000. Depending on when I get around to changing it.

 

That's great to hear. Do you think its just a problem with the 96 then?

 

Mine looked like that too, all the way to 75,000 miles. I checked them about every 10,000, and at 81,000 the inner was more than halfway worn and broken in two. Went with gear drives at that time.

The earlier motors ( 99 to 02,) are exceptionally strong and the "midway motors" (2003 to 2006,) still seem pretty decent too.

Some do seem to last longer than others....

 

changed mine to the new type at about 40000 miles, my frount one looked like that but the back one had a crack in it right down the center, if I had of waited it would have failed that summer, and knowing my luck it would have been half way between Chicago and LA on our Rt. 66 trip on a sunday 100 miles from nowhere

 

Just never know until you get in there.

Hey, my wife and I did Route 66 to the Grand Canyon this summer. Great trip.

 

How did you know you needed them that early? Did your engine make noise? I have a 2003 with 19k, and I want to wait until 30k to upgrade.

 

Replaced Tensioners in my 2001 RK @ about 20K miles...Rear Tensioner had @ 90% Wear and Front Tensioner had @10%...Went with SS 510 Gear Drive Setup..Man is that nice, just a small little whine that I Love to hear..75HP 85TQ