Re: Cam bearing tensioners - replacement questionsOn Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:04:15 GMT, John Albert <j.albert@snet,net >
wrote:
>Have something you like on me while I ask for your advice...
>
>I've got a 2000 Road Glide, with 99,999 on the odometer (pic
>may appear at the binary group next door).
>
>The cam and cam bearing (which was problematic with bikes
>built in late 1999, like mine) was changed out early in the
>bike's life, before I had any trouble with them, and has
>never been a problem.
>
>The outboard cam tensioner broke at 60,000 while on an
>overnight trip to Vermont a few years' back. I was lucky
>enough to get to Wilkins HD in Barre, and they took it in
>and fixed it up on the spot. At the time, the tech who did
>the work said that the _inboard_ tensioner looked ok, and
>since changing that would have involved significantly more
>work (and time), I let it go.
>
>But lately I'm getting a little more noise out of the cam
>area of the bike with the engine under power, and I reckon
>it's time to get that inboard tensioner (actually, both of
>them) changed out. It's not making a racket, but something
>is whisperin' that the tensioners are nearing the end of
>their life.
>
>I recall the Wilkin's tech guy saying that to remove the cam
>bearing plate and get access to the inboard tensioner, the
>head covers have to come off (pushrods, I assume). So this
>leads me to think that there might be TWO ways to have the
>tensioners swapped out:
>
>First [standard?] way: pull the head covers, do the work
>"down below", reinstall head covers with solid pushrods.
>
>But could there be a "second way", that is, cut the existing
>pushrods, do the work, then replace with _adjustable_
>pushrods? Could the rods then be adjusted into shape withOUT
>having to remove the heads? I'm thinking "saved time and
>saved expense". Not sure if the HD service techs think the
>same way...
>
>Seems that I recall reading here that around '07 HD did a
>re-design on the cam plate, with the goal of eliminating the
>cam spring tensioner problems. I remember when the re-design
>was offically announced, HD said there would be a
>retrofit/upgrade kit for older TC88's, but I don't think
>they've ever made that kit available, for reasons unknown.
>
>I understand that some aftermarket parts are available to do
>this (Andrews?). Has anyone actually done a cam tensioner
>upgrade on a 99-06 Twin Cam, replacing the old design with
>the current one?
>
>A final question: would it make sense to get the
>tappets/lifters swapped out, while they're "in there"?
>
>Thanks, and you better have another round!
>- John
You're right about changing to adjustable push rods, but while
you're in there why not change to gear drive cams & be done with the
problem all together?
Jinks ('86FXRS, '07FLTR)
#64
Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"