Hi

 

i am afeter  some advice in relation to the cam chain tensioners on the twin can 88 B Motors .

 

I am lead to believe that the cam chain tensioners are the achillies heel of these motors and have since upgraded to the hydraulic tesioensr from 06 onwards

The details for my scoot are as follows

- 2003 Fatboy

- 49,000 Kms and regularly serviced

- not had an ounce of drama with the bike BUT i do like to perform preventative maintenance when / if required

- no cam chain rattle to speak of at all to date ..... the motors as smooth as silk

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the factory cam chain tensioners being an isue on the twin cam 88B's

I understand they can be a huge problem and I wanted to resolve it it in one of the following ways (depending on dollars)

1. Install grear driven cams . GREAT set up but i am NOT after  extra horsepower at all. Plus it costs $2500-00.

2. Install hydralic set up via Dealer. Cost is around the $2000-00 mark .

3. Replace factory tensioners / both timing chains with parts being around $350-00 plus labour $500-00 to fit

I am leaning towards Item 3 as its cost effective and when its pulled down i can see the condition of the tensioner/s and go from there i thought.

Hey - they may have very littel wear so no dramas at all perhaps ( unlikely though)

Some say the tensioners last 20K soem say 50 K ............all very confusing i must say

Alternatively DONT TOUCH it but if i do that am i leaving myself open to the potential of a damaged engine further down the track

Any advice woudl be most appreciated by anyone that has knowledge in this area

a great Forum this HD and i woudl be lost without it i can assure you

 

 

 

 

I have heard of 2 bikes failing over here (WA) due to those cam shoes failing. Sent both engines south. But in saying that how many are getting around.
You could just monitor it, I mean for the price of a cam cover gasket it is worth it. Easy enough to do.

Yep - i like your way of thinking .

Thanks - thats exactly what i think

 

i'll open her up and have a bo peep from there

 

Then again theer are heaps of 88 B's running around without this done (but i am NOT taking a chance) i love this scoot far too juch to blow it up

Dont forget to take some pics and show us how they look ,,, so a lot of people out there in cyber space , can get a good nights sleep again ,, or, if the pics show there fucked , give them nightmares !!!!!!

If the shoes are the original I think HD changed the compound from the brown color to a clearer cream white sort. This was to eliminate the problem of wearing out and causing major engine failure. The outer you can do yourself but the inner requires tools to remove the cam gears etc. You should not have to change your chains as they should be ok. Whilst in there have a look at your oil line feed. The one way ball and seat may need to be looed at if you are having oil pass issues with the oil draining into the sump when the bike has not been ridden for a while. Not as biggy but worth looking at whilst it is pulled down.

I have a 2002 Fatboy with just under 30k on it now, bought it 2 years ago with 6k on the clock. (imported) . still running good but you have got me thinking Kato. I think my bike must have been one of the first fuel injected 88s ,i think it might have been a factory option back then. I am a bit paranoid about cam chain tensioners cos i had a horror story happen to me on a jap bike many years ago. If there are any blokes with early 2000 fatboys reading this please feel free to contribute. I service my bike regularly and expect at least 100k before any major work on the stock motor. i am going for option No4 for the time being. DONT TOUCH. until i hear a rattle.

Beaglebasher you might not hear a rattle. The tensioner wears down till there is nothing left then the rod digs into the chain and bang.... No Rattle because the tensioner is still on the chain... Mate a cam gasket is all it takes to have a look for peace of mind

I have an 07 heritage with the updated cam chain tensioners in them. 21k I decided to put a cam in the bike. Well, open up the cam chest and the tensioner is worn to the buggery, down to metal, reason. assembled wrong in the factory. They have tensioner, spring, plunger in that order, mine was wrong. If I had not changed the cams over it may have lasted another 5k then a massive engine failure. All it takes is a check, if they are fine then off you go if not then hey you may have saved yourself a shit load of angst

that's it then I will take the cover off and have a look next week. easy job x cost of gasket = peace of mind. makes sense to me. I will let youse know what I find

Looking forward to some pics from you guys, that are having a little peep in the cam chest, to check on those cam tensioners on the older bikes !!!!

Its been said before,, When you change oil filter , cut open old filter , spread open the pleated material,, and have a good look. If you dont see any tiny yellow, (or white, depending on the tensioners),, plastic type particles, (specks), in there , your as confident as you can be , that things are ok,, without having to look inside ..

Now if you do have coloured particles in the filter,, it's time for a look inside !!!

I just changed my engine oil today,, I'll take a pic of the pleated material and post it up later .... By the way,, there was no evidence of any plastic type particles in the filter,, (2009 Electra Glide )...

These were pulled at around 30k km's.

Changed my 01 low rider with the updated cam plate and oil pump at 53,000 km minimal wear on original adjusters but mate with an 01 super glide one of his adjusters was worn that bad that a few more kms would have been non existent his had same mileage

Softail Steve I did when I did 95kit ,hi comp Pistons,se heads,new barrels ,mikuni,ignition and cam plate upgrade I was going to use gear drive cams but was advised against because of crank runout well worth doing with old oil pump I used to get oil film from air cleaner on a long run but don't get any now bike has done 30000kms since upgrade for a total of 83000

thanks Graeme going to go with the cam plate upgrade

photos of cam tensioners when i replaced cam plate at 53,000 km

I recently sold my 05 Deluxe and it had 116,000 kms on the clock.

No cam issues at the time of sale. (obviously would need them soon)

Hardly any wear scallops they were ok but already had cam plate upgrade organised with engine build these had done 53,000km now have the nylon adjusters

I will see if my mate has still got his old adjusters they were down to the spring with same amount of kms as mine when his came out I think the problem might be the difference in the hivo chains will try and get some photos if he still has them I have heard that some chains have sharp edges which can cause excessive wear

these came out of mates superglide around 50,000kms