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[mjb765]

A friend of mine has a 2003 FLHRSEI2 with a stock 103 motor. He only has about 10k on it. Since I never owned a 103 I need to ask--Was there an issue with the cam tensioners in this bike and is there any reason to go into the cam chest and check things out? Is an upgrade to the later style tensioner a good idea for this motor? I may be totally wrong, but I thought I heard about some issues with them??

Mike

[HD Street Performance]

Was there an issue with the cam tensioners in this bike and is there any reason to go into the cam chest and check things out?

Yes same tensioners as the rest of them.
No need to yard everything out if he is happy with how it runs. Just pull the cover and inspect every 15k or so.

[grc]

All the Twin Cam engines prior to 2007 (2006 Dyna) had the same design for the cam chain tensioners, and they are all subject to premature failure.  The company never did acknowledge the problem (big surprise), nor did they ever add them to the maintenance checklists.  A few failed at very low mileage, like 10k; many failed at 20-30k, and some have run over 50k and are still going strong.  It was a very unpredictable and variable problem to say the least.

I would suggest the same thing Don mentioned, set your own schedule and just inspect them on a regular basis.  If he needs to go into it for something like a cam change or oil pump, then it might make sense to replace the cam plate with the new style.  Otherwise, just inspect them on a regular basis.  A small mirror will help on the inner tensioner.


Jerry

[mjb765]

Thanks guys...I will pass the info on to him.

[hdlarry]

I used to own this same model bike. Bought it new in late 2002, it got stolen in February 2011. Never opened the motor up for any repairs or changes and had zero problems with it in 35K miles. Owned 3 CVO's over the years but that 03 RK was my personal favorite.

Only thing I was ever warned about was not to run much more than 100HP and 110 Tq without welding the crank. Never welded the crank and found myself at those number with just the SE a/c, Reinhart exhaust and race tuner.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Most of the early "silent" chains had burrs on 'em, thus causing the tensioners to wear very rapidly.
Seen them buggered @ 1200 miles, and have seen them make it to 131,000, but were toast, at that point.
Take a peek at them every 20,000 or so, in particularly the inner, and you should be fine.
Scott

[mjb765]

Most of the early "silent" chains had burrs on 'em, thus causing the tensioners to wear very rapidly.
Seen them buggered @ 1200 miles, and have seen them make it to 131,000, but were toast, at that point.
Take a peek at them every 20,000 or so, in particularly the inner, and you should be fine.
Scott

Thanks...I will be sure to tell him