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[MGB]

Have a 2004 "pumpkin" Eagle Eglide with 32K miles on it. Should I be concerned about the wear on the cam chain tensioners yet? I don't hear any excessive engine noise, other than the ordinary, which is a lot. When they wear down too much, I guess you get metal to metal wear. I just as soon avoid that. 

[Fired00d]

There is no rhyme or reason on what mileage they will wear out. There have been some that have gone at 20K and others that have lasted twice as longer (or more). So I guess there should be some concern... I personally waited until there were some bolt in cams designed to work with other components in the stock motor and had them installed in gear drive version.

There are a couple companies that have made cams specific for the CVO 103 motors that will bolt right in and they are Zippers & Freedom Performance. You can read more about these cams in the following threads..

REDSHIFT 575 CAMS & OTHER PRETTY PARTS

FCC14 Cams 103 Dyno

Freedom Cycles "Secret" FCC9 Cam Dyno

Freedom Cycles CVO 103 Cams

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
  

[LarryB]

I would at least inspect them, cuz if they go out, lets just say not good.
easy to inspect, remove the whole cam cover, not just the points cover-it's fake anyway. you see the front tensioner right off, rule of thumb is, if half of the material is gone then replace, if lest than, then good to go. the rear tensioner is a little more difficult to see, takes a small flashlight and small mirror, but don't assume because the front is fine that that the rear is fine too.
If you find they are worn too far then go with another option
good time to clean under that, oh you gotta remove floorboard and exhaust

[Screamin]

IMHO @ 35 g I'd replace them. Larry described the process to inspect. Since you're that far into it you might as well get them replaced and not worry about it.

[aclass]

I'd either check them and be without a doubt or go forward with a Winter time project and replace them.  I've seen/heard too many failing around that number. I dont think it's worth the chance.  I replaced the shoes in my brides Road King at 30,100 miles and I dont think the inner would have made it another 5K.

[grc]

Considering the potential for major damage if they are allowed to fail completely, it is a good idea with a known problem component like the old tensioners to take it upon yourself to have them inspected/replaced on a regular basis.  All too many have failed or started to fail by 20k miles, so with over 30k miles I would definitely have them inspected and most likely replaced.  As other's have said, once you've got the exhaust, floorboard, and cam chest cover off for the inspection, even if they look like they would go another 10-20k I would change them anyway.  They don't necessarily wear equally over the entire time; once they start having little chunks come out the wear can really accelerate.

If you plan to keep the bike for a long time, you might want to look into converting to the new style hydraulic tensioners and roller chains.  The downside of that approach is cost, since you have to replace the cams along with the cam plate and oil pump.  The upside is that the new system has been much more reliable (but still not foolproof), so the odds are good that the new stuff would last until it's time to rebuild the rest of the engine.  Oh, and the other upside is it gives you an excuse to buy those new cams.  Most of the cam companies offer what they call conversion cams, with the old style journal size for the inner cam bearings.

Jerry

[johnnymap]

Having the tensioners and chains replaced as this is written on the '05 SEEG @24,400 miles.  Rear was gone.  Front looked okay but doing it anyway.

john

[tazmun]

The reason I asked was the price difference. A local dealer has replaced them for $300.00
with the balance being under warranty. Is that a good deal?

[FREEDOMINC]

This cam tensioner thing cost me an engine @ 24.5K miles. Of course it was the loose cam gear that rounded the crank pin which doubled the repair bill. You guys that are pondering the inspection let my school of literal hard knocks kick you in the rear to save you $$ in the long run, and a disgraceful tow home on a flatbed.

[hogasm]

The reason I asked was the price difference. A local dealer has replaced them for $300.00
with the balance being under warranty. Is that a good deal?

The dealer pocketed the extra 300

It is a shame that they won't do anything till it's too late

I guess you can look at it this way.....you give the dealer 300 and you save the receipt.....your motor and ass is covered for a while longer.....300 insurance

[ccr]

Yes.  At 32000 I had to have my engine rebuilt due to this failure.

[grc]

The reason I asked was the price difference. A local dealer has replaced them for $300.00
with the balance being under warranty. Is that a good deal?

What did he replace them with, the same spring loaded tensioners that were standard on 99-06 models, or the conversion kit that uses hydraulic tensioners?  If he used the spring loaded tensioners, I'd like to know what the $300 was for.  Was this done under the ESP, or was it maybe a "policy adjustment" on an out-of-warranty repair where the manufacturer agrees to pick up a percentage of the repair? 

Even though I firmly believe the MoCo should pick up the entire cost for these repairs, I guess if you look at how much other folks are having to pay to fix this design and quality issue on their own, $300 out of pocket isn't half bad.

Jerry

[tazmun]

What did he replace them with, the same spring loaded tensioner that were standard on 99-06 models, or the conversion kit that uses hydraulic tensioner?  If he used the spring loaded tensioner, I'd like to know what the $300 was for.  Was this done under the ESP, or was it maybe a "policy adjustment" on an out-of-warranty repair where the manufacturer agrees to pick up a percentage of the repair? 

Even though I firmly believe the MoCo should pick up the entire cost for these repairs, I guess if you look at how much other folks are having to pay to fix this design and quality issue on their own, $300 out of pocket isn't half bad.

Jerry

They got the conversion kit. They said they only paid for the difference in parts cost.

[Rooster]

Now you have to worry about your comp assemly's failing, 07 and newer. Just went through it, no fun.

[SteveFLHTK]

And that would be why I traded my 08 for a new 2010.  Comp nut went loose in Sturgis, fixed under warranty, but I don't trust there wasn't any lasting damage.