Harley Twin Cam, Checking the Cam Tensioners

A detailed video on how to check the Cam Tensioners on a Harley TwinCam

[@stevegilman8218]

Sorry, but there's some bad info there. You can see the inner tensioner, use a screw driver to lift it and pin it, and also use a dental mirror. You don't need a special tool to un tension the front tensioner, a 5/8 wrench will un-tension it without damaging it. You don't need a sprocket locking tool either. Rear tire on the ground, rear brake applied and not an issue. Now, the tools do make the job a bit easier, but, without those tools, the job is easily managed without damaging anything. I just re-placed both tensioners on my '06 Deluxe without those tools mentioned.

[@americobastidas914]

This gentleman is amazing. Thanks for the tutorial

[@susandavis5833]

Thanks I've just acquired 2 older Twin cam bikes and I will check these straight away.

[@oilageman9883]

Nice sweet video. But, I did both inner and outer on my Dyna with NO special tools. Pull the outer with grips and shove a coat hanger in it! The inner use a torch and dental mirror. I did need a tool to retention the inner once replaced, but I made my own from two bits of aluminium angle tube, steel pins and quite a lot of Araldite!

[@John-ob7dh]

I did read that cyco pads are far better quality and although they obviously wear , they dont get chunks break off to cause more damage.

[@morningstarx5340]

You can definitely check that inner shoe without pulling the cam plate. And you definitely should because they don't necessarily always wear exactly the same.

[@malcky630]

Not to forget that the front one may have been changed on its own.

[@agonyman4177]

So nice video! :D As beginner in understanding maintance schedules of harley twin cam 88 2006 what milage is good for inspection? i have 34k miles

[@keltingr2612]

u can use a small allen wrench as locking tool

[@joshnielsen6429]

My outer tensioner went at 39,000 miles and it had a ticking sound !! Caught just in time !!

[@daveblichmann7733]

I have a 2004 softail 9K miles pulled my cover the tensioners have no wear! You can inspect the rear with a dentist mirror. Easy to pry the tensioner up and with a light you can see. I've heard the rear wears quicker than the front. 2003 and up they used a smoother cam chain which helped the problem immensely. 1999 -2002 you better keep a very close eye on.

[@TimBarnett-pl9kd]

Can check inner cam tensioner with dental mirror without removing more parts. I want to change my factory pads for hydraulic back plate with new oil pump in kit. I want chain drive but kit too costly?

[@firegrunt03]

I also had to look on the back side tensioner with a dentist mirror to see how it wore out.

[@oldphart-zc3jz]

If you bother to open the timing chest it only makes sense given the labor to upgrade the shoes or at least replace them since it's not much work and DIY labor is free, so I do and save the old shoes to properly scare friends who neglect to inspect their own. So far persuading my bros to upgrade saved two engines from imminent shoe failure. When those come apart IF you shut down in time you still get to retrieve the crumbs which is an (easy but tedious) engine R&I then very tedious teardown and flush. Doing customer bikes while part timing at my mentor's shop got the point across as both failed outside their warranty period. Few Harleys are truly high mileage which delays failures and few owners who are not mechanics know to have their shoes inspected so these problems will be killing engines for many years. Best to look and know what you have.

[@tyrannyresponseteam9534]

Gotta love a motorcycle you need to tare part after a few 1000 miles. I refer to my Harley Ultra Classic as a hobby bike. My BMW is just one I can get on and ride with oil, fuel, and good tires being on the check list.

[@russelladams2729]

Awesome Bike Mike!

[@piersmarchington]

Harley changed broken Shoes as low as 15k miles, i don’t think it’s necessarily mileage related

[@workingman9745]

Some people ride their Harleys like crotch rockets. Heavy bikes are not meant for that. My Dad told me when I was quite young every time I SPUN the tires on my car to expect to spend 100 DOLLARS because when something broke it would be calculated by 100 DOLLARS per spin to fix it 😅

[@arthurlynch1549]

agree with coments below a set of pipe grips and a small allen key will do this job perfectly

[@lordbentley730]

I'm an everyday guy. I took it of. Trying to find a way to change the outer tensioner without loosening the sprockets. Inner tensioner is fine.

[@stevegilman8218]

You can't. The only way to re-lease the tension is to open it up, locking pin in, remove sprockets and chain, un-tension, then remove.

[@andyreid7274]

My 2 cents, you are already in there replace them both.

[@malcky630]

Why would you have taken the heads off to change the rear tensioner?

[@workingman9745]

So they can charge more $$$$$

[@joshnielsen6429]

Not the heads but the rocker covers and boxes if you don't cut the pushrods and install a set of adjustables.

[@steveperry1344]

i'm surprised someone hasn't come up with a roller with bearings as a retrofit instead of the cheap plastic shoe. i have an 02 heritage with 25k miles and sooner or later i have to deal with it. i could do the the outer one but not the inner so i would bring it to someone.

[@valjatriogina228]

Left hand thread, right hand thread? Your talking nonsense! Both bolts have right handed threads! Getting sick of blurbers, who talk and talk and talk!

[@waynetrainor654]

What about a 2004 Twin with no real signs of wear, but after all those plastic parts are 20 yrs old.

[@waynetrainor654]

Mileage only 13,000

[@malcky630]

change them mate.✌

[@valjatriogina228]

​@@malcky630bs! Have the same bike, same year, same mileage! Minimal wear, no need to change, but you can change!

[@daveblichmann7733]

I know someone who had the original tensioners with 90K miles.

[@motsigman]

Done it three times never used any of those so called HD special tools, I have a US made tool for compressing and changing the inner without stripping the cams, my locking tool a block of wood and an impact gun.

[@steveplatel5508]

Easy, don’t watch 🥴