My head's spinning!!

[pyuchem]

So i’m flying next month to WV to pick up my 2016 SGS. I moved recently to WA fro WV. But left my bike there. I’ll be riding to myrtle beach bike week with my buddies while I'm there. Will be riding back to Omak, WA all the way from Myrtle. I’ll have close to 16,000 miles on my bike by the time I get back.

So I was reading online about maintenance for 16K miles. I came across all kinds of weird stuff. People talking about cam chain tensioner shoe replacement, going with gear drive, change to high volume oil pump. Looks like there are two tensioner. One in the front and one in the back. Will going to gear drive eliminate both. Then that wud be gr8. Also I read people taking about doing top end. What the *uck is top end ? And if there is top end is there a bottom end ? If so when do I have to do that ? When do I have to replace this lifters and push rods people are talking about ? It says something about adjustable pushrods. Read that tensioners are not a problem for 2006 and later models. But what the heck, if gear drive is better, I’ll change to it sooner than later. If so which is the best in the market ? If I go gear drive, there was something about crank run out. What is that ? And how often to check that crank run out ?

I like to ride cross country and long distance. And I don't want to be stranded. I need to replace all the stuff to better quality parts that will last at least 100k miles. Does anyone have a list of items and what mileage to change it ? Apparently tensioner shoe needs replaced but its not in manual.

I've had 8 bikes in 3 yrs(Ninja 250,Vstar 950 & 1300, Vic cross country, F6B, chieftain) . This is my first Harley and now my heads spinning.All I wanted was change the oil, tires and ride for next 100k miles without knowing any of this stuff. LOL!!!

 

[MisterB]

So i’m flying next month to WV to pick up my 2016 SGS. I moved recently to WA fro WV. But left my bike there. I’ll be riding to myrtle beach bike week with my buddies while I'm there. Will be riding back to Omak, WA all the way from Myrtle. I’ll have close to 16,000 miles on my bike by the time I get back.

So I was reading online about maintenance for 16K miles. I came across all kinds of weird stuff. People talking about cam chain tensioner shoe replacement, going with gear drive, change to high volume oil pump. Looks like there are two tensioner. One in the front and one in the back. Will going to gear drive eliminate both. Then that wud be gr8. Also I read people taking about doing top end. What the *uck is top end ? And if there is top end is there a bottom end ? If so when do I have to do that ? When do I have to replace this lifters and push rods people are talking about ? It says something about adjustable pushrods. Read that tensioners are not a problem for 2006 and later models. But what the heck, if gear drive is better, I’ll change to it sooner than later. If so which is the best in the market ? If I go gear drive, there was something about crank run out. What is that ? And how often to check that crank run out ?

I like to ride cross country and long distance. And I don't want to be stranded. I need to replace all the stuff to better quality parts that will last at least 100k miles. Does anyone have a list of items and what mileage to change it ? Apparently tensioner shoe needs replaced but its not in manual.

I've had 8 bikes in 3 yrs(Ninja 250,Vstar 950 & 1300, Vic cross country, F6B, chieftain) . This is my first Harley and now my heads spinning.All I wanted was change the oil, tires and ride for next 100k miles without knowing any of this stuff. LOL!!!

That doesn't sound right. What did you find, maintenance for a Harley from 1903? Lol. Hell, even then, those bikes were probably less fussy than what you're showing. At 16k miles, your bike is still very new. I have a scheduled maintenance spreadsheet somebody created, based off the service manual. Here's a screen shot of the 15K procedures. It says from there, you're good until 20K

 

[Yarddog]

Cam shoe tensioner replacement on a 2016? You are listening to piss poor advice. Ride the dern thing and love the experience. Don't overthink it. Change tires and do the service when it's time. Forget gear drive. Not needed.

 

[coebam]

My head's spinning!!

I just had my 15k service completed at my local dealership this morning. Oil, filter, spark plugs and inspect the above mentioned items.
(Guess I should mention 14 SG 103")

 

[Kartracer-10]

You have received some bad advise. Cam chain tensioners were an issue in the Evo motors, not the twin cam. You can chain from chain drive cams to gear drive cams if you were going to build some monster race motor but the expense is far more than the can set, you have to true the crank, and probably weld and plug the pins, (not an expense you need to incure for a street bike.) if you want to change out cams for more performance you would need adjustable push rods and lifters, NOT for maintenance. Keep the oil changed, service the trans every 10K, the primary every 20K, keep tires on it and ride the damn thing!!

Enjoy your cross country trip


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[Yarddog]

Well, Kartracer, your advice needs some adjustments too. The Evo engine had a single cam. No chains. However, the early Twinkies had the spring loaded cam chain adjusters. Since we're talking Street Glides, only the first year of that model had those. Everything 2007 and newer were blessed with the hydraulic adjusters.

Everything after "Keep the oil changed..." I'm good with.

 

[Kartracer-10]

Yarddog, thanks for correcting me!! I was thinking of lifters in the EVO I heard was a problem, I never owned one. And you are correct, the spring tensioners were the problems in the early twin cams. Thanks for straightening me out!!!!


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[Yarddog]

Karrracer, indeed lifters were a problem in Evos...in fact, I had one go out in Grand Junction while I was enroute home from Denver in September 1989. I remain suspicious of the OEM Twinkie lifters, and would change them out to SE...S&S...Feuling...if I were to venture into the cam chest snd I had the bux in my own Twinkie!

 

[mbloom]

pyuchem, I have a 2014 SGS that just went over 30,000 mi today! No issues at all w/ cam chain tensioner shoes. One of the improvements the MOCO did on the rushmore models was to grind/polish the cam chain, eliminating the sharp rough edges that wore down the cam chain tensioner shoes on the earlier models/years. Your should be GTG... R/ Mike

 

[MisterB]

The OP hasn't commented, even though there's lots of helpful info here. Maybe his head spun so hard, it fell off

 

[pyuchem]

pyuchem, I have a 2014 SGS that just went over 30,000 mi today! No issues at all w/ cam chain tensioner shoes. One of the improvements the MOCO did on the rushmore models was to grind/polish the cam chain, eliminating the sharp rough edges that wore down the cam chain tensioner shoes on the earlier models/years. Your should be GTG... R/ Mike

But at what point shud one inspect for wear and tear. It's made of some sort of plastic. So it's bound to wear. That's why I was wondering going gear drive eventually when tht time comes.

 

[MisterB]

Oh my god....

 

[BluesBelly]

But at what point shud one inspect for wear and tear. It's made of some sort of plastic. So it's bound to wear. That's why I was wondering going gear drive eventually when tht time comes.

Open up the owners manual that came with your bike. You will find a complete schedule of maintenance required and the mileage intervals corresponding to that maintenance. If you have any questions call your Harley Dealers service departments and ask for their recommendations.
I do hope you have not been skipping your anxiety meds! LOL

Best,
Blues

 

[Yarddog]

You won't it long enuf to need to be concerned about it, OP...you are WAY over thinking this thing. Motorcycles are intended to reduce stress, not generate it.

 

[mbloom]

pyuchem There is one way to check on the general overall health of any engine including Harleys. I have been doing it for years on my race car. Order an oil filter cutter from summit racing, the next time you do your oil change cut open your filter and inspect between the filter pleats w/ your mag-light that I know you have. You are looking for any plastic/nylon/particles that obviously shouldn't be there! If you find anything like this you will at that point you are experiencing "some" wear. You can also inspect for any metallic debris also which I will leave for another post!! R/ Mike