Primary Chain Adjuster Normal Wear

[HDUSA1]

So I started the install this afternoon of my Roadsmith conversion kit on a 2020 Ultra Limited with 20,000 miles on it.

Got the bike stripped down and started to take the Primary apart to change the belt. Took the primary chain adjuster out and looked it over and discovered some wear that looked unusual to me. Sent a picture to the dealer and they thought it was ok. I don’t think so and they said it would be 4-6 weeks to get the part. Don’t want to replace it if not needed, but not too crazy about putting it back in. What say you?

 

[Notgrownup]

It’s not that bad but since you have it open , if you want to change it it’s a good time. I believe it’s got plenty of life left in it.

 

[ROAD DOG]

Replace it with a new Screamin Eagle

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

I know I would replace and up grade .

 

[Jack Klarich]

As long as you are this far go ahead and replace it for peace of mind

 

[HDUSA1]

I would like to upgrade but I’m finding several bad reviews on the Baker and other aftermarket manual adjusters. I would put the Screaming Eagle one in, but it says on the Harley website it doesn’t fit my 2020 bike with the M8 in it.

 

[Jack Klarich]

It seems you can change just the pad on your adjuster

 

[Notgrownup]

I would just put the regular one in there. I have run a Hayden tensioner in my other bikes with zero issues. I do see the bad reviews as well but there are tons of them out there in many bikes with tons of miles. The idea of having a floating tensioner appeals to me.

 

[Jack Klarich]

For every bad review there are 10 good ones
Baker has been a leader in the industry for years, roll the dice and take a chance I say

 

[Notgrownup]

Only thing I don’t like about the attitude adjuster is you have to remove the whole outer primary to adjust. But, I guess if it’s adjusted correctly you wouldn’t have to re adjust it. I’m a bit torn with that, I know how to do it. I just am not sure which way I will go when the time comes. Only 5000 on my trike.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Baker parts gets my vote

 

[headheaded]

Baker Attitude adjuster in my bike since 2012 without a problem.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I agree with Notgrownup

 

[ROAD DOG]

I would like to upgrade but I’m finding several bad reviews on the Baker and other aftermarket manual adjusters. I would put the Screaming Eagle one in, but it says on the Harley website it doesn’t fit my 2020 bike with the M8 in it.

I just put one in a 2018 Road Glide book said it would not fit & it did not, on the outer primary cover we had to grind off about a 1/4" of the casting vein or whatever you want to call it. I had used a lot of Hayden's, the shoe came off of mine got caught between the primary chain & the clutch hub, bent the crankshaft & cracked the left side engine case, no warranty Hayden did nothing, I had no luck with Baker. I watch a lot of Moonshine Harley you tube videos they make some BIG HORSEPOWER MOTORS they only use the Screamin Eagle adjuster.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Too many choices out there, I installed Bakers on TC engines in the past, they all held up good, if you can locate a Screaming Eagle Jump on it

 

[cycle7447]

I am just giving you credit for doing this yourself.

 

[HDUSA1]

I’ll say the most challenging part of this whole project is the Harley repair manual. Nothing in that manual makes any sense and the index in the back is a joke. Need to remove the kickstand? It’s listed under a Jiffy stand. Remove the rear swing arm? Look under Fork Assembly, rear. Replace drive belt? Sends you back and forth numerous times in different chapters for each step plus unclear on a lot of things telling you to take stuff apart you don’t need to, ie the right side clutch actuator outer cover/actuator/inner cover/rod. YouTube is your friend here instead.

BTW, I’m going to reuse the tensioner. I don’t want to wait that long to get a new one from MoCo. I’ve had the updated fuel line on order for 9 months now and they keep pushing back the delivery date on it. I had a Primary kit on order (that should have been a dealer in stock item) for over a month and just got it this week. I don’t know what’s going on with their supply chain, but it’s whacked obviously.

 

[cycle7447]

When done, you are going to love this. Beautiful colors.

Does your bike have the RDRS system? If it does, while there, you may want to go ahead and put on the vehicle hold control upgrade kit that allows you to use hill assist while the bike is in neutral.

I have found this especially useful for trikes, more so that for a two-wheeler. You are sitting at a light and you can completely put the bike in neutral there, release everything and relax your hands.

 

[Notgrownup]

I still think that having a continuous adjusting spring loaded is the best of both worlds. I also know Hayden gets a bad rep but the system works. The lates version seems to get good reviews. I think they had a hard time keeping it in stock for a while. I don’t find anything negative about the 17 & later version, I had an earlier version on my 07 Electra Glide and one on my 14 Tri glide.

Unless you are building a monster motor and beat the crap out of it the Hayden will work fine for a touring and rider that rides his/her bike as intended. If building a high powered machine to have as a performance bike I think the Screaming Eagle or Attitude adjuster fits that bill better. If you dig far enough, every brand has failures or someone will have something negative to say about it and sometimes they never even used the damn thing.

 

[HDUSA1]

When done, you are going to love this. Beautiful colors.

Does your bike have the RDRS system? If it does, while there, you may want to go ahead and put on the vehicle hold control upgrade kit that allows you to use hill assist while the bike is in neutral.

I have found this especially useful for trikes, more so that for a two-wheeler. You are sitting at a light and you can completely put the bike in neutral there, release everything and relax your hands.

Yes, it has the RDRS system. I think my bike had the hold control as a two wheel version, there is a kit for the trike?

 

[cycle7447]

Yes, it has the RDRS system. I think my bike had the hold control as a two wheel version, there is a kit for the trike?

Same kit. I have it installed on my Harley CSC conversion

 

[HDUSA1]

Same kit. I have it installed on my Harley CSC conversion

Wow, super!

We bought the bike used a couple years ago from Suburban Motors in Wisconsin and I remember them showing me that feature. We are in flatland east central Illinois and I thought I’d never need it and basically forgot about it. Now that I’m retiring from farming, we are going to do some longer trips now and it will be a nice feature to use. Now only if I can remember how to engage it!

 

[cycle7447]

Wow, super!

We bought the bike used a couple years ago from Suburban Motors in Wisconsin and I remember them showing me that feature. We are in flatland east central Illinois and I thought I’d never need it and basically forgot about it. Now that I’m retiring from farming, we are going to do some longer trips now and it will be a nice feature to use. Now only if I can remember how to engage it!

Easy to engage it. Simply hold the front or back brake and it will be engaged.

What the new upgrade was - the bike had to be in gear for it to become active. So, if on the two-wheeler and on a hill, you could leave it in gear, hold in the clutch and squeeze the brake. Bike will not roll. You will get a little light on the panel.

If you install the ungraded kit, you cannot do the same thing - difference is, the bike can now be in neutral. So, imagine the same thing - on a hill, bike in neutral, engage the brake and you can now sit back and relax for a moment.