Can anyone tell me if its just a bad starter or is this the compensator causing this problem? It doesn't matter if its warm or cold, same sound. Could not figure out how to load a vid so here is U u tube link
thanks

 

The starter pinion is engaging cleanly judging by the sound so starter clutch is good. Start woth the basics-battery (+) to starter. It might be the solenoid.

 

sounded to me the starter isn't getting enough juice.

 

if it has compression reales make sure their working.

 

How old is the battery? Sounds like it's starting to get weak and causing the starter to drag. I've had my 08 do the same thing. Didn't think it was the battery because it was never dead and always started. Had it at the indy for something else and he immediately said the battery was weak, load tested it to confirm. New battery and it cranked right up every time.

It doesn't sound like the compensator, that's more of a bang or clunk sound.

 

Battery is two years old and always on a tender. Shows good voltage in ACC will try looking at it when cranking.

 

If you want to be sure, ride to the auto parts store, pop your seat off and ask them to load test the battery. You can do it at home with a voltage meter but unless you have a nicer one with a memory, it's hard to see what the voltage drop is when you hit the starter. A battery can show over twelve volts with no load but still be bad and not handle the amp load from the starter.

 

+1 on battery. I had a similar situation a month ago where it was real slow to turn over and the battery was only a couple years old. I kept it charged up, but it still got to the point it couldn't handle the load being put on it when the starter engaged. I did have the compensator replaced a while back because the grooves/teeth on the shaft extension where they go into the sliding cam had actually gotten chewed up to the point where there was play in it and would cause issues, but those sound nothing like what you have going on.

 

Clearly sounds like battery is not up to the cranking amps needed for start up.

Like mentioned, test battery and look at your cold cranking amps specs. Could be sub par aftermarket.

You may want to take a look at your battery tender as well. Possible slow charge function of that not changing at all.

 

Ok had the battery tested and it has cranking power. Came home and put it back together and now it wont do anything but this click. Have it on the tender just in case the two tests drained power. but now it sounds more serious than battery?