I just bought my first motorcycle 2 weeks ago. 2009 FLHX. I have put about 700 miles on it since I got it. It starts up great cold but when its hot about half the time it kicks back, bangs, grinds and makes a bunch of other awful and embarrassing noises. Not the best sound when your leaving a parking lot full of people. The engine has a S&S 106" kit, Redshift 575 cams, S&S cnc'd heads, Thundermax tuner.

I have been reading about the compensator being a likely problem and also the starter drive. Does the engine need compression releases or is that not needed at this point? It sounds like the compensator is the most likely issue but wanting to confirm this before I just order it.

If I need a compensator I will go with the SE one. Not sure what I would need to do about the starter other than replace it. Compression releases would be my last option/alternative as it will likely cost some serious $$$.

Thanks guys

 

If the motor doesn't have compression releases, you may want to look at having a set installed. The 103s had issues without them. Not sure what compression you are running but if it is higher than stock on a 106 you are probably going to have issues. Someone more knowledgeable will come along soon and probably be able to help more...

 

If it goes...."whir, whir...CLANK BANG!" and the starts....could be the compensator.
If it goes.."whir, whir, Clank..whir clang, bang....grind grind...ca-clank...whir whir" then starts.....probably the starter.

Mine does the second one.

Chuck

 

Starter is probably having a hell of a time turning with that motor though right?

 

when the compensator bottoms out it makes a single bang,after a # of times it beats the starter clutch to death.all ***** starter clutch will get u starting again,new se comp will keep u starting.

 

after reading your build,compression realeses may also be in your future.

 

Kinda the news I expected but didn't want to hear. I am getting better at knowing when it is going to do it so I catch it before the noises that follow the initial bang happen. Usually a few bumps on the starter then it starts just fine. I will try to pay more attention to what it does exactly over the next few days.

If I do end up having to go with compression releases is there a company that will install them into stock heads? I know Harley sells the $1000 jig to do so but would rather pay a few hundred and let someone with the jig already do it for me. S&S won't install them in to the stock heads since they say there isn't enough material I believe. And I don't want to buy a set of newer heads with them stock and send them to S&S since mine already have a cnc port job. Still up for ideas on this method.