compensater noise
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 690
From: Smalltown,USA
On my 2014 Classic we changed the compensator at 21,000 miles it was doing the shut off clunk. And a bad chatter . It looked brand new! I do know HD say's not to shim the new ones. There is a early 2014 part number and a later change . You have to have service check your Vin. Hope this helps give you guys piece of mind. I think the noise is all chain adjuster..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
Likes: 6,442
From: Honah Lee
You are mostly going to hear the compensator at idle especially when hot. Most Harleys will what I call hunt as the idle system maintains a slight up and down idle. What the grating sound is the compensator since it is a pretty rough uneven casting and not machined surface rubbing at different uneven rates do to the uneven firing order of a Harley. Even though the firing order is opposite, it’s not even. Go to Wikipedia and study Harley's firing order. Watch your tac at idle. Basically the first cylinder fires, the second (rear) cylinder fires 315° later, then there is a 405° gap until the first cylinder fires again. Not 360-360. So It gives more power at different times making the idle always hunt and the compensator fingers move at different uneven rates.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley. The new one by Baker is machined on the fingers and should be quite if that is what you are after. Should put a lot less metal chips in the primary which could take out the seal. However, the rest can pretty much chew them up with no problem and most settle to the bottom.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My Harley sounds different with the two different helmets I wear.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley. The new one by Baker is machined on the fingers and should be quite if that is what you are after. Should put a lot less metal chips in the primary which could take out the seal. However, the rest can pretty much chew them up with no problem and most settle to the bottom.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My Harley sounds different with the two different helmets I wear.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Aug 18, 2015 at 08:04 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 439
Likes: 3
You are mostly going to hear the compensator at idle especially when hot. Most harley will what I call hunt as the idle system maintains a slight up and down idle. What the noise is the compensator since it is a pretty rough uneven casting and not machined surface rubbing at different uneven rates do to the uneven firing order of a Harley. Even though the firing order is opposite, its not even. Go to Wikipedia and study Harley's firing order. Watch your tac at idle. Basically the first cylinder fires, the second (rear) cylinder fires 315° later, then there is a 405° gap until the first cylinder fires again. Not 360-360. So It gives more power at different times making the idle always hunt and the compensator fingers move at different uneven rates.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My harley sound different with the two different helmets I wear.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My harley sound different with the two different helmets I wear.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 11
From: Wheeling, WV
I am not mechanic, but I did drain my primary last week and refilled with a synthetic off brand. I experienced rapping and knocking issues, I was about to drive it down to the local dealer and have it checked out. I read this thread and switched to the Harley Forumla Plus+, noise gone. Go figure.
You are mostly going to hear the compensator at idle especially when hot. Most Harleys will what I call hunt as the idle system maintains a slight up and down idle. What the grating sound is the compensator since it is a pretty rough uneven casting and not machined surface rubbing at different uneven rates do to the uneven firing order of a Harley. Even though the firing order is opposite, its not even. Go to Wikipedia and study Harley's firing order. Watch your tac at idle. Basically the first cylinder fires, the second (rear) cylinder fires 315° later, then there is a 405° gap until the first cylinder fires again. Not 360-360. So It gives more power at different times making the idle always hunt and the compensator fingers move at different uneven rates.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley. The new one by Baker is machined on the fingers and should be quite if that is what you are after. Should put a lot less metal chips in the primary which could take out the seal. However, the rest can pretty much chew them up with no problem and most settle to the bottom.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My harley sound different with the two different helmets I wear.
Watch you idle speed and lean down on left and listen. That uneven rough noise is the change in speed varying the pull on compensator. Bring the idle up just slightly to smooth it and it will go away. That is the compensator. It hurts nothing. Just like the vibration of a Harley, nature of the animal. Falling for all the tin man oil spins and replacement compensator just takes the fun out of a Harley. The new one by Baker is machined on the fingers and should be quite if that is what you are after. Should put a lot less metal chips in the primary which could take out the seal. However, the rest can pretty much chew them up with no problem and most settle to the bottom.
However, if your noise is not what I describe above, then keep checking. (Preferable with an expert familiar with Harley who can hear it) My harley sound different with the two different helmets I wear.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 20
From: Batavia, NY
compensater noise
My compensator was making a ridiculous racket on hot startup for a few seconds nearly every time. I had a shop do an oil change for me in Sturgis before the ride back, he used 20-50 synthetic in both the engine and primary, no more noise on hot startup. Was planning on the new compensator that baker is coming out with soon this winter.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 36
From: Lafayette La
The compensator made noise at hot idle and cursing basically from day one. Used syn3 for 12000 miles and changed to red line primary with no significant change. It's was replaced under warranty about 13500 and formula+ was used. Just got back from a 5000 mile trip and the only noise is the ticking from the rocker shafts (this is next project). Got a little over 20000 miles now, the new comp and the formula fixed the noise.