Compensator Bolt Loose
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,791
From: Ramona, Ca
Compensator Bolt Loose
I had my bike in for inconsistent idling, that was taken care of...but upon further inspection, after a test ride the service manager noticed a different noise. They found that the compensator sprocket bolt was loose.(in Primary area) It is supposed to have 150 ft/lbs off torque and the bolt came off with 60ft/lbs. They did replace the bolt. All under warranty. but this is an FYI for those that may or may not have a need to know.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, OH
I had my come off last spring. I did mine myself and I cleaned the bolt up real good with a wire brush and brake cleaner, then used loc-tite primer (yes, primer...I have never heard of it and found it and it cost a fortune), a lot of loc-tite blue and torqued to 150lbs. Seems I have heard of this coming loose on a lot of people and can't understand why these are coming loose the way they have been on peoples bikes. This could cause a serious accident for someone. Glad you caught yours in time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Interesting thread. I've never heard of this happening. They are supposed to get tighter as the bike breaks in. Same theory behind the clutch nut being reverse thread, That is ALSO supposed to get tighter. Just out of curiousity, Do you let the rear wheel do a lot of the bikes braking at lights? By that I mean Down shifting and letting the clutch out so the drivetrain slows the bike down rather than relying all on the bikes brakes. That may loosen up a compensating bolt. Just a thought.
Last edited by BikerV; Apr 25, 2010 at 07:41 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
Loose compensator nuts were not uncommon for 08 bikes, don't know about other years. Mine was loose enough to make a rattling noise at low RPM low load situations by around 4,000 miles. Re torqued it and haven't had any further problems, 38,000 miles now.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,791
From: Ramona, Ca
Interesting thread. I've never heard of this happening. They are supposed to get tighter as the bike breaks in. Same theory behind the clutch nut being reverse thread, That is ALSO supposed to get tighter. Just out of curiousity, Do you let the rear wheel do a lot of the bikes braking at lights? By that I mean Down shifting and letting the clutch out so the drivetrain slows the bike down rather than relying all on the bikes brakes. That may loosen up a compensating bolt. Just a thought.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
The engine braking theory was the only thing that came to mind. I hear some guys coming up to lights with the motor at idle until they let the clutch out and the engine gets wound up to like 3,000 rpm's, courtesy of the primary chain turning up the motor to that rpm because the bike is in too low of a gear for the speed your traveling. do that enough times and it will probably start to crack that comp nut loose since the primary chain is driving the motor (as opposed to the motor driving the primary).
It's the same theory for why rear axle nuts are supposed to be on the left side. If the wheel bearings start to drag it will only cause the axle to get tighter into the axle nut rather than wind itself out of the nut.
Last edited by BikerV; Apr 25, 2010 at 09:11 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 251
Likes: 2
From: Upstate, NY
I had my come off last spring. I did mine myself and I cleaned the bolt up real good with a wire brush and brake cleaner, then used loc-tite primer (yes, primer...I have never heard of it and found it and it cost a fortune), a lot of loc-tite blue and torqued to 150lbs. Seems I have heard of this coming loose on a lot of people and can't understand why these are coming loose the way they have been on peoples bikes. This could cause a serious accident for someone. Glad you caught yours in time.
Also, my service manual called for Red 262 high strength Loctite on a reused nut.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,791
From: Ramona, Ca
funny thing is they put on a nw bolt, torqued to 150ft lbs with loctite, then they filled the primary with SYN3 and I only had reg 20/50 eng oil, .....they never told me what caused it.......probably not torqued enough on the assembly line.......could there be a recall?
