Is it normal for the compensator to bang on start up?

 

It's the battery needing a good charge and or the connection to it needs snugged up. Depending on when it was last shut down, a little fuel vaporizers in one cylinder and when you start cranking, it explodes and kicks the motor hard forward with a bang. Sometimes, it kicks back, poofing out the intake.

 

I added 2 shims behind mine now its quite

 

And that would cause noise to come from the compensator???

Im pretty sure what you’re describing is not what the OP is talking about.

 

Actually a weak battery is often mistaken for a failing compensator. Do a load test on the battery and rule it out, if the battery passes the load test, pull the primary cover and drive components and inspect the compensator.

 

A brand new battery can be down from lots of starts and short drives in just a few weeks. Or cables vibrate loose. Then starter does not have the ump to drive thru unequal kick from cylinders till they get clear. Also, lots of people let off starter too quickly on theses long stroke 2 cylinders.

That is what you check first. The simple . The last thing I would do is shim compensator. It smoothes the drive and it and cush drive protect drive train.

Some people keep these bikes a few years and buy new. So it doesn't matter to them. I personally keep them a long time. New to me does nothing but annoy.
My TC88 will easily clack the compensator if I nail it in second.

I can tell my battery is going months before I usually replace it by that start up clatter. Usually only time it's on maintenance charger is winter. Use to be to me December but I am seldom around now Dec thru April since retirement.