So those of you that have had a compensator ramp break up in an M8 engine, what was the year model of your bike? The reason I'm asking is I am wondering if the ramps that disintegrated were just a bad run of compensator ramps or if it was something inherently wrong with all the ramps. I think I read in a thread not long ago the Harley had improved the stock ramp, and indeed the part number has an A behind it, usually meaning a change. So basically the bigger question is, is it necessary to change the stock ramp on a new 2025, or is the stock ramp now sufficiently upgraded so that failure is not common.

 

good post..now just curious since my OEM warranty replacement engine is a 2025 one in my early build date 24 RG

 

It's my understanding the OEM change was made to keep the spring tension correct. They also came out with a shim and new instructions on measuring the installed height to adjust them. The aftermarket failures seem to be limited to two brands of them but the original aftermarket one that was made in England as I recall, there has been no reports issues with at all.

 

There is an aftermarket upgrade for the compensator ramp.
Harley keeps upping the horsepower but not the compensator.
The compensator is the fist link in getting the hp to the rear wheel.
https://www.starracing.com/milwaukee-8-new-products

 

2017 Street Glide 124". Missed shift going from 2nd to 3rd took mine out. I switched to the Dark Horse compensator for a year and then switched to OEM compensator and the Cycle Rama crap ramp. The Dark Horse ramp worked great but I wasn't sure if it would hold 160+ hp & tq.m when I built the 131". Currently using an Evolution Industries ramp and springs.

 

I think late 2025’s will have the upgraded ramp. It’s my understanding that the revision didn’t come out in the spare part field until February. I just put one in mine, and it is a different ring to it when tapping it with a wrench. I think the problematic ones were a metallurgical issue, and some years were worse than others. I also think when they started offering the 121’s and 131’s, the ramps weaknesses started showing up, so they had to quietly make a change, especially with the sudden aftermarket rush on billet ramps.

 

So MJ, was the demise of your engine caused by the compensator ramp disintegrating, or was it another mechanical malfunction?

 

lifter failure

 

My compensator failed on my '19 CVO with a 131" kit. The build had 1500 miles on it and the engine was at 4500 miles. Since it was fixed the bike has 13K with no issues.

 

I was looking at compensators again yesterday and saw MoCo parts website rev "A" compensator. Nothing in the description. .

Back in the day, my companies required a fit or functional change part to have a new part number and description. Appears Harley tries to hide known issues with revisions without descriptions as if customers are too dumb to notice, or know what the part limits are. Who knows what the design target was for rev A? Also, rev A isn't listed under SE parts, only stock part replacement. My guess that's current production biggest build. What's that - 121?

Anyway, FM pushed Baker Compensator Sprocket Combo when asked, but I'm not sure these smaller dia. ramps + more ramps is ideal. Sure it should lower ramp stress and last longer, because it wouldn't decelerate toque pulses as much as larger dia. ramps. But that means it also likely transmits more vibration, where the entire point of a compensator is to reduce vibration significantly. There's nothing wrong with large diameter ramps if they're made correctly and use stronger spring packs.

Leaning toward what @Mchad did: EVO ramp + stronger spring pack, after I open the case this winter to see if the CycleRama ramp surface smeared with stock springs. Haven't heard anyone with an EVO ramp smeared (yet).