ive got 42,000 miles on my 2012 Road King original stock compensator. Started hearing some noise coming from primary about 2,000 miles ago. Now when I start it I get a bang and clang, and when I kill it I get a loud bang in the primary. I took it apart and sure enough where the sliding cam and compensating sprocket meet is all worn out. The compensator and all the parts that go with it is no big deal to change but local HD dealer tells me I got to buy and change the rotor also WTF? Nothing wrong with the rotor, but to upgrade the comp I got to up grade the rotor also?? That means pulling the inner primary off or grinding a lip off the primary. YEA

 

That does not sound right. That sounds like info for older big twins, you should either buy the Baker comp or the newer SE comp with the glue in oiling tray.

 

PapaRon32 ,

First off, don't grind. Been there, done that, ain't worth it! Pull the inner primary.

Did they say exactly why you needed a new rotor? Is there something wrong with the one on there?
Maybe they didn't read the instructions properly? ( -J05674.PDF )

If it were me, I would pull the inner and the rotor to inspect, and clean out any metal particles that came off your old compensator.

 

i agree with the luggin theory,i have put 4 comp gears in my 2011 ultra limited and the 103 engine is very easy to lug, but i talked wirth my mechanic kevin cooper at brunswick ga hd and since then i have tried not to lug my bike and the last comp gear was installed about 15 months ago and has about 30,000 miles on it the longest so far it is the new upgraded gear and it seems to be fine now. mine has always been noisy until i put the southern oregon hb125-07 wedge chain tensioner and it works very good now and no noise at all. and chain stays tight but not too tight
roller

 

The 2012 should already have the updated rotor. The early rotors had the spring cup welded to the rotor.

 

Hey everyone
It is not lugging, horsepower, torque or anything else but Harley's cost savings in production and lack of proper lubrication. Get it oiled and get rid of that radial roller thrust and all will be much quieter and last a very very long time. In post #2 he has it correct. Just google it and tons of info with proven facts to help you understand. The fact is CompenSaver was introduced 6 months before Harley showed anything and the patent was filed for 3 months before Harley. The 2014 Harley version is a very dumbed down version of that design.
Don't think the 2014 and up are fixed, there are plenty of them still giving lots of grief to our fellow riders.
I applaud Baker's effort and wish anyone with one the very best of luck with your experience.
The patents that exist are what prevents anyone from just making one right. Thus the odd way the Baker is configured. If Harley would match machine the cam and spokes and cast a proper oil collection system in the cover we would not be having this conversation. Indian and Victory are very similar in the function of their design but are machined far superior to Harley's and we just don't hear of issues there. The short primary and gear drive provides an all together different and superior lubrication ability for their compensator.
I love to lug my engine on my trike and hear the exhaust as it pulses along. I have many 10's of thousands of miles and no issues or failures.
Shinny side up all
RichardK

 

More to it. Many are not failing they were just told on the internet it was going to and they jumped in on the sky is falling bit.
I put between 20 and 60K a year on mine. Trade about every 2 years with that many miles never, have had on fail. When I trade my 07 the man that purchased it still has it 80K on it still just fine.
Did you know if you don't buy a Baker 6 speed your transmission will go out a 10K
And your crank will grenade at 15K.
Oh and that HF clutch won't last 20K unless you replace it with bubba's special HD racing clutch.
Trade the 2013 off August 28th ,4000 miles on the 2016 now. betting it does just fine.

 

Previous comment about pre-2006 being bulletproof, I just got a 2003 with 96" & SE heads. Got the work orders from the dealer and the pre-sale prep included compensator replacement. the bike had 80k on it and the motor upgrade was done 30k ago. So, bulletproof may not be accurate, maybe this one was unusual?

 

Indians don't have compensators, it's gear driven direct.

 

Actually are 6 speeds are replacement for 5 speeds. 5 speeds were almost bullet proof they just lacked a highway gear. We didn't design our compensator because of internet ghost stories. We designed it because everyday we were taking calls from people asking us to design a compensator.