Solid vs compensator sprocket ?
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: NW Florida
Solid vs compensator sprocket ?
A few years ago, when I was hard up for cash, my compensator sprocket started jumping bad because of wear. I didn't have the money at the time to buy a new one so I welded mine solid. I just kinda forgot about it since I haven't had any problems out of it. Just wondering what everyone's feelings are about leaving it as is and waiting till the primary need a new chain to replace it. 1978 1200 shovel running ATF in the primary. Teeth on the sprocket were in great shape at the time and still are along with the chain when I replaced the clutch plates last year. Do I need to fix it if it ain't broke?
The compensator is there to "compensate" for torque when shifting. Throttle back, shift, throttle up. There is a little bit of a twist there. It takes up some of the engine pulses created by the big V-Twin motors. You shouldn't have any problems if you are treating your bike nice, meaning you aren't bang shifting, high rpm shifting and so forth. If you stroke it up to and beyond 90", you are probably going to flaunt it. That being said, you really need to replace it with a working compensator, or get rid of it all together. The compensator is a big weight hanging off the end of your crankshaft and at high rpm shifting your motor has a hard time slowing that weight and then you are back in the throttle. A lot of stresses there. I have twisted that end of the crank at 6500 rpm shifts, even without a compensator.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: NW Florida
I pretty much ride like an old man (cause I am). It's an old bike and I treat it very well. Rarely hit 4000rpms. Engine is all stock and I don't hot rod it. My favorite ride is hitting the back roads and cruising around 45 to 50 mph.
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
The compensator is there to "compensate" for torque when shifting. Throttle back, shift, throttle up. There is a little bit of a twist there. It takes up some of the engine pulses created by the big V-Twin motors. You shouldn't have any problems if you are treating your bike nice, meaning you aren't bang shifting, high rpm shifting and so forth. If you stroke it up to and beyond 90", you are probably going to flaunt it. That being said, you really need to replace it with a working compensator, or get rid of it all together. The compensator is a big weight hanging off the end of your crankshaft and at high rpm shifting your motor has a hard time slowing that weight and then you are back in the throttle. A lot of stresses there. I have twisted that end of the crank at 6500 rpm shifts, even without a compensator.
Yup spun the output shaft in my flywheels once hitting second doing a hellacious smoking burn out while she was redlined on a healthy 88" running a belt primary.
At a drag strip in central Texas, I accidentally double tapped my shifter button when I hit a bump in the track. It went from 1st to 3d at 6400 rpm. It twisted and broke the crank, the primary chain wrapped up inside of the primary. Before it was all over with, which took a split second, I lost the clutch basket, mainshaft, primary chain case and crankshaft. Parts for the junk box.
Last edited by AlCherry; May 9, 2015 at 06:20 AM.
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From: NW Florida
I think you guys are a little harder on your engines than I am. Mine has never seen 5500 rpm's in it's lifetime. Well, not in the 25 years I have owned it. I will probably replace it, but the way I ride, it sounds like I don't need to be in a big hurry about it. Thanks for the replies. Sounds like ya'll have broke more stuff in fractions of a second than I have in years-Haha!
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I think you guys are a little harder on your engines than I am. Mine has never seen 5500 rpm's in it's lifetime. Well, not in the 25 years I have owned it. I will probably replace it, but the way I ride, it sounds like I don't need to be in a big hurry about it. Thanks for the replies. Sounds like ya'll have broke more stuff in fractions of a second than I have in years-Haha!
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I think you guys are a little harder on your engines than I am. Mine has never seen 5500 rpm's in it's lifetime. Well, not in the 25 years I have owned it. I will probably replace it, but the way I ride, it sounds like I don't need to be in a big hurry about it. Thanks for the replies. Sounds like ya'll have broke more stuff in fractions of a second than I have in years-Haha!
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From: dayton
A few years ago, when I was hard up for cash, my compensator sprocket started jumping bad because of wear. I didn't have the money at the time to buy a new one so I welded mine solid. I just kinda forgot about it since I haven't had any problems out of it. Just wondering what everyone's feelings are about leaving it as is and waiting till the primary need a new chain to replace it. 1978 1200 shovel running ATF in the primary. Teeth on the sprocket were in great shape at the time and still are along with the chain when I replaced the clutch plates last year. Do I need to fix it if it ain't broke?
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